travel ban Canada

Canada is set to reopen borders on 7 September Image : Pixabay

Canada may reopen borders to South Africans in September

Canada is expected to reopen its borders to fully vaccinated international visitors in a phased approach starting in August.

travel ban Canada

Canada is set to reopen borders on 7 September Image : Pixabay

While countries such as the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), Australia and New Zealand are still off-limits to visitors from South Africa, Canada is leading the way in reopening its borders to overseas visitors.      

Canada is home to more than 50 000 South African ex-pats, making it one of the “Big Five destinations” South Africans choose to move to behind the UK, the US, Australia and New Zealand.

Canada borders closed for non-essential travel

Canada’s borders have been closed for all non-essential travel for a period of more than 16 months. This has prevented South Africans from travelling there to visit family and friends for an extended period.

The good news is that the long wait may soon be over.

Following in the footsteps of countries like France, Canada has announced that it intends to open its borders to all vaccinated South African visitors in September.

With South Africa now making notable strides in its COVID-19 vaccination campaign, many South Africans will be eligible to visit countries that are open to fully vaccinated visitors.   

FIRST PHASE OF CANADA’S REOPENING

Travel and Leisure states that there is good news on the horizon for US nationals. In August, Canada will ease entry restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers from the United States.

From 9 August, eligible travellers living in the US will be able to enter Canada without having to quarantine upon arrival. Travellers may travel to Canada by air or land, the government announced.

Visitors must have been vaccinated at least two weeks prior to travelling to Canada, with either the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, or the Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

CANADA’S VACCINATION DRIVE

Canada’s Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra attributed the easing of restrictions and the reopening of borders to Canada’s successful vaccination campaign which has already seen large numbers of its nationals vaccinated.

“Thanks to the extraordinary commitment of Canadians to getting vaccinated and following public health advice, we are able to announce the easing of border measures for fully vaccinated travellers,” Alghabra said.

In Canada, 68.8% of all residents have received at least one dose of a vaccine and 43.7% are fully vaccinated, according to the Canadian government.

In the United States, 56.1% of the population have received at least one dose and 48.6% are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CANADA REOPENS TO ALL NATIONALITIES

A full reopening of Canada’s borders is slated for September. From 7 September Canada expects to open its borders to all fully vaccinated travellers from all countries provided that Canada’s COVID-19 epidemiology remains favourable.

Visitors must have been vaccinated at least two weeks prior to travelling to Canada, with either the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, or the Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Visitors are also required to undertake COVID-19 PCR tests before travelling to Canada. They must carry paper copies of their vaccination records and upload their documents onto the ArriveCAN app or website.