To enter Canada, fully vaccinated travellers are no longer required to be tested for COVID-19.
Ottawa’s new, eased border public health regulations went into effect early Monday morning. These visitors are also no longer need to be quarantined for 14 days. In addition, their unvaccinated children under the age of 12 who are travelling with them will no longer be required to self-isolate.
“For two years now, our government’s actions in the fight against COVID-19 have been based on prudence and science. (These) announcements are a reflection of the progress we have made against this current Omicron variant,” said Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos in announcing the new measures last month.
“The return to mandatory random testing of all vaccinated travellers will facilitate travel for Canadians all while helping our public health authorities to detect future changes in COVID-19 importation rates and variants of concern. As we have said all along, Canada’s border measures will remain flexible and adaptable, for potential future scenarios.”
Non-vaccinated Canadian visitors will still be checked upon arrival, on the eighth day after entering the country, and will be quarantined for 14 days. To meet pre-entry requirements, Canadians now have the option of using a COVID-19 rapid antigen test result taken the day before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry, or a molecular test result taken no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry.
Foreign nationals who have not been immunized will be denied entry unless they meet one of a few exceptions. Since early Monday morning, all Canadian airports have been permitted to welcome international flights. Prior to February 28, only 18 Canadian airports were permitted to receive international flights due to public health regulations.
The advisory on international travel in Canada has officially been lifted, allowing Canadians to go outside the country for non-essential purposes. Although the easing of the non-essential travel restriction, the federal government is nevertheless reminding travellers that the hazards associated with foreign travel remain high while the world grapples with the Omicron variant.
The government has not relaxed the requirements for travellers who test positive while travelling overseas. Those visitors must wait at least 10 days after taking their test before entering Canada. Infected Canadians will not be turned away at the border, but they may face fines of up to $5,000 for breaking the law.
Several border-town mayors from both sides of the Canada-US border convened a news conference on Friday, calling for an end to all pre-arrival testing at the land border for fully vaccinated travellers.
Several medical professionals have also suggested that Ottawa discontinue pre-arrival testing, stating that it is no longer necessary now that Omicron has spread across Canada. However, the government has stated that further relaxation of border controls will not occur until pandemic circumstances improve.
People who have recently recovered with COVID-19 are exempt from pre-arrival testing if they can show documentation of a positive molecular test taken at least 10 days and no more than 180 days before entering Canada. This means that travellers who test positive for an antigen test while overseas may face issues. They must have a second test before returning home, and the results of any additional antigen tests must be negative.
“We are committed to a safe reopening; one that provides predictability, flexibility and shows the world that Canada is one of the safest places to travel,” said Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault.
The tourism minister lauded the Canadian tourism industry for being a world leader in protecting traveller safety while navigating a difficult economic recession. Prior to arrival in Canada, all travellers, regardless of how long they have been away from Canada, must submit their mandatory information using the ArriveCAN app, including evidence of immunization in English or French and a quarantine plan.
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