Covid-19 and Travel to Canada

Coronavirus, Covid-19 and Travel to Sunset Country
Gerry Cariou
By Gerry Cariou

Gerry Cariou is the Executive Director of Ontario's Sunset Country.

Last Updated: December 29, 2021

Two Years of Travel Uncertainty

Update: As of August 9th, 2021, fully vaccinated travelers from the US can visit Canada again. You also need a negative covid-19 test taken within the previous 72 hours. You also have to use the arrive-can app to enter your information before you cross!

As of September 2021, International travelers can also enter.

Well, a person can say this about 2020 (now 2021), I didn't see that coming! Needless, to say this has been a strange and so far, a really lousy year from all aspects, not only for travel but for everything. Unless you're an epidemiologist then like most people you didn't know back in December 2019 when that virus was starting how bad it was, how bad it could and would get, and how quickly it would impact our lives in North America. Fast forward 4 months and at the beginning of April 2020, there are over 300,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in North America, and the numbers are still growing. 

We have now reached the point where the entire news cycle is consumed with COVID-19, even though we are 20 months into the pandemic. 

The short answer to virtually every question is we just don't know. Unfortunately, we don't think anyone knows where this is going. Hopefully, it is over soon.

fishing in Ontario Sunset Country

The best advice we can give people who are vaccinated is to make your travel plans as you normally would but be prepared to follow a few more checks at the border when you cross.  Unvaccinated individuals are still not allowed to travel to Canada. Needless to say, things haven't been normal up here the last two years with no US travelers in 2020 and only a few in 2021. We certainly miss you!

Until Things Return to Normal...

Regardless of when things get back to normal, here is what we know at this point in time:

  • The Canada/US border opened on August 9, 2021, to fully-vaccinated travelers. 
  • "Fully-vaccinated" means two doses of the Moderna, Astrazeneca, or Pfizer vaccines or one dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine (this could change so check before departing on your trip).
  • You require a negative molecular covid test to enter Canada taken 72 hours or less prior to crossing the border.
  • You must use the ArriveCan app to fill in your information prior to crossing. 
  • You may be required to take a random covid test at the border.

To help you plan where to stay if you decide to visit us, we have a free travel guide and map we can send you.

We are optimistic we'll see you soon until then, stay safe everybody!

Useful Resource Pages

Arrive Canada App (required for border crossing)

Ontario Government

Health Canada

Center for Disease Control

Canada Immigration

Canada Border Services Agency

US Customs and Border Patrol

Manitoba's COVID-19 Info Page

Update August 9, 2021: Fully-vaccinated citizens from the USA can now travel to Canada, see above for conditions.