Key Takeaways:
- Ease of travel restrictions will benefit citizens, international students, and some temporary workers in Canada
- Canada released new guidelines on isolation measures, vaccination, and flight restrictions
The Public Health Agency of Canada has announced on July 3 that the country is now making it easier for citizens, foreign passengers, and international students to enter the country under the new guidelines that took effect on July 5.
While Canada will be easing travel restrictions on Canadian citizens and permanent residents only from Monday, this move is perceived to benefit international students, permanent residents and their families, and some temporary workers with valid work permits as well.
New guidelines were released alongside the announcement about isolation measures, vaccination, and flight restrictions among others.
All travellers will have to stay and isolate at a government-approved hotel for three days while waiting for their COVID-19 test to be done on arrival.
As per Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, travellers who are eligible to enter the country, are asymptomatic, and have met the requirements of fully vaccinated travellers and all other entry requirements may be exempt from federal quarantine and day-8 testing starting July 5.
For individuals who are fully vaccinated with any of the vaccines approved by Canada (Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca/Covishield, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna vaccines), isolation will not be required.
Meanwhile, those travelling but are not yet vaccinated or have been vaccinated with a Canada-approved vaccine will have to undergo quarantine at a hotel for three days, take a second test on the eighth day of their arrival, and complete a 14-day self-isolation.
Until July 21 until further notice, Canada has extended the travel ban for all direct passenger and business flights from India. According to Canada transport minister Omar Alghabra, they have extended the flight restrictions given the number of COVID-19 cases continuing to escalate in India.
Alghabra said that they will continue to assess the evolving situation and determine appropriate action moving forward.
For those travelling to Canada via connecting flights, negative results from a COVID test conducted at the final point of departure before entering Canada will be required.
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