Canada: Officials announce further COVID-19 testing and quarantine requirements for international travelers starting Feb. 22 /update 17

Event

Authorities in Canada have announced further testing and quarantine requirements for international travelers, which take effect Feb. 22, as part of ongoing efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). From Feb. 22, all travelers arriving in Canada by land or air will be required to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival and toward the end of their 14-day quarantine period. Land ports of entry with onsite testing will include Douglas (British Columbia), Coutts (Alberta), Queenston-Lewiston Bridge (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario), Saint Bernard de Lacolle (Highway 15, Quebec), and Saint Stephen 3rd Bridge (New Brunswick). An additional 11 sites will be available from March 4. Additionally, travelers arriving by land or air will be required to electronically submit their travel information, including a suitable quarantine plan, prior to entry.

From Feb. 22, officials will also require all international air travelers to stay at a government-authorized hotel for up to three nights, at their own expense, while they await the results of their arrival test. Travelers must reserve their three-night stay prior to departure to Canada. Hotel bookings will be available online from Feb. 18. The hotels will be located near the international airports accepting international flights in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal.

These measures are in addition to existing international travel restrictions and entry requirements:

International Travel Restrictions
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.

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

Entry Requirements
Travelers arriving by the land border must present a negative COVID-19 test result; 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.

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 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.

Other Travel Restrictions
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.