Travelers coming in by air, in addition to having to provide a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding their flight, will be required to take a test immediately upon landing. Following the administration of the test, the travelers will be required to book a hotel room in one of the designated supervised hotels at their own expense, where they will have to wait up to three days for their test result. Once they receive a negative test result, they will be permitted to proceed to their designated quarantine location where they will be able to spend the remaining quarantine period under the usual restrictions. If their test is positive, they will be transported to a designated government institution, where they will be monitored and kept for an indeterminate period of time until they are cleared by public health officials.

Changes affecting land travelers are less stringent for the time being. Travelers crossing the land border will now be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken within less than 72 hours prior to travel. For now, land travelers will be permitted to go directly to their designated quarantine location with no imposed hotel stay or testing upon arrival to Canada.

Additionally, flights from international destinations can now land only in one of four designated airports: Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver. Travelers who wish to connect to other locations will first be required to take the COVID-19 test upon arrival, await their test result in a designated hotel nearby, and will only be permitted to proceed to the connecting flight once they receive a negative test result.

Travelling by Air:

All air travelers 5 years of age or older, regardless of citizenship, must provide proof of a negative laboratory test result for COVID-19 to the airline before boarding international flights to Canada. Airlines will refuse boarding to travelers who are unable to provide a negative COVID-19 test.

You must present a negative laboratory test (paper or electronic proof of result) to the airline or private operator before coming to Canada. The negative laboratory test result must include:

  • Traveler name and date of birth
  • Name and civic address of the laboratory/clinic/facility that administered the test
  • The date on which the test was conducted
  • The method of test conducted (PCR or LAMP)
  • The test result

Travelling by Land

A pre-arrival COVID-19 molecular test is now required for travelers entering Canada by land, with limited exceptions such as commercial truckers. More information will be available soon.

Types of accepted molecular test can be found here: https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/flying/covid-19-testing-travellers-coming-into-canada

As of November 2020, the following has been required:

ArriveCan App:

If flying to Canada as a final destination, Canadians and all travelers must use ArriveCAN to submit their:

  • travel and contact information
  • quarantine plan
  • COVID-19 symptom self-assessments

This is mandatory and must be completed before travel.

Unless you are exempt under conditions set out in the Mandatory Isolation Order, you must use ArriveCAN within 48 hours of entering Canada to:

  • confirm you have arrived at your place of quarantine or isolation
  • complete a daily COVID-19 symptom self-assessment during your quarantine period

Quarantine Plan:

Please note that quarantine measures are also in place. You must have a quarantine plan that shows how you'll quarantine for 14 days when you arrive in Canada. This plan is mandatory and must indicate:

  • where the traveler will stay
  • how the traveler will get to the location of stay
  • how the traveler will get groceries
  • how the traveler will access essential services and medical care

All travelers entering Canada, whether in mandatory quarantine or isolation, must

  • arrange for a suitable place to quarantine or isolate, within your financial means
  • go directly to your place of quarantine or isolation, without stopping anywhere
  • wear a non-medical mask or face covering while travelling to the place where you'll quarantine or isolate
  • stay at your place of quarantine or isolation for 14 days (only leave to seek medical assistance if needed)
  • not use shared spaces such as courtyards, restaurants, gyms or pools if you're staying at a hotel or paid lodging
  • not have any guests, even if you're outside and stay 2 meters apart from the guests
  • monitor your health for symptoms of COVID-19
  • follow all other guidance provided by your local public health authority

In your place of quarantine, you may use shared spaces or private outdoor spaces provided you:

  • avoid contact with others who didn't travel with you
  • clean and disinfect spaces after use
  • wear a suitable non-medical mask or face covering if a distance of 2 meters from others residing in your place of quarantine can't be maintained

As travel restrictions are fluid and changing rapidly due to the increase in COVID-19 infections, please check with FGI before you make travel arrangements so that we may help you navigate the most recent regulations that are in place. 

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.