Canada - US Border remains closed

Saturday, 15 August 2020 09:09

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair announced Friday that the federal government will keep the land border closed until Sept. 21.

OTTAWA -- Canadian and U.S. government officials have announced to keep border between the two countries closed to non-essential travel for another month. Both countries are ongoingly working on stopping the spread of COVID-19 with different levels of results.

American traveler’s destined for Alaska, the most northerly state – only reachable via Canadian soil or air, have been limited to five crossings in Western Canada and they must commit to taking a direct route through Canada who are ostensibly on their way to Alaska.

While Canada indicates a total of 121,760 Coronavirus cases with 9,021 deceased due to the virus, the US indicates a 5,320,000 infected and 168,000 deceased based on about 10 times to total population in the United States.

The Canada–United States border, officially known as the International Boundary, is the longest international border in the world between two countries.

Arriving from the United States

If you are a foreign national arriving from the United States, to enter Canada, you must prove to the CBSA that you:

are travelling for a non-discretionary (essential) purpose or are an immediate family member
are not presenting signs or symptoms of COVID-19
have a plan to quarantine for 14 days, unless exempted

All discretionary/optional travel remains prohibited.

Transiting through Canada to Alaska

As of July 31, 2020, at 12:01 am PDT, if you are transiting through Canada to Alaska for a non-discretionary (essential) reason, you must follow stricter rules and meet additional entry conditions.

Specifically, you have to enter Canada at one of the following ports of entry (POE):

Abbotsford-Huntingdon (British Columbia)
Coutts (Alberta)
Kingsgate (British Columbia)
North Portal (Saskatchewan)
Osoyoos (British Columbia)

If you arrive at a non-identified POE for the purpose of transiting to Alaska, the CBSA will deny you entry and advise you to go to one of the five identified POEs.

No matter the reason for travel, if you have COVID-19 or exhibit any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, you will not be allowed to enter Canada.

Providing false information to a BSO may lead to consequences such as being denied entry and/or banned from returning to Canada.

Following admission into Canada, you:

will be allowed a reasonable period of stay to carry out the transit
must limit your travel within Canada to the most direct route to your intended POE of exit, avoiding all national parks, leisure sites and tourism activities
must report to the nearest CBSA POE to confirm your exit from Canada, before entering the U.S.

The CBSA will issue you a vehicle "hang tag" to attach to your rear view mirror for the duration of your transit. The tag will include the date you must depart Canada as well as information on the conditions imposed upon entry, the Quarantine and Emergencies Acts and a list of public health and safety measures to follow. These measures include: