Canada will begin phase one of easing travel restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers entering the country. Fully vaccinated Canadians, those registered under the Indian Act and permanent residents will be allowed to enter the country without having to quarantine for 14 days. In phase one, however, foreign nationals, unless they already meet an exemption (such as being an international student), will not be exempt from quarantine, the mandatory hotel stay, or day-8 testing. There are also no exceptions for those who are only partially vaccinated.
Exemptions are not automatic. There are procedures in place that must be adhered to in order to skip the quarantine. To be approved, travelers must electronically submit COVID-19-related information into ArriveCAN in advance of their arrival, meet the pre- and on-arrival test requirements, be asymptomatic, and have a suitable quarantine plan. Supporting proof of vaccination is also required. Final determination regarding exemptions is made by a government representative at the border based on the information presented at the time of entry into Canada.
Unvaccinated minors or dependent adults who are travelling with fully vaccinated travelers must still quarantine for two weeks and follow all testing requirements, however, they are not required to stay at a government-authorized quarantine hotel.
Fully vaccinated travelers must follow the entry requirements, which include a pre-entry test. They must also provide a quarantine plan where they can stay for at least 14 days. According to officials, pre- and on-arrival testing requirements for travelers arriving to Canada by air or land continue to apply for everyone, unless otherwise exempted.
Unless exempt, all travelers, five years of age or older, regardless of citizenship, must:
– provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test result taken within 72 hours before their scheduled flight or
– provide proof a positive COVID-19 test taken between 14 and 90 days before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border crossing, and
– take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival in Canada either at the airport or land border, following instructions provided to you by a government official upon entry to Canada.
Travelers must retain copies of their test results for the full 14 days after entry to Canada, and be prepared to present them to a government official on demand.
