On June 11, the Canadian government announced that it is temporarily dropping its random COVID testing on arrival requirement for fully vaccinated international visitors, including American citizens. The moratorium on COVID testing for vaccinated visitors arriving at Canadian airports is expected to run until June 30, after which it will be reinstated, albeit with significant changes that have yet to be fully announced. 

Until June 30, visitors to Canada who can provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination can go through Canadian ports of entry with no testing requirement. The change is said to be in response to long airport waiting times as summertime travel ramps up.

Unvaccinated Canadians Now Free to Travel Within and Out of Canada

In other Canadian COVID news, the country has announced that, starting June 20, the Canadian government will end its vaccine mandate for Canadian citizens and nationals, allowing them to fly both domestically and internationally without proof of vaccination for the first time since October, 2021. 

The end of the vaccine mandate will also apply to rail passengers, but not to Canadian cruise ship passengers, who will still be required to be fully vaccinated. In addition, passengers on Canadian flights and trains are still required to wear masks. 

Insurance for Visiting Canada

Though Canada does have provincial health insurance for citizens, it is not available for visitors to the country. If you’re planning on traveling to Canada as a tourist, it is highly recommended to purchase travel medical insurance. Although Canada does not have a health insurance requirement for visitors, medical care in the country is expensive. To avoid a large, unexpected medical bill from an injury or illness, proper international insurance coverage is essential.

Insurance for Canadians Traveling Abroad

Your domestic health insurance is unlikely to provide sufficient coverage outside of Canada, so it is important to purchase the right international insurance for a trip abroad. If you plan to visit the USA, be sure to research and purchase visitors insurance to avoid high American healthcare costs. Travel medical insurance is important for trips to any other nation, and many actually require that you have coverage.