BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) Canada is changing its border rules as of April 1st.
A negative pre-entry Covid test will no longer be required to get into the country, for those who are fully vaccinated.
"This is a big step that we haven't had before." said Jamie Fiegel, of Fiegel, Carr and Joyce Immigration Law. "This is a blanket drop of the test for anyone of any citizenship who is fully vaccinated."
Currently, travelers entering Canada must show proof of a negative
antigen or molecular test prior to arrival at the border or the airport.
Starting April 1, travelers who have the ArriveCAN App, and are double vaccinated (having received two vaccinations against Covid) will be eligible to cross into Canada. That means any U.S. citizen who wants entry into Canada, who is not vaccinated or partially vaccinated will not be able to cross.
The move comes two years into the pandemic as travel picks up and
restrictions are lifted on both sides of the border.
The Canadian government will continue to randomly test travelers upon
arrival at Canadian airports.
"Canada has been taking a step by step approach to loosening restrictions,"
said Fiegel. "The ArriveCAN App is a way for them to monitor who's coming and where they're going. I eventually see that being rolled back," she added.
Ontario is lifting the mask requirement as of Monday, March 21.
It's a return to a state of normalcy for the province for the first time in two years.
Fiegel has a high level of optimism for cross border travel this Summer, calling it "a huge step." But she doesn't see elimination of the fully vaccination requirement until the U.S. is ready to drop it. There is no indication that it will be dropped in this country anytime soon.
"It's time to move forward," said Congressman Chris Jacobs on WBEN Thursday morning. The United States and Canada have record high vaccination rates. Covid is down. We need to move on and get back to normalcy."
Jacobs has introduced legislation in the House to stop the requirements on the American side. The United States still requires a negative COVID-19 test to enter. Travelers must be fully vaccinated as well.
"This needs to happen because it's such a deterrent," said Jacobs. We want people to be able to come over frequently and right now it's still very hard and expensive to do that."
