COVID-19: Canada Extends Closure Of U.S. Border, International Travel Restrictions Until July 21

Canada’s international travel restrictions and the closure of the border with the U.S. have been extended for another month, until July 21, 2021.

Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, made the announcement in a tweet on Friday, June 18. The restrictions had been due to expire on June 21.

Our number one priority as we fight #COVID19 is keeping Canadians safe,” Blair wrote. 

“In coordination with the U.S., we are extending restrictions on non-essential international travel and with the United States until July 21st, 2021.”

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Blair added that details on new exemptions for fully vaccinated citizens and permanent residents would be announced Monday.

“As we have said, the government is planning measures for fully vaccinated Canadians, Permanent Residents, and others who are currently permitted to enter Canada and will provide further details on Monday, June 21,” he wrote.

The extension means both international and U.S. restrictions will have been in place for 16 months after first being impose in March 2020.

Travellers At Land Borders Need Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test

Canada currently requires that anyone returning to the country quarantines for 14 days.

Travellers arriving to Canada by land from the U.S. also need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test result taken within 72 hours or a positive test taken 14 to 90 days prior to arrival.

In addition, travellers entering Canada at the land border require to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival as well as toward the end of their 14-day quarantine.

All travellers arriving to Canada by air, with some exceptions, need to take a COVID-19 molecular test when they arrive in Canada and another towards the end of their 14-day quarantine period. They also need to stay in a government-designated hotel for three days at their own cost to await the results of those tests.

Anyone arriving by air from another country for non-essential travel is also required to have a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding the aircraft in their home country.

Exemptions for Non-Discretionary Travel

Canada has exemptions in place for the following people, provided they are travelling for a non-discretionary reason:

• Seasonal agricultural workers, fish/seafood workers, caregivers and all other temporary foreign workers;
• International students who held a valid study permit, or had been approved for a study permit, when the travel restrictions took effect on March 18, 2020. More international students are now allowed to travel from October 20 last year under a new exemption;
• Permanent resident applicants who had been approved for permanent residence before the travel restrictions were announced but who had not yet travelled to Canada;
• Immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents are also exempt if entering to be with an immediate family member for at least 15 days, and;
• Extended family members of citizens and permanent residents, plus foreign nationals travelling on compassionate grounds.