Editor's note: Effective Oct. 1, 2022 all previous border measures to enter Canada have ended.
Traveling in the COVID era comes with all sorts of questions, logistics and concerns that travelers didn't think about before 2020. Traveling to Canada, despite its proximity to the U.S., has been no different.
In March 2020, the U.S. and Canada both closed their land borders to nonessential travel due to COVID-19. What started as a monthlong closure was extended 18 times.
So, if you gave up following the news or tracking border rules, you might be wondering: Can Americans travel to Canada? As of Oct. 1, the answer is yes, with no COVID-related restrictions.
Here's what Americans need to know about traveling to Canada.
What do Americans need to enter Canada?
As a U.S. citizen, you will need to provide proof of citizenship and identity to enter Canada. This can include a U.S. passport, passport card or a NEXUS card. No visa is required as long as your stay is under 180 days.
While the border between the U.S. and Canada reopened for nonessential travel in both directions in November 2021, several COVID-related protocols remained in place for entry until October 2022. Those rules have now been lifted.
Do you need to be vaccinated to enter Canada?
According to the Canadian government travel website, vaccination is no longer required to enter the country.
Previous policies including mandatory use of the ArriveCAN app, proof of vaccination, pre- or on-arrival testing, quarantine and health checks have also been lifted.
Do you have to wear a mask on a plane to Canada?
In mid-2022, many Americans may have been surprised to find that they were required to wear a mask on all flights to and from Canada (flights throughout the U.S. had lifted that restriction). However, as part of the Oct. 1 policy changes, masks are no longer required on planes or trains in Canada.
Can unvaccinated people travel to Canada?
As of Oct. 1, 2022, you can travel to Canada unvaccinated as travel restrictions have been lifted.
If you’re planning to travel to Canada
Travel to Canada is back to pre-pandemic rules which simply require U.S. citizens to provide valid proof of citizenship and identification using a passport, passport card or NEXUS card for stays under 180 days. Standard customs and immigration paperwork will still be required, as has always been the case for travel into Canada.
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FAQs
Canada is open to visitors without COVID-related restrictions in place. Lead Assigning Editor | NerdWallet, the Portland Diamond Project, NBC Sports.
Can I enter Canada as an American? ›
American citizens, including American-Canadian citizens, must carry proper identification and meet the basic requirements to enter Canada. You do not need a Canadian passport, a Canadian visa or an eTA to enter Canada if you are travelling with a valid U.S. passport.
Can a U.S. citizen enter Canada without a passport? ›
Entry into Canada: Canadian law requires that all persons entering Canada carry proof of citizenship and identity. A valid U.S. passport, passport card, or NEXUS card satisfies these requirements for U.S. citizens. Children under 16 only need proof of U.S. citizenship.
What is needed to cross into Canada from the U.S. by car? ›
Ensure that you have proper identification for you and your family readily available. Acceptable forms of identification for entry into Canada include a passport, a NEXUS card and an enhanced driver's licence.
Can I travel to Canada with my U.S. birth certificate? ›
Can I enter Canada with my birth certificate? While U.S. citizens used to be able to enter Canada with a birth certificate, the country now requires additional forms of photo identification. The following documents are generally accepted at the Canadian border: A U.S. passport.
Are Americans welcome in Canada? ›
1, the answer is yes, with no COVID-related restrictions. Here's what Americans need to know about traveling to Canada.
Can Canada deny entry to a US citizen? ›
A Canadian immigration officer will decide if you can enter Canada when you apply for a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), or when you arrive at a port of entry. If you're found inadmissible, you'll be denied a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), refused entry to, or removed from Canada.
How long can a US citizen stay in Canada? ›
Most visitors can stay for up to 6 months in Canada. If you're allowed to enter Canada, the border services officer may allow you to stay for less or more than 6 months. If so, they'll put the date you need to leave by in your passport.
Can I use a real ID instead of a passport? ›
Q: Do I need a passport if I have a REAL ID? If you are traveling internationally you will still need your passport. If you are traveling domestically, you will only need one valid form of identification – either your REAL ID or another acceptable alternative such as a passport, not both.
Can I go from Canada to the US without a passport? ›
Information for Canadians
However, all Canadians entering the U.S. by air require passports, and Canadians entering the U.S. by land or sea must have a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-compliant travel document. Some Canadians, do require visas.
When visiting another country as a U.S. citizen: Your state driver's license is valid while driving in Canada and Mexico. In other countries, you may need to get an IDP for foreign drivers.
Can I buy groceries in the US and bring them back to Canada? ›
Travellers coming into Canada can carry food with them for their own personal use, provided the food is imported within the specified personal exemption limits of the Safe Food for Canadian Regulations and there are no restrictions in place under other federal legislation, such as the Health of Animals Act or the Plant ...
What are travel requirements from US to Canada? ›
When you travel to Canada make sure you have:
- your letter of introduction.
- valid passport or travel document. if you're visa-required, it must contain the visa sticker that we put in it. if you need an eTA and you're flying to a Canadian airport, it must be the passport that's electronically link to your eTA.
You can go to Canada if you have a DUI conviction by acquiring a Temporary Resident Permit entry waiver or becoming rehabilitated through an appropriate government office or border station. If a person has several DUIs, however, applying for a TRP or Criminal Rehabilitation may be onerous.
Do they search your car at the Canadian border? ›
Border Patrol may stop vehicles at certain checkpoints to: (1) ask a few, limited questions to verify citizenship of the vehicles' occupants and (2) visually inspect the exterior of a vehicle. Agents may send any vehicle to a secondary inspection area for the same purpose: brief questioning and visual inspection.
Can you cross into Canada with an enhanced driver's license? ›
Enhanced driver's licenses are recognized as valid travel documents for land and sea entry into Canada. Ensure that your temporary enhanced license clearly states it's enhanced and has a machine-readable zone.
Can a US citizen enter the US without a passport? ›
You are not allowed to enter on your foreign passport, because U.S. law requires all U.S. citizens to enter and depart the U.S. on a valid U.S. passport.
Do you need a passport to go to Niagara Falls? ›
Q: Do I need a passport to visit the Canadian side of the Falls? A: Yes. If you are an American citizen and wish to cross over to the Canadian bank of the Niagara River, you are required to show your passport at the border crossing.
Can you travel freely from Canada to USA? ›
Canadians typically do not require visas to enter the United States, although there are some exceptions.
