1. Canada has announced a number of new border measures that will go into effect at the end of the month.

According to a Government media release, starting November 30, Canada will expand the list of COVID-19 vaccines for which travelers can be recognized as fully vaccinated. Sinopharm, Sinovac and Covaxin will be added to an existing list of approved manufacturers such as Pfizer, Moderna, Astrazeneca and Johnson & Johnson.

Thereafter, as of January 15, 2022, certain exempt travelers will only be allowed entry into the country if they are fully vaccinated with one of the approved vaccines. This list includes:

• Family members of Canadians, permanent residents and those registered under the India Act;
• International students 18 years of age or older;
• Athletics athletes;
• Work permit holders, except for those engaged in agriculture or food processing; and
• Essential service providers, such as truck drivers

Once the new measures take effect, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people will only be allowed to visit Canada if they are exempt.

Labor group

Some of the groups that are exempt include food and agricultural processing workers, seafarers, charities, new permanent residents, resettled refugees and certain children under the age of 18. They still have to be tested, quarantined and meet other entry requirements. Those who are not immunized and who are not exempt will be barred from entering Canada.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents

Additionally, as of November 30, fully vaccinated Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be able to return home without a COVID-19 test if their trip lasts less than 72 hours. Canadian travelers leaving the country for more than three days will still be required to provide a negative PCR test prior to arrival upon return.

2. Government of Canada new announcement

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told US lawmakers that Canada is planning a three-phase approach to removing the requirement that travelers provide border officials with PCR testing, the Globe and Mail reported. Mail reported. The next phase is expected to affect US travelers. After that, testing measures are expected to lift for travelers from the rest of the world.

The United States recently eased restrictions on Canadians crossing its land border for non-essential reasons. Fully vaccinated travelers are not required to submit a test report upon entry to the United States, but will be required to provide one upon arrival in Canada.

For weeks, experts have been calling on the Canadian government to consider eliminating the need for costly COVID-19 PCR testing for fully vaccinated travelers on short cross-border trips. The main reason given is that these tests are expensive, typically between $150 and $300, and can be logistically difficult to perform if the length of stay is short. According to many people, such as those who often travel for work, this makes traveling between the two countries very expensive.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce released a statement on November 17, calling on Canada to remove the requirement for pre-departure PCR testing for vaccinated travelers.

“Removing unnecessary and outdated travel rules will help Canadian businesses get back to work – and competitive,” said Perrin Beatty, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce. ".

Travel, Settlement, Visiting relatives, Studying abroad,... in Canada has become easier. If you want to learn about immigration and study in Canada, please contact iCanfield for a free consultation.

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