As of today (01APR), travel rules are changing once again for Canadians.
On 17MAR, Canada’s Minister of Health, Jean-Yves Duclos, announced entry testing requirements were being removed for fully vaccinated travellers beginning 01APR.
While fully vaccinated travellers no longer need to present a negative COVID-19 test to enter the country, all arrivals still need to use the ArriveCAN app to submit their health information prior to arrival. This information includes proof of vaccination and a potential quarantine plan.
Travellers who arrive without completing their ArriveCAN process may have to test on arrival and quarantine for 14 days, regardless of vaccination status.
Border officials will continue to randomly test travellers upon arrival to identify and track variants of COVID-19. However, there will be no quarantine requirements while those tested await results.
What About Unvaccinated Travellers?
While Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresea Tam, suggested that the federal government is looking to change the vaccination requirement for travel from “an emphasis on requirements to recommendations,” the vaccine mandate is still in place.
Pre-entry testing rules therefore do not change today for unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers currently allowed to travel into Canada.
Unvaccinated travellers must continue to present:
- a valid, negative antigen test, administered or observed by an accredited lab or testing provider, taken outside of Canada no more than one day before their initially scheduled flight departure time or their arrival at the land border or marine port of entry; or
- a valid negative molecular test taken no more than 72 hours before their initially scheduled flight departure time or their arrival at the land border or marine port of entry; or
- a previous positive molecular test taken at least 10 calendar days and no more than 180 calendar days before their initially scheduled flight departure time or their arrival at the land border or marine port of entry. It is important to note that positive antigen test results will not be accepted.
Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travellers must also take a molecular test upon arrival, quarantine for two weeks, and test on day 8 of their isolation period.
The CBSA confirmed to CTV News that foreign nationals who are not fully vaccinated are still prohibited from entering Canada.
Cruise Travellers
The new rule changes also affect cruise travellers, announced Transport Minister Omar Alghabra on 17MAR.
As of 01APR, cruise pax will still need to present a negative antigen test taken no more than 1 day prior to boarding, but will also no longer be required to be tested before disembarking from cruise ships in Canada.
The vaccination requirement for cruise arrivals in Canada also remains in place.
