The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has confirmed Americans are permitted to travel through Canada by car if they’re heading to Alaska.
Recent social media posts have claimed Americans have been visiting popular tourist destinations including Banff.
One post on Facebook claims a server at a restaurant in the resort town was shocked to find a group of customers from Texas.
When asked how they got through the border, the visitors admitted to telling border agents they were driving to Alaska. The group was allowed to proceed.
According to the CBSA website, visitors are prohibited from entering Canada for non-essential reasons such as tourism and recreation.
However, in a statement to 660 NEWS, the CBSA says Americans heading home to Alaska will be granted entry into the country.
“Healthy, non-symptomatic foreign nationals, travelling through Canada for non-discretionary purposes, such as to return home to Alaska, may transit through Canada,” it says.
“Upon arrival at the port of entry, a traveller seeking to transit through Canada to Alaska will be required to substantiate their purpose for going to Alaska.”
The statement goes on to say travellers should stay in their vehicle as much as possible, avoid staying in hotels, pay at the pump for gas, and use drive-thrus to eat.
Restrictions on all but essential travel across the Canada-U.S. border are expected to remain in place until late July at the earliest.
You can report any suspicious cross-border activities by calling the CBSA Border Watch Line at 1-888-502-9060.
