Canada: Authorities to lift pre-entry test requirements for fully vaccinated travelers from April 1 /update 38

Event

Authorities in Canada have issued orders to ease the country's COVID-19-related travel restrictions effective April 1. Under the new directives, fully vaccinated travelers entering the country by air, land, or water will no longer be required to show proof of a negative result from a pre-entry COVID-19 test. Other existing COVID-19-related travel requirements will remain in effect until further notice.

Until the new regulations enter into force, the following travel restrictions remain in effect for travelers seeking entry into Canada:

• All travelers ages five and older must have proof of a negative result from an accepted molecular COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours before departure or an antigen test taken no more than one day before departing for Canada. Travelers who have recovered from COVID-19 can bypass the pre-travel test if they have proof of a positive COVID-19 test taken between 10-180 days before entering Canada.

• Nonresident foreign nationals aged 12 and older must be fully vaccinated with an approved COVID-19 vaccine (those manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/COVIDSHIELD, or Janssen/Johnson & Johnson) at least 14 days before entering Canada and have proof of their vaccination.

• Authorities may randomly select any fully vaccinated travelers entering from any country to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival; they do not need to quarantine while awaiting the result.

• All individuals must have a 14-day quarantine plan if government officials determine that they need to self-isolate upon arrival.

• Travelers must upload their proof of vaccination, 14-day quarantine plan, and other travel information to the ArriveCan website within 72 hours before travel. For more details, click here.

• Unvaccinated children under the age of 12 can enter without undergoing quarantine if accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent or guardian.

• Travelers entering via the land border must also present a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours or an antigen test taken no more than one day before arriving at the border.

Authorities have banned unvaccinated nonresident foreign nationals from entering Canada, except for those traveling for essential reasons, temporary workers, international students, or diplomats. Those allowed entry must self-quarantine for 14 days. Some workers, including those who cross the border regularly, may be exempt from the quarantine requirement, provided they do not display COVID-19 symptoms. Unvaccinated Canadian citizens and permanent residents can enter but must also quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. All unvaccinated individuals must take a test on day eight of their 14-day quarantine period.

All air passengers must wear protective facemasks. Persons exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms are generally not allowed to board planes to Canada or take domestic airplanes or trains.

Foreign nationals traveling by land to Alaska from the US Lower 48 may only enter Canada through one of five border crossings: Abbotsford-Huntington, Kingsgate, or Osoyoos in British Columbia; North Portal, Saskatchewan; or Coutts, Alberta. Authorities will refuse travelers who attempt to enter Canada northbound through any other border crossing and reroute them to an approved crossing. Persons entering Canada from Alaska may use any border crossing.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Heed all official directives. Reconfirm all health-related travel requirements before travel. Confirm appointments in advance.

Resources

WHO Coronavirus Knowledge Base
Canada - Coronavirus Updates
Canada - Travel Restrictions
Canada - ArriveCan website