Canada
Travel restrictions
As of May 1st 2020, if you are a foreign national, you must have an essential reason to travel to Canada. This includes family members and spouses or partners of Canadians. If you do not have an essential reason to travel to Canada, a border services officer may deny your entry.
On June 8th 2020, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced modified entry restrictions for certain immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Beginning on August 9th 2021, fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents travelling for non-essential reasons will be able to enter Canada.
Land border restrictions for travel from Canada to the United States remain in effect through August 21st 2021 and may be extended.
International airline passengers must arrive in Canada at one of the four following airports: Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, or Montreal.
Starting on August 9th 2021, Canada will re-open five additional airports for international arrivals: Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Quebec City, and Halifax.
Non-vaccinated airline passengers must currently quarantine in an approved hotel for three nights while they await arrival test results. Travelers are responsible for paying all hotel expenses (approximately $2,000 CAD).
Fully vaccinated travelers who are permitted to enter Canada are not subject to the federal requirement to quarantine or take a COVID-19 test towards the end of quarantine.
All travelers must still provide a quarantine plan through the ArriveCAN system and be prepared to quarantine, in case it is determined at the border that they do not meet the necessary requirements.
In addition, a number of provinces and territories have put in place specific restrictions for travel across their borders, including for domestic travelers.
Effective January 7th, 2021, all airline passengers 5 years of age or older will be required to test negative for COVID-19 when traveling from another country to Canada. The new regulation requires passengers to provide their airline with negative laboratory COVID-19 molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results taken within 72 hours of their scheduled departure to Canada.
On arrival to Canada and before leaving the airport, airline passengers will be required to take a COVID-19 molecular test.
As of February 22nd 2021, airline passengers must quarantine in an approved hotel for three nights while they await arrival test results. Travelers are responsible for paying all hotel expenses (approximately $2,000 CAD).
As of February 15th 2021, travelers seeking entry to Canada by land will be required to provide results of a negative COVID-19 molecular test taken within 72 hours of arrival at the land border port of entry. In addition, as of February 22nd, travelers entering Canada at the land border will be required to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival as well as toward the end of their 14-day quarantine.
Anyone who receives a negative PCR test result and is authorized to enter Canada must still complete the full, mandatory 14-day quarantine.
Canadians can take a look at travel recommendations by country at the following link: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories
Measures taken by the government
As of March 18th 2020, only four Canadian airports will continue to accept international flights: Toronto Pearson International Airport, Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Vancouver International Airport and Calgary International Airport. Domestic flights and those arriving from the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and Saint Pierre and Miquelon will be exempted.
On March 28th 2020, the Government of Canada issued new domestic transportation measures designed to mitigate the risk of further spreading COVID-19 within Canada.
On March 30th 2020, Canada states that all passengers flying in Canada will be subject to a health check prior to boarding.
All passengers on flights departing or arriving at Canadian airports are now required to wear a non-medical mask or face covering that covers their mouth and nose.
Essential services in the country remain generally available, but some provinces have instituted restrictions and/or lockdowns that limit nonessential services such as restaurants, bars, and retail shops.
Testing
COVID-19 testing is available throughout Canada for medical purposes. Testing programs are administered by provincial and territorial health authorities. In some provinces and territories, you can also obtain testing for travel purposes directly from the health authorities, while in others you must pay a private facility.
Costs for private testing for travel purposes vary widely and can exceed $300.
This Government of Canada website contains information about COVID-19 testing in Canada and includes a link to the COVID-19 information websites of each province and territory: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/symptoms/testing.html#toc3
Emergency number (related to COVID-19) while visiting the country
COVID-19 Information Service: 1-833-784-4397
Source:
US Embassy in Canada https://ca.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information-canada/
Published on July 28th 2021 (checked on July 28th 2021)
For more information please visit our COVID-19 Updates page at https://www.hiddentrails.com/article/covid19update.aspx