COVID-19 UPDATES

Where Can Canadians Travel Right Now?

Travel within Canada

When arriving at your destination, you may be subject to further measures imposed by the provincial, territorial or municipal governments to prevent the spread of COVID-19. There are various measures in place in order to restrict non-essential inter and intra-provincial/ territorial travel as well as different isolation requirements. Please ensure you are familiar with the restrictions imposed by the local authorities at your flight’s destination.

Contact information for provincial and territorial COVID-19 resources is available via the Public Health Agency of Canada’s website.

Requirements for Travellers Entering Canada

Pre-Departure Negative COVD-19 Testing

Traveller Requirements

As of January 7, 2021, all inbound international passengers five years of age or older, including Canadians, will now be required to show a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to boarding a flight. Valid test results must include:

  • A negative test result
  • Guest name and date of birth that matches ticket and travel documents
  • Name of laboratory that administered the test
  • Civic address of the laboratory that administered the test
  • The date and time the test was conducted
  • Testing method
  • English or French language where possible

For the Canadian Government’s information on testing entities abroad: 

  1. Visit travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories 
  2. Select a country 
  3. Click the “Health” tab 
  4. Scroll down to “Medical services and facilities” 
  5. Click on “Local COVID-19 testing facilities” 

If a traveller’s flight to Canada departs from one of the recognised countries identified by the Government of Canada as a country where PCR testing is deemed unavailable, they may still travel, however upon landing in Canada, they will be required to quarantine for 14 days in a Public Health Agency of Canada quarantine location.

Even with a negative COVID-19 PCR test all travellers entering Canada will still have to complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Travellers to Canada must use ArriveCAN and provide accurate contact information along with their mandatory 14-day quarantine plan on or before entry. More details on ArriveCAN can be found further down the page.

Cost

The cost for a PCR test will vary by testing facility and is payable by the traveller. It is the responsibility of the traveller to source their own valid test and ensure the available timing of the test will satisfy these entry requirements before paying for a test.

Changes to Self-Serve Check-in for Departures to Canada

Some airlines may have updated their self-serve check-in options to allow guests to add their travel documents and select seats; however, they may not be able to add/pay for baggage or receive a boarding pass and will be directed to see an airline agent at the airport. The agent will verify that the guest has the required documentation and once confirmed, will issue a boarding pass/baggage tags.

Denied Boarding

A traveller will be denied boarding if:

  • They are unable to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to their scheduled flight.
  • Their test results are inconclusive.
  • They tested positive for COVID-19. Travellers who test positive for COVID-19 will be ineligible to travel.

Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) denied boarding compensation will not apply for these cases.

More Details

The Government of Canada has published a list of frequently asked questions about the new testing requirement. For any specific questions related to the implementation of the government policy, please contact the government or Canadian Consular Services. Visit travel.gc.ca for official updates from the Government of Canada.

Submit Quarantine Information Digitally Prior to Arrival via ArriveCAN

As of November 21, 2020, all travellers to Canada will be required to submit quarantine information digitally via the ArriveCAN app upon and after entry into Canada. This information is crucial to Canada’s response to COVID-19.

Travellers must submit their information before boarding their flight to Canada or prior to entering Canada by land or sea, and be ready to show their ArriveCAN receipt to a border services officer. Failure to do so may result in additional delays at the border and travellers could also be subject to enforcement action, which can range from verbal warnings to $1,000 fines.

In addition, all travellers, whether they arrived by air, land or sea, must provide information after their entry into Canada. Travellers must use ArriveCAN to confirm: 1) that they’ve arrived at the address they provided for their quarantine or isolation location within 48 hours of their entry into Canada; and 2) complete daily COVID-19 symptom self-assessments during their quarantine period.

For more information on these requirements and the ArriveCAN app, please visit the Government of Canada’s website.

The ArriveCan app is available for iOS, Android and online.

International Travel Outside of Canada

Note that some countries are enforcing additional measures that may include mandatory quarantine upon arrival. Please consult the government website of the country you are travelling to for their entry requirements.

You can also find more information about each travel restriction (by country) from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Their website provides the most current and accurate information regarding international travel.

Additional Resources

Mandatory Face Coverings

Acceptable face coverings are made with protective layers of absorbent fabric (such as cotton) that snugly fit over the nose and mouth and are secured to the face with ties or ear loops. As per Transport Canada, face coverings with exhalation valves and face shields or masks made of plastic are not considered an acceptable face covering. Any time an airline agent or crew member asks you to remove your face covering (such as for an ID check) remember to do so by untying it or unhooking the loop from your ear, and avoid touching the front of the face covering when removing it.

Mandatory Health Assessment

All travellers must be asked health questions prior to boarding a flight. In response to these questions, travellers must not provide information that they know to be false or misleading.

  • Do you have a fever?
  • Do you have shortness of breath?
  • Do you have a cough?
  • Have you been denied boarding on a flight due these symptoms in the last 14 days?
  • Are you the subject of a provincial/territorial or local public health order?*

* For flights within Canada or departing Canada only.

If any of the answers are YES, the traveller will not be permitted to travel, unless they have a medical certificate to demonstrate that any symptoms they are presenting are unrelated to COVID-19.

As a reminder, no person should board a flight when they are feeling ill and could potentially put others at risk. If you are ill you must present an appropriate medical certificate. Should symptoms such as a fever, cough or difficulty breathing develop while in flight, please notify the flight crew immediately.

In the News

WestJet enhances no-charge COVID-19 travel insurance offering with U.S. coverage – September 28, 2020Download

With New COVID-19 Study, Air Canada Pushes for Reopening Borders – September 04, 2020

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