As restrictions on COVID-19 at the border will remain in place for at least another month, some Canadians may need a letter about what these rules are.
The Public Health Agency of Canada has announced that several pandemic restrictions will be extended at Canadian airports and land borders, including vaccine mandates, random tests for COVID-19 and the mandatory use of the ArriveCan app, at least until June 30.
Although few Canadians may still worry about traveling, some are ready to take a break after more than two years in a pandemic. CTVNews.ca breaks the rules that travelers should be aware of when planning their trips before taking off.
A PRELIMINARY TEST IS NO LONGER REQUIRED
From 1 April, fully vaccinated passengers will no longer be required to pass a COVID-19 pre-entry test in order to enter Canada by air, land or water.
Passengers can still undergo mandatory, random PCR tests at the airport – in part to monitor for new, emerging variants of COVID-19 – although they will not be required to isolate themselves while awaiting their results.
From April 25, children ages 5 to 11 traveling with a fully vaccinated parent or guardian will no longer be required to complete a COVID-19 test before entering Canada, whether or not the child has been vaccinated. Children under the age of five will also not be required to complete a COVID-19 test before entering and are exempt from vaccination requirements.
ARRIVECAN APPLICATION
All travelers coming to Canada, regardless of nationality or vaccination status, must still use the ArriveCAN app to provide their health information before arriving in Canada. Travelers must submit their information to ArriveCAN within 72 hours before arriving at the port of entry.
Travelers arriving without completing an ArriveCAN application may need to be tested on arrival on the eighth day of their 14-day quarantine, regardless of their vaccination status. Foreign nationals may also be denied entry if they have not completed the ArriveCAN application.
Any passenger who fails to provide their information and proof of vaccination using ArriveCAN can be fined $ 5,000.
While passengers still have to use the ArriveCAN app, the federal government has waived the requirement for those entering the country to monitor and report any symptoms of COVID-19 they experience. Travelers from abroad will also not be required to maintain a list of close contacts and places visited during the first 14 days after arriving in Canada.
EVERYWHERE PROOF OF VACCINATION REQUIRED
Despite raising the requirements for preliminary tests, the requirement to be fully vaccinated with a government-approved vaccine against COVID-19 in order to board federally regulated air, rail and sea transport remains in place.
Pre-entry testing requirements have not changed for partially vaccinated or unvaccinated passengers who are currently allowed to travel to Canada.
Unless otherwise excluded, all passengers 12 years of age or older who do not qualify for full vaccination – after receiving at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccine accepted for travel, or a mixture of two vaccines – must continue to provide evidence of a negative preliminary input from the COVID-19 test.
Accepted pre-entry tests include a negative rapid antigen test performed by healthcare professionals no more than one day before arrival at the port of entry, or a negative molecular test performed no more than 72 hours before the scheduled flight or crossing the land border.
Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated passengers may also provide a positive molecular test taken at least 10 days and no more than 180 days before the scheduled time of departure or arrival at the land border for entry into Canada. Positive antigen test results are not accepted.
The government recommends that you complete a series of vaccines against COVID-19, along with any additional recommended doses in Canada, at least 14 days before traveling abroad. For those who need to travel, the government is proposing to postpone their plans until they are fully vaccinated.
MASKING DURING TRAVEL AND AFTER ARRIVAL
Canadian adults and children five and older who are fully vaccinated are no longer expected to wear a mask in public for 14 days after arriving in Canada. However, children between the ages of five and 11 who are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated must continue to wear masks in public places, such as school, for 14 days after entering Canada.
All travelers must still wear a mask while traveling on federally regulated modes of transport, such as airplanes or trains, whether or not they have been vaccinated.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Before traveling, the government recommends that you check the testing and vaccination requirements for COVID-19, as well as other requirements for entering the destination, as they may differ from the rules of Canada.
The Canadian government also advises passengers to monitor the situation with COVID-19 at their destination in the days before the trip if the status of COVID-19 infections and public health requirements there change.
CRUISE SHIPS
Cruise passengers five years of age or older must pass an antigen or molecular COVID-19 test to board a ship no more than one day before the scheduled departure, but will not need to be tested before disembarking.
All other requirements for cruises, including proof of vaccination before boarding, remain in force.
The government continues to warn passengers that the virus can easily spread among people in nearby premises, such as cruise ships. The government says the chance of being infected with COVID-19 on cruise ships is still “very high”, even for those who are fully vaccinated.
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