Like the UK, Canada has recently enacted additional, stricter COVID travel policies. These rules took effect on February 22 and will remain in place until March 22, 2021 with an extension possible.
Canada is only allowing essential international travel and only the following are permitted to enter the country:
- Canadian citizens and permanent residents
- US citizens and foreign nationals traveling on direct flights from the US to Canada who have not resided anywhere but the US and Canada in the past 14 days (essential travel only)
- Foreign nationals connecting to another country from a Canadian airport
- Extended family members of Canadian citizens under certain conditions
- Extended family members include those in a long-term exclusive dating relationship and their dependent children, adult children, grandchildren, siblings, and grandparents.
- International students attending a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) approved by a provincial or territorial government as having a COVID-19 readiness plan.
Click here to find out if you are permitted to enter Canada.
Furthermore, all travelers entering Canada are required to submit their travel information virtually on the ArriveCAN website.
Temperature Checks
Prior to boarding an incoming flight to Canada, need to undergo a temperature check. If a passenger has a fever without a medical exception, they will be denied travel for at least fourteen days.
Medical Exceptions
Medical exceptions should include the physician’s name, address, and attested and signed by the physician issuing the exception. It should also state that the passenger is not a health risk and clearly list any symptoms the passenger might have that is NOT related to COVID.
COVID Testing
Additionally, all passengers over the age of five must submit a negative test result from an approved molecular COVID-19 test prior to boarding a flight. PCR, RT-LAMP, NAT, and NAAT tests are accepted, but DPI/antigen tests are not accepted. Only tests that are negative and dated within 72 hours of departure will be accepted. In addition, the test should list the testing method. The name and date of birth on the test should also match the traveler’s ID. The test must also list the name and address of the lab that administrated test.
Hotel Quarantine
As well as presenting a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding a flight to Canada, travelers are also required to take another test upon arrival and quarantine for three days in a government-approved hotel. However, even after three nights in the hotel, the government encourages incoming travelers to self-quarantine for a full fourteen days.
All hotel reservations should be made prior to arrival in Canada and travelers may not be allowed to leave the airport until they take the COVID-19 test and confirm their hotel accommodations. While airlines can’t turn passengers away for not booking their quarantine hotel prior to the flight, passengers without hotel accommodations could face a fine.
The only travelers exempted from the hotel policy are unaccompanied minors, patients getting treatment abroad, and foreign diplomats and their families.
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