As of April 1, fully vaccinated travelers will no longer need to provide a negative pre-entry COVID-19 test result to enter Canada by air, land or water. Fully vaccinated travelers seeking to arrive in Canada before April 1, 2022, must still have a valid pre-entry test.
Eliminating the testing requirement, which was announced by the federal government on March 17, is something that travel and tourism organizations have been calling for, arguing that the requirement presented an unnecessary logistical and financial burden on travelers.
However, passengers may still be subjected to mandatory, random PCR testing at the airport – in part to monitor for new, emerging COVID-19 variants – though they will not be required to isolate while awaiting their results.
Despite pre-arrival testing requirements being lifted for fully vaccinated travelers entering Canada at the end of the month, other pandemic travel rules still apply.
For example, vaccination rules in Canada haven’t changed at all.
If you’re planning to travel to Canada, you’ll still need to determine whether you qualify as a “fully vaccinated traveler” based on the Canadian government’s definition.
You’re considered vaccinated if you:
Have received at least two doses of a vaccine accepted for travel, a mix of two accepted vaccines or at least one dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and have received your second dose at least 14 calendar days before you enter Canada.
What vaccines are accepted?
AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD
Bharat Biotech
Janssen/Johnson & Johnson
Moderna
Novavax
Pfizer-BioNTech – including for children aged 5 to 11 years
Sinopharm
Sinovac
If your proof of vaccination isn’t in English or French, you’ll still have to get it translated. The “certified translation” has to include the stamp or membership number of a professional translation association that does it for you, and you’ll want to keep both the original version and the translated version with you while you travel.
Unvaccinated and partially-vaccinated travelers will still need to isolate and be tested on arrival, and again eight days later.
All travelers continue to be required to submit their mandatory information in ArriveCAN (free mobile app or website) before their arrival in Canada. Travelers who arrive without completing their ArriveCAN submission may have to test on arrival and quarantine for 14 days, regardless of their vaccination status. Travellers taking a cruise or a plane must submit their information in ArriveCAN within 72 hours before boarding.
Federal officials say they will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Canada and abroad, and changes may be made to travel requirements as the epidemiological situation evolves.
“Let us remember that all measures are subject to review,” said Canadian Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos. “We will continue to adjust them as the epidemiological situation here in Canada and abroad evolves.”
Sources: Government of Canada • Global News • CTV News