What travel looks like in Canada in 2020

Canada confirmed its first case of COVID-19 in late January, and its first death a month and a half later. By mid-March, the US-Canada border was closed to non-essential travel.

To date, Canada has reported more than 122,000 cases and 9,000 deaths, primarily in Quebec and Ontario, but since reports of new cases spiked in early May, the numbers have primarily declined, with the country registering just 237 on August 15.  Here’s the latest:

Editor's note: This story was last updated on August 18, 2020. We will update this piece regularly to stay on top of the latest travel advice.

Travel restrictions in Canada

The US-Canada border is currently closed, and restrictions are in place for discretionary travel – including tourism, recreation and entertainment – for travelers from all other countries as well. Some exceptions do apply, but as a whole, foreign nationals will be refused entry if they display COVID-19 symptoms. 

Upon arrival, travelers entering Canada are required to provide their contact information through the ArriveCAN mobile app, a web-based form or a paper form, and submit to a screening at the border to assess their potential risk to the public health.

Foreign nationals transiting through Canada to and from Alaska must enter at one of five ports of entry – Abbotsford-Huntingdon, Kingsgate, and Osoyoos, British Columbia; Coutts, Alberta; and North Portal, Saskatchewan – and complete their journey within a reasonable amount of time, using the most direct route possible and avoiding all national parks and other tourism-related activities. While in transit, travelers must hang a tag featuring their date of departure from the rear-view mirror of their vehicle and check in with border control before exiting the country. 

For travel within Canada, airline passengers are required to undergo a preflight health check, and boarding will be denied to those subject to a provincial or local public health order and those who show symptoms of COVID-19. Anyone who has been refused boarding in the past 14 days for coronavirus-related reasons will not be allowed on a flight until those 14 days have passed and they are no longer symptomatic, unless they present a medical certificate confirming that their symptoms are unrelated to COVID-19. Additional provincial, territorial and local public health measures – including quarantine – may also apply, so be sure to check the rules and regulations at your final destination.

All airline passengers have to wear a mask or face covering, except for kids under the age of 2 and people who have trouble breathing, need help removing a mask, or provide documentation confirming they’re unable to comply for medical reasons. Masks may be required on other forms of transportation as well. 

Canadian citizens and permanent residents are advised to avoid cruises outside of the country until further notice. Cruise ships accommodating fewer than 100 passengers are allowed to resume operations, provided they comply with local regulations, but larger ships are prohibited from operating in Canadian waters until at least October 31. 

Will I have to quarantine when I arrive in Canada?

All travelers entering Canada are required to either quarantine or self-isolate upon entry, depending on whether or not they’re symptomatic – government-conducted health screenings at the border determine which method is appropriate. The mandatory 14-day quarantine period starts on the date of arrival, and steep penalties are in effect for violations.

Current lockdown status in Canada

Canada’s lockdown began to lift in late April, but public health measures still vary between provinces and territories, so check the government’s resource page for destination-specific information. Mass gatherings are still forbidden, but hotels have reopened with enhanced cleaning protocols, and restaurants are also welcoming guests, though dine-in policies fluctuate depending on location. 

Social-distancing is required at parks, trails, beaches, and other outdoor recreation areas, and large gatherings, building capacities, and sports and activities that involve physical contact are limited. Cultural spaces like churches, museums, and theaters are limiting the number of people allowed at a time, installing physical barriers, and increasing their ventilation systems, among other preventative measures.

On public transit, measures have been implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19, including hands-free fare and toll collection, enhanced cleaning protocols, and extra vehicles at peak times to prevent crowding. Rideshares have been minimized, and masks are required for all drivers and passengers.

You might be wondering about...

Niagara Falls - The Niagara region is in stage 3 of reopening, and accommodations, restaurants, and attractions like cruises and boat tours are operating at the falls in keeping with local guidance on cleaning, distancing, and physical contact. 

Banff National Park - Alberta is in phase 2 of reopening, and most hiking and cycling trails in Banff National Park are open for day use. Many of the park’s campgrounds are accepting guests, and day-use areas at Lake Minnewanka are open with restrictions. The town of Banff and Lake Louise are welcoming visitors, with masks required indoors and in the town’s pedestrian zone of Banff Avenue and Caribou Street. Park shuttles won’t run to Lake Louise or Moraine Lake this year, and parking at both is limited in an effort to support physical distancing and prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

Québec City - Québec City has also reopened, with masks required in closed and partially closed public spaces for those ages 12 and up. Pedestrian-only shopping streets and squares around the city center have social distancing measures in place, and while attractions are open, the government recommends confirming opening hours and operating schedules in advance. 

Vancouver - British Columbia is in stage 3 of reopening, meaning “smart and safe” travel within the province is now permitted. Indoor dining is permitted with social distancing, parks, beaches and campgrounds are open, and arts venues are staging performances once again.

What they’re saying in Canada about COVID-19 and travel

For months now, the country’s official tourism agency, Destination Canada, has surveyed a selection of residents to gauge their interest in reopening the borders, and though public sentiment has fluctuated from week to week, the most recent report reveals that Canadians would be unlikely to welcome visitors – whether from abroad or from neighboring communities – with open arms, particularly in Alberta, Québec, and Atlantic Canada. 

Americans attempting to circumvent the border restrictions are drawing quite a bit of local ire, and some citizens have taken it upon themselves to make their displeasure known. “We are very reliant on the American traveler. It makes a huge impact on the economy,” Trevor Long, president of the Banff & Lake Louise Hospitality Association, recently told the New York Times. “But we are ready to continue taking the hit until things get better around the world.”

It’s a sentiment that appears to be widespread. “The best travel happens when you realize you’re a guest in that place,” Canadian writer and photographer Steffani Cameron told National Geographic back in June. “But you’d never force yourself into someone’s house when you’re not welcome, so why would you travel to a country that’s telling you you’re unwelcomed?”

Still, officials say the goal is to reinstate international travel as soon as it’s safe to do so. “Travel between provinces and opening borders to American and other international visitors is paramount to the survival of Canada’s CAD $102 billion visitor economy,” the Tourism Industry Association of British Columbia’s CEO, Walt Judas, told NatGeo. The following month, Maryscott Greenwood of the Canadian-American Business Council concurred, telling Politico, “To have the border closed indefinitely is devastating to both economies.”

COVID-19 snapshot

You might also like:

• Canada and Mexico extend border restrictions with the US
• Travellers entering Canada must self-quarantine for 14 days or face hefty fines
• Coronavirus dispatches: writers around North America share their experiences

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