Canada - Bio-Security
COVID-19:
- Covid-19 Emergency Border Measures ended on 1 October, 2022.
- See Clearance for entry procedures.
Our thanks to OCC port officers for assisting with Canada updates throughout the pandemic.
Resources:
- Canada Travel Restrictions
- Newfoundland Travel Restrictions
- Nunavut Department of Health
- NWT Current Health Recommendations
History:
- Mid March 2020, Canada and Nova Scotia closed to all foreign yachts including US yachts. All Canadian boats returning had to do a 14 day self-quarantine.
- US and Canada temporarily closed their border to non-essential traffic.
- The St. Lawrence Seaway System shut down to all pleasure craft indefinitely.
- At the start of April 2020, most smaller communities on the west coast of Canada requested that boats stayed away, closing docks and mooring fields,
shuttering marina facilities and requesting cruisers not land in their communities. All Canadian Federal and Provincial parks closed (shutting off many anchorages and docks used by cruisers). - The Islands Trust requested that all travelers stayed away from the Gulf Islands.
- Late April, the Canadian Arctic went into total lock down with no entry for transients. It had zero infections.
- At the start of May, Newfoundland closed its borders to non-Newfoundland residents indefinitely.
- As of June 1, 2020, pleasure craft were prohibited from operating within Canada’s Arctic coastal waters (north of the 60th parallel), as well as in the coastal areas of northern Quebec and Labrador.
- Pleasure yachts in transit directly from one place outside Canada to another place outside Canada were permitted to make non-discretionary (essential) stops along the way, including to use facilities, refuel or for essential supplies.
- From July 1, 2021, all travellers were permitted to enter Newfoundland and Labrador.
- August 9, 2021, the border opened to US citizens who were fully vaccinated.
- At the end of October 2021, Canada opened to all fully vaccinated foreign travelers.
- March 2022 the Canadian Arctic opened to fully vaccinated travelers.
- 10 August, 2022, the OCC Port Officer reported that the first sail boats entered the Northwest Passage, and the first two sail boats entered the Canadian restricted harbour of Tuktoyaktuk in the NWT.
- October 1, 2022, all Covid-19 travel restrictions were lifted.
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Note – CANADA has some very specific and different VHF channels and you will need to be sure your VHF radio can access them.
Example: Channel 21B, and 83B provide Continuous Marine Broadcast (CMB) service (in English)
Most VHFs can switch between USA/International and Canada (check your manual). For more specific details check out this helpful site: https://www.boat-ed.com/canada/studyGuide/VHF-Marine-Radio-Channels/101199_116029/
Link to Waterways guide / Lakes loop is not working
This should do it.. https://www.waterwayguide.com/knowledge-center/news-post/3895/Choosing-your-Great-Loop-route-Atlantic-to-Great-Lakes,
As of early June, Canada Border Services has placed a temporary hold on Shelburne, Nova Scotia as a port of entry
The latest information we have (as of 9 June, 2020) is that Newfoundland has closed its borders indefinitely including for citizens of Canada. See https://www.noonsite.com/place/canada/formalities#biosecurity-section for updates.
Quebec City marina
The best advice is to contact the Canadian Reporting station and ensure that your passports are properly stamped on departure and to have all your official boat papers (including insurance) in order. The USA Customs & Border Protection (CBP) service does not normally issue a zarpe for boats leaving their shores and, conversely, does not appear to expect one on those arriving either.
I have a British-flagged vessel and will be leaving Canada for the US in May. I can find no reference anywhere on Transport Canada, or elsewhere, of ‘outbound clearance’ requirements. I am familiar with the entry requirements for the US… Is there a zarpe or equivalent, in order to leave Canada?
Regarding pepper spray: bear spray is fine. There is a size limitation and it to be designed for use with bears (it’s all in the labelling).