How To Get Into Canada
In the Covid era, it takes a little planning
Last week, I left the United States for the first time in two years. I’d been invited to give a talk about my book Four Fish at Montreal’s Concordia University. But when the organizers suggested I do the event virtually, I declared, “je refuse!”
I am done with zoom talks. Instead I made a run for the border.
Crossing into Canada though, isn’t as simple as hopping in your car and heading north. In the COVID era it takes a little prep. So if you’re thinking about a Canadian idyll this holiday season here’s what I learned on my brief jaunt to the Great White North.
1) You need to show proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of your crossing the border into Canada. A typical rapid test done at home will not be accepted. These tests typically take 24–72 hours to process so you have to time this out carefully. I planned to cross the border around Thursday at noon, so I scheduled my test for as close to 72 hours as possible so I’d just barely squeak in under the Canadian window but also get my test back in time.
