Canada travel restrictions: What’s changing

Amid mounting stress on the Canadian authorities to deal with lengthy delays and wait occasions at airports, federal ministers have introduced additional easing of some COVID-19 journey restrictions.

However whereas the feds are lifting vaccine necessities for some travellers, different well being measures on the border stay in place. Here is a information to the present COVID-19 guidelines round journey in addition to what’s altering.

VACCINE MANDATES

At present, all travellers are required to point out proof of being absolutely vaccinated earlier than getting into Canada by air, land or water.

However starting on June 20, the federal government will drop the requirement that home and outbound worldwide travellers be absolutely vaccinated towards COVID-19.

Overseas nationals coming to Canada will nonetheless be required to be vaccinated below the brand new guidelines, except they meet one of many criteria for exemption.

For those who’re travelling internationally, make sure to examine the COVID-19 journey guidelines in your vacation spot. Whereas the Transport Canada guidelines on vaccine mandates are anticipated to be lifted, some international locations, corresponding to america and Australia, nonetheless require international vacationers to current proof of vaccination.

Vaccine mandates additionally stay in place for passengers and crew travelling on cruise ships that dock in Canada.

TESTING, QUARANTINING FOR UNVACCINATED TRAVELLERS

Unvaccinated Canadian residents and everlasting residents returning to Canada are nonetheless topic to quarantine and testing necessities.

For those who’re an unvaccinated traveller returning to Canada, you are required to offer proof of a unfavorable molecular check, corresponding to a PCR check taken inside 72 hours of your scheduled flight or land entry into Canada. Unvaccinated travellers also can present proof of a unfavorable antigen check taken the day prior to this, however the check needs to be both administered or noticed by a pharmacy, lab, health-care entity or telehealth service.

Unvaccinated travellers will even be topic to a COVID-19 check on arrival. The check could also be completed on-site at an airport or travellers could also be given a check equipment to finish at dwelling.

Upon arrival, unvaccinated travellers should additionally quarantine for 14 days and take one other COVID-19 check on day 8 of quarantine.

RANDOM COVID-19 TESTING

Final Friday, Transport Canada announced that necessary random COVID-19 testing for incoming worldwide travellers at airports can be quickly suspended for all vaccinated travellers till June 30.

Unvaccinated travellers are nonetheless topic to on-site arrival testing. However beginning July 1, all testing, together with for unvaccinated travellers, can be carried out off-site.

MASKS

Whereas the U.S. dropped the in-flight masks mandate in April, face masks are nonetheless necessary aboard all flights and interprovincial trains in Canada.

ARRIVECAN APP

The Canadian authorities will proceed to require inbound travellers to enter their well being data, quarantine plan and proof of vaccination through the ArriveCAN app. Utilizing the app is necessary, no matter citizenship, and it should be accomplished inside 72 hours of your scheduled flight or arrival at a land border.

If you do not have a smartphone, you need to use the online browser model of ArriveCAN to enter your location.