Canada: Officials to require travelers entering via land borders starting to produce proof of negative COVID-19 test starting Feb. 15 /update 16

Event

Starting Feb. 15, authorities in Canada will require travelers who are allowed to enter through the country's land borders to show proof of having tested negative for COVID-19 as part of the government's efforts to curb infections. The test must have been taken no more than 72 hours prior to arriving at the border. Canadian citizens or permanent residents who do not produce proof of a negative COVID-19 test will be allowed to enter but will face significant monetary penalties.

The nation's land borders with the US remain closed for all nonessential travel through at least Feb. 21. The measure has been in place since March 2020 as part of an agreement between the US and Canada and does not affect trade or essential business travel.

Other travel restrictions remain unchanged. A ban on entering Canada remains in force for most nonresident foreign nationals, with those allowed to enter still being required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Canadian citizens and residents returning to the country can enter, as can immediate family members of Canadian citizens or residents provided they plan to stay for at least 15 days and are able to quarantine for the first 14 days of their stay.

Other nonresident foreign nationals allowed to enter must be traveling for essential reasons and must travel either from the US or be exempt from the entry restrictions by virtue of being temporary workers, international students, diplomats, aircrew members, or French citizens who live in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. People working in commerce, those who cross the border regularly, government officials, and persons employed in critical manufacturing may be exempted from the 14-day self-quarantine requirement, provided they do not display any COVID-19 symptoms.

All airline passengers aged five years or older who are traveling to Canada must provide the airline with proof of having tested negative for COVID-19, using either a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test taken no more than 72 hours prior to departing for Canada. Travelers from South America and the Caribbean are allowed to present results from tests taken within 96 hours of departure for Canada.

All international passenger flights -including those from the US - enter Canada through one of the following four airports: Pearson International Airport (YYZ) in Toronto, Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Montreal Trudeau Airport (YUL), and Calgary International Airport (YYC). Travelers entering Canada by air must take a COVID-19 test at the airport upon arrival; they must subsequently quarantine at an approved hotel while waiting for the test results at the travelers' expense. If the test result is negative, travelers will be allowed to finish the 14-day quarantine at their homes; if the test result is positive, travelers will continue the quarantine in government-designated facilities.

The Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing, and Air Transat airlines have canceled services to Mexico, Costa Rica, and Caribbean islands until at least April 30.

All air passengers must wear protective face coverings, and all maritime and land passengers are encouraged to do the same. Persons exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms are not allowed to board planes to Canada, except for Canadian citizens and residents. Canadian authorities have also banned individuals displaying symptoms associated with COVID-19 from domestic air and train travel until further notice. Travelers who are denied boarding are also barred from air or train travel for at least 14 days unless they can produce a medical certificate confirming that any symptoms are unrelated to COVID-19.

Canada maintains tightened border restrictions for persons transiting the country to reach Alaska for essential reasons from the 48 contiguous US states ("Lower 48"). 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. Travelers who attempt to enter Canada northbound through any other border crossing will be denied entry and rerouted to an approved crossing. Persons entering Canada from Alaska may use any border crossing. The regulations specify that travelers must take the most direct route through Canada and avoid stopping at leisure sites or national parks, and have proof of residence or employment in Alaska if going north, or in the lower 48 states if going south. Violators could face fines.

Authorities also extended a ban on pleasure craft in Canadian Arctic waters and a ban on cruise vessels in all Canadian waters through Feb. 28, 2022. Pleasure craft used by local Arctic residents are exempt.

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