Canada entry restrictions will remain in place through Nov. 21
Editor's Note
Canada on July 19 said that it would reopen its borders to fully vaccinated U.S. citizens beginning on Aug. 9. Now, it has announced that the restrictions around entry will remain in place through Nov. 21.
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Back in July, Canada's Minister of Health Patty Hajdu said in a statement that "With rising vaccination rates and fewer cases in Canada, we can begin to safely ease border measures."
"A gradual approach to reopening will allow our health authorities to monitor the COVID-19 situation here and abroad. Canadians have worked hard and sacrificed for each other, and because of that work, we can take these next steps safely."
Reopening Canada to Americans for leisure reasons marked a major step in the reopening of the border between the two nations, which largely remained shut since March 2020.
U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have been fully vaccinated (14 days past the final dose) are allowed to enter Canada for non-essential travel purposes as of Aug. 9. These travelers, whether driving across the border or flying, still have to take a test within 72 hours of departure and test on arrival.
Canada has also open its borders to citizens of other countries as of Sept. 7. The government has announced on Sept. 19 that these restrictions will remain in place until at least Nov. 21. There's no word yet on what might change after that date.
Canada has said it would remain open to any fully vaccinated traveler with an approved vaccine that meets specific entry requirements if the "domestic epidemiologic situation remains favorable." Time will tell what changes may come if COVID-19 numbers improve.
Unvaccinated children under 12 are allowed to enter Canada but must submit their information electronically through ArriveCAN and meet all testing requirements.
The U.S. Travel Association, an organization that represents the travel industry, praised the move -- and called for the Biden administration to recommend a plan to restart nonessential travel by Canadian citizens to the U.S.
However, the United States still has a nonessential travel ban for Canada that has been extended on a near-monthly basis since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, through Oct. 21.
Canada had a very public delayed vaccination program, but 74% of Canadians are now fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. According to Johns Hopkins University data, the country has recorded over 1.5 million positive cases and over 27,000 deaths.
With vaccinations in the country on the rise and positive cases down, and with several large countries opening for tourism, some think it’s time for Canada to relax its policy further. The travel industry has clamored for travel corridors they believe would help the sector rebound from pandemic-related losses.
Tourism generated $105 billion and supported one in 10 Canadian jobs, according to one report. And the U.S. Travel Association said the U.S. loses $1.5 billion every month that the border remains closed between the two countries.
However, the U.S. doesn't appear to be rushing to reopen its border with Canada, which means a full "travel corridor" isn't on the horizon, at least for now.
"We look and are guided by our own medical experts. I wouldn’t look at it through a reciprocal intention," the White House said on July 19, according to CNN.
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- If you don’t travel frequently, this might not be the best card for you.
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10X | Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
5X | 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. |
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Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel75,000 bonus milesAnnual Fee
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Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X card is one of the best all-round travel credit cards ever launched. Not only is it offering a tremendous welcome bonus, but cardholders can earn tons of miles on everyday spending and receive a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus to boot. Its annual fee is $395, but cardholders can count on up to $300 in statement credits toward travel booked through Capital One Travel each year and other valuable benefits like access to Priority Pass lounges and Capital One’s own growing family of airport lounges.Pros
- Excellent welcome offer worth 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months.
- Up to $300 in annual travel statement credits toward bookings make through Capital One Travel.
- 10,000 bonus miles (worth $100 toward travel) each account anniversary.
Cons
- The $395 annual fee might be expensive for some, but this card’s benefits provide much more value than that.
- If you don’t travel frequently, this might not be the best card for you.
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive up to $300 back annually as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Named editors' choice for "Best New Credit Card of 2021" by The Points Guy
- Earn 10 miles per dollar when you book on Turo, the world's largest car sharing marketplace, through May 16, 2023