Testing requirement for vaccinated travellers entering Canada stops April 1

Nick Laurin
Testing requirement for vaccinated travellers entering Canada stops April 1
Long lines at the CBSA checkpoint in Cornwall on Friday morning, August 6, 2021 (Nick Seebruch/ Seaway News).

CANADA – On March 17, 2022, the Government of Canada announced that effective April 1, 2022, fully vaccinated travellers will no longer be required to provide a pre-entry COVID-19 test result to enter Canada.

Fully vaccinated travellers seeking to arrive in Canada before April 1, 2022, must provide a valid pre-entry test.

According to the Government of Canada, a fully vaccinated traveller:

  •     Have received at least 2 doses of a vaccine accepted for travel, or a mix of 2 accepted vaccines.
  •     Have received their second dose at least 14 calendar days before entering Canada.
  •     Have no signs or symptoms of COVID-19.
  •     Follow pre-entry testing and entry requirements.
  •     Upload proof of vaccination in ArriveCAN
  •     Complete their ArriveCAN submission, and have an ArriveCAN receipt with letter I, V or A beside their name.

Additionally, travellers arriving to Canada from any country, may need to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival, if selected for mandatory random testing. However, travellers selected are no longer required to quarantine while waiting for their test results.

However, for partially or unvaccinated travellers who are currently travelling to Canada, pre-entry testing requirements are not changing. According to the Government of Canada, all travellers 5 years of age or older who do not qualify as fully vaccinated must continue to provide proof of an accepted type of pre-entry COVID-19 test result:

  •     Negative antigen test, administered or observed by an accredited lab or testing provider, taken outside of Canada no more than one day before initially scheduled flight departure.
  •     Negative molecular test taken no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight departure time.
  •     Previous positive molecular test taken at least 10 calendar days and no more than 180 calendar days before their scheduled flight departure time.

  If a fully vaccinated traveller or unvaccinated child under 12 years of age tests positive:

  •     They must isolate for 10 days
  •     Report their test results/and or symptoms to PHAC by calling 1-833-641-0343 

If a parent, step-parent, guardian, or tutor a child has travelled with experiences symptoms or tests positive:

  •     Unvaccinated children under 12 years of age must quarantine for 14 days, and monitor for symptoms.
  •     Report their test results/and or symptoms to PHAC by calling 1-833-641-0343

According to the Government of Canada, all travellers are required to continue submitting their mandatory information in the ArriveCAN app before their arrival in Canada. Travellers who arrive without completing their ArriveCAN app submission may have to test on arrival, and quarantine for 14 days, regardless of their vaccination status.

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