Canada to end COVID travel restrictions

The mountains around Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Starting on Oct. 1, Canada will remove all travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

That means travelers into Canada will no longer have to provide proof of COVID vaccination, undergo pre-travel testing, or go into quarantine or isolation after entering. Masks mandates on planes and trains will also be lifted, and the ArriveCan app — used to upload health documents for visiting Canada — will become optional. 

In their announcement on Monday, Canadian officials cited the country’s high vaccination rate as a major factor for making this change. Around 82% of Canadians have received two doses of COVID vaccine, and over 90% of Canadians over 12 have received at least one dose, according to news sources. 

Bordering U.S. states were quick to praise the move. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott called it a long-awaited one for the state, which has extensive economic ties with its neighbor to the north. 

“Removing barriers to cross border travel allows our border communities to return to normal social and economic activity, which is an important part of the connection between our two countries,” Scott said in a Monday statement. “As was made clear during my recent trade mission to Montreal, there is a lot of interest in Vermont as a place to vacation and do business — and this step will also make tourism and businesses travel easier, benefitting Vermont’s economy.”

Canada’s announcement comes one week after members of Parliament and border-city mayors wrote a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden, urging them to lift all remaining COVID travel restrictions. Proof of vaccination is still required for all non-U.S. citizens traveling into the United States.

— Gareth Henderson