OTTAWA, Ontario (NMB) – The Government of Canada has announced that beginning on Friday, April 1st, visitors that are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will no longer need to provide a pre-entry test result to enter the country.
Fully vaccinated travelers may still be selected for mandatory random testing, but they are not required to quarantine while awaiting the result.
Pre-entry testing requirements are not changing for partially or unvaccinated travelers.
All travelers five-year-of-age and up who do not qualify as fully vaccinated and are not considered exempt must quarantine for 14 days upon entry and provide proof of an accepted pre-entry test result. According to a press release, that means:
- a valid, negative antigen test, administered or observed by an accredited lab or testing provider, taken outside of Canada no more than one day before their initially scheduled flight departure time or their arrival at the land border or marine port of entry; or
- a valid negative molecular test taken no more than 72 hours before their initially scheduled flight departure time or their arrival at the land border or marine port of entry; or
- a previous positive molecular test taken at least 10 calendar days and no more than 180 calendar days before their initially scheduled flight departure time or their arrival at the land border or marine port of entry. It is important to note that positive antigen test results will not be accepted.
All travellers continue to be required to submit their mandatory information in ArriveCAN (free mobile app or website) before their arrival in Canada. Travellers who arrive without completing their ArriveCAN submission may have to test on arrival and quarantine for 14 days, regardless of their vaccination status. Travellers taking a cruise or a plane must submit their information in ArriveCAN within 72 hours before boarding.
