This afternoon, the Canadian federal government announced that the end of quarantine hotel requirements will be coming for fully vaccinated Canadians returning home. No changes were announced to the right-of-entry requirements, although some adjustments to these policies are expected later this week. This is the first step in changes to travel policy, that will allow families to begin to make future travel plans.

The End of Quarantine Hotel Requirements is in Sight

By early July, fully vaccinated Canadians can expect:

• an end of quarantine hotel requirements–no need to stay in federally authorized accommodations upon return home; and
• an end to the mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival from a foreign country.

Travellers will still need to provide a negative COVID-19 screening test prior to returning to Canada, as well as a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival back in Canada. Canadians will be permitted to await their test results from home, where they will need to isolate until test results come in.

What Does Fully Vaccinated Mean for Canadians?

Canadians will be considered fully vaccinated if it has been at least two weeks since they received their second dose of a vaccine currently approved by Health Canada. This would include Pfizer, Moderna, Astra Zeneca or Johnson & Johnson (one dose).

How will Canadians prove they’re vaccinated?

The federal government has said it will be developing some kind of vaccine passport or federal documentation for Canadians when they travel, and to present upon return home. This system will prove vaccination status, while respecting the privacy of Canadians, and while maintaining Canadians’ health records at the provincial level.

It’s possible that a vaccine passport system will not be ready for travellers in the next few weeks, but Minister Leblanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, has indicated that this will not prevent the federal government from proceeding with these policy changes. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will, in the meantime, ensure citizens are fully vaccinated upon return home until a more permanent solution is devised.