After 17 long months, Canada’s borders are officially reopening for fully vaccinated American travellers and US residents effective today, Monday, August 9. For the first time since March 2020, Americans will be able to enter Canada for purposes other than essential travel. These include activities such as: tourism, shopping, hiking, and visiting friends and family.

As the province remains in stage three, here is what the Canadian borders will look like.

Canadian Border Eligibility

Canadian borders have eased up the travelling guidelines for fully vaccinated travellers. A number of travel measures will be scrapped entirely, including the mandatory hotel stopover and pre-departure temperature testing. Instead, Canada’s new border testing surveillance program will begin, aiming to identify new strains of concern and monitor vaccination effectiveness.

The next step of easing border measures begins on August 9. All travellers eligible to enter Canada must enter travel details and proof of vaccination via #ArriveCAN, if they’re fully vaccinated, before entering Canada. https://t.co/nTgbEX6CYD pic.twitter.com/WKCZaVuegO
— Canada Border Services Agency (@CanBorder) August 6, 2021

In addition, five other Canadian airports will once again be able to accept international flights. This includes Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport, Ottawa MacDonald Cartier International Airport, Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, and Edmonton International Airport.

What Travelling Will Look Like Now

It’s important that travellers prepare for delays due to increased passenger volume and COVID-19 health measures in airports. While the borders are opening to our friends in the south, fully vaccinated international travellers will have to wait until September 7th to enter the country.

The federal government in Canada continues to encourage people not to travel outside the country unless it’s absolutely necessary. This is regardless of vaccination status. Pre-departure COVID-19 testing is still required prior to boarding a plane. As of now, masks must still be worn at all Canadian airports and on flights.