The Canadian border has been closed for American tourists since March 2020. But after nearly 17 months, it will reopen again next week. Here’s what you need to know about traveling to Canada:

 

The Canadian border has been closed for American tourists since March 2020. But after nearly 17 months, it will reopen again next week. Here’s what you need to know about traveling to Canada:  Who can go Starting August 9, American tourists who have been fully vaccinated for at least 14 days will be welcome in Canada without quarantine. (Fully vaccinated travelers from other countries will be permitted beginning September 7.) A negative test won’t be required, though randomly selected travelers may be asked to take a test upon arrival. Children under 12 years of age are exempted from the vaccination requirement. Whole family can go!  How to get there Before arriving, visitors to Canada must upload their proof of vaccination—your CDC card works fine!—and their travel information using the ArriveCAN app (web or mobile). If you’re flying, you have to arrive in one of these 9 airports: Toronto (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR), Montréal (YUL), Calgary (YYC), Winnipeg (YWG), Halifax (YHZ), Québec (YQB), Ottawa (YOW), or Edmonton (YEG). Though cheap flights to Canada had been relatively sparse, many airlines are adding flights in anticipation of increased tourism interest now that Americans are welcome back. Expect a wave of cheap flights over the upcoming weeks and months, and when they pop up, we’re gonna find them. Remember that, as with all international flights, you’ll need a negative test taken within 3 days of your return flight to the US. This applies to all air travelers, including vaccinated Americans. The one exception? If you drive to Canada.  Road trip loophole On January 26, 2021, the US began requiring all travelers to show a negative Covid test within 3 days of their flight. But the CDC order explicitly exempted drivers from this requirement.   I love flights but road trips are fun too, especially in the summer/fall. If you’re eager to visit Canada but worried about the logistics of getting a Covid test before your return, driving is a workaround.  Passport delays Remember that for Canadian travel you’ll need a passport—and passport processing times right now are pushing five months or longer. (Yikes!) What you need to know and tips on speeding things up here.