Canada reopens land border to fully vaccinated Americans

Fully vaccinated Americans can now make their way across the Canada-U.S land border for non-essential travel.

Starting Monday, Canada is once again allowing U.S. citizens and permanent residents back into the country after 17-months of travel restrictions.

Eligible visitors must have received a full course of a Health Canada-approved vaccine at least 14 days prior to travel. Canada has approved four vaccines: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot, also known as Covishield, and the single-dose Johnson & Johnson option. All except AstraZeneca have been approved and widely deployed in the U.S.

American travellers are also required to show proof of a negative molecular test for COVID-19 that’s no more than 72 hours old and to use the ArriveCAN app or online web portal to upload their vaccination details.

While businesses in border communities are thrilled at the opportunity for American tourists to return to their stores, Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said he believes most U.S. travellers will be heading north to visit with loved ones or check on properties they own in Canada.

The border will fully open to eligible travellers from the rest of the world on September 7.

The United States has yet to lift its limits on Canadian travellers.