Canada has implemented restrictions on non-essential travel across Canada’s international borders and mandatory testing, quarantine and isolation measures to help prevent further spread of COVID-19. With the new variants of concern, the Government put further testing and quarantine requirements in place for international travellers arriving at air and land ports of entry. Exemptions to these measures ensure that economic supply chains continue between Canada and the United States.
The Government of Canada is continuously monitoring and evaluating the situation and will ensure protective measures remain in place until they can be lifted safely.
New OIC 53: 2021-0421 entitled Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Quarantine, Isolation and Other Obligations), has effect from the period beginning on May 21, 2021 (11:59:59 PM) and ending on June 21, 2021 (11:59:59 PM). This order repeals and replaces OIC 50: 2021-0313. This Order is to be read in conjunction with the Transport Canada’s Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirement of Civil Aviation Due to COVID-19 under the Aeronautics Act. The Interim Order was updated on April 22, 2021 to require that passengers departing India or Pakistan to Canada via an indirect route, obtain a negative COVID-19 pre-departure test from a third country before continuing their journey to Canada.
As of February 22, 2021, whether arriving by land or air, all travellers are required to electronically submit their travel and contact information, including a suitable quarantine plan, via the ArriveCAN app before crossing the border or boarding a flight. (Digital submission pre-boarding has been mandatory for air travellers since November 21, 2020).
For a quarantine location to be deemed suitable, travellers can’t stay with at-risk subpopulations including people who work in hospitals or long-term care facilities, adults over the age of 65, or those who are immunocompromised or at risk for more severe disease outcomes. In addition, travellers must avoid all contact with others in their household with whom they did not travel.
Quarantine plan and contact information must be submitted electronically for the 14-day quarantine period to PHAC, unless travellers can’t because of a disability, inadequate infrastructure, a service disruption or a natural disaster, in which case this information can be provided in an alternate manner as specified by PHAC. This obligation does not apply to people in transit who remain in sterile transit areas.
Asymptomatic travellers can submit their contact information through:
As of January 6, 2021, all travellers 5 and older, regardless of immigration status, who board an aircraft destined to Canada must present proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test. The test must be taken within 72 hours before the traveller’s scheduled departure and performed using one of two methods: either Molecular Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or Reverse Transmission Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (RT-LAMP). As of January 21, instead of providing a negative test, travellers can provide a result that is positive for COVID-19 if the test was done on a specimen that was collected at least 14 days (and no more than 90 days) before the aircraft’s initial scheduled departure time.
Unless otherwise exempt, before boarding, travellers must provide to the aircraft operator, documentation demonstrating the negative or positive test result including the following elements:
As of February 15, 2021, all travellers, with some exceptions, are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test result taken in the United States within 72 hours of pre-arrival, or a positive test taken 14 to 90 days prior to arrival. Exemptions include essential workers such as truckers and emergency service providers, as well as cross-border communities.
As of May 21, 2021, the OIC includes an exemption from pre-arrival testing requirements for 1) travellers from Alaska who transit via Yukon in order to return to Alaska; and 2) habitual residents of Northwest Angle, Minnesota, traveling by car to the continental U.S.
See below for a complete list of exempted persons from Pre-Arrival Testing Requirements
All travellers, with limited exceptions, are required to undergo COVID-19 molecular testing at time of entry and once again later in the 14-day post-entry period while they are in quarantine.
As of February 22, 2021, all travellers, with some exceptions, are required to take a COVID-19 molecular test when they arrive in Canada before exiting the first airport of entry, and another toward the end of their 14-day quarantine period.
As mentioned on page 2, travellers must stay at a GAA for up to 3 days while waiting for their first test result. The GAA hotel must be in the first Canadian city arrive in. If they receive a negative result on their arrival test, they will be able to take a connecting flight to their final Canadian destination.
There are a number of hotels to choose from near each of the four international airports accepting international flights, in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal. Costs of these hotel stays vary slightly at each location. The price will include costs associated with the room, food, cleaning, infection prevention and control measures, and security as well as transportation.
As of February 22, 2021, travellers entering Canada at the land border are required to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival as well as towards the end of their 14-day quarantine. Since March 4, 2021, the GOC has operated 16 testing sites at land points of entry across Canada.
Ports of Entry with onsite testing:
The Order allows for limited exemptions to the requirements for post-entry testing and government-authorized accommodations. This includes provisions for persons providing essential services, persons seeking essential medical treatment outside of Canada, persons entering Canada to assist in a major disaster, and unaccompanied dependent children.
As of May 21, 2021, the OIC includes an exemption from post-arrival testing requirements for 1) travellers from Alaska who transit via Yukon in order to return to Alaska; and 2) habitual residents of Northwest Angle, Minnesota, traveling by car to the continental US.
See below for a complete list of exempted persons from Post-Arrival Testing Requirements as well as those exempt from the requirement to stay in a government-approved accommodation in the air mode.
To manage unforeseen emergency and extraordinary circumstances when pre- and post-arrival testing may not be feasible, the following exemption authorities have been added as of February 14, 2021:
In some cases where pre- or post-arrival testing or quarantine would not be appropriate due to the urgency or critical nature of the work being performed by the incoming traveller, the ability to use new testing technologies will continue to be useful through the potential future introduction of alternative testing protocols that could be considered for collection of samples within a different timeframe in limited circumstances.
Failure to provide documentary evidence of a COVID-19 test will not result in a prohibition on entry to Canada for those with a right of entry (Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents, Registered Indians). Foreign nationals who are symptomatic or who fail to provide evidence of a valid pre-arrival test will be prohibited entry into Canada. Travellers who do not comply with quarantine or testing requirements pre and post arrival will be referred to PHAC and may be subject to a fine of up to $3,000 or face criminal prosecution. Additionally, travellers in quarantine or isolation are required to answer questions and provide information to peace officers on request. Failure to provide accurate information or violating any instructions provided when entering Canada is an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to up to six months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines.
All travellers entering Canada who are subject to mandatory quarantine or isolation, as well as quarantine exempt persons, are required to provide mandatory health information to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) under the Quarantine Act:
Non-exempt Travellers are required to provide information including their travel details, phone number, email address, suitable quarantine plan and civic address where they intend to quarantine. This includes travellers who have been issued a limited release from quarantine by PHAC (such as compassionate entry); Exempt Travellers are required to provide contact information (phone number and email address) where they can be contacted for a period of 14 days starting on the day the enter Canada.
As of February 14, 2021, quarantine-exempt travellers must meet more stringent obligations with respect to mask wearing and must maintain a list of contacts during their initial 14-day period in Canada. Non-medical mask requirements have been amended to align with the Transport Canada Interim Order and exempts those younger than two years of age and those with physical restrictions that prevent mask wearing.
The Order continues to allow for some limited exemptions to quarantine requirements, including cross-border students, cross-border communities, and land border crossings were the person was directed back from the United States or entered US territory without seeking formal entry (“flagpolers”).
See below for a complete list of exempted persons.
As of March 21, 2021, the Order has been restructured to include the complete listing of persons and classes of persons exempt from the various public health requirements within schedules 1 to 3.
In addition to the exemptions detailed in the above schedules, the following persons and classes of persons are exempt from select public health requirements provided that they meet established conditions:
Foreign nationals who are high performance amateur athletes participating in an International Single Sport Event (ISSE) or persons deemed to perform an essential role in relation to an ISSE, may seek entry into Canada as long as they have an authorization letter issued by Heritage Canada (PCH).
The PCH authorization letter issued pursuant to subsection 4.6(2) of the order may include a risk mitigation plan with specific conditions (quarantine exemption) developed in consultation with PHAC and supported by applicable provincial government and local health authority.
Not all high performance amateur athletes and essential personnel are exempt from the mandatory 14-day quarantine requirement.
Pursuant to subsection 4.5(1), the requirements to remain in quarantine are different for a person who has written authorization from the Minister of Health for entry and a limited release from quarantine for one of the following purposes:
As of May 21, 2021, the Chief Public Health Officer may impose conditions or requirements on any person or member of a class of persons exempt under any of the public health measures set out in this OIC, including (a) a condition that allows for the collection of information about the likelihood of introduction or spread of COVID-19 by that person or member of a class of persons; or (b) a requirement, or similar measure, to those referred to in this OIC.
Approved by: Julia Aceti, A/Vice-President, Strategic Policy Branch