There are some important steps to take when travelling from Canada to the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. To help make your journey as smooth as possible and to avoid any delays, review this information and confirm with the authorities of the state you are visiting.
It is the responsibility of each traveller to ensure they have all the valid travel documents required for entry into Canada.
For inbound flights from the United States, Mexico or Jamaica:
Before boarding, all travellers must provide evidence that they received a negative or residual positive result for a COVID-19 molecular test (PCR or LAMP) that was performed on a specimen that was collected no more than 72 hours before the aircraft’s initial scheduled departure time. Pre-arrival COVID-19 molecular tests are required for trips of any duration and must be taken in a country other than Canada. Additionally, travellers will need to enter information into the ArriveCAN app and follow any provincial quarantine requirements.
January 15, 2022 Update
Valid pre-departure COVID test
Effective January 15th, any person who is travelling using a valid positive test result will be considered valid if it was taken between 10-180 days before travel vs. 14-180 days before travel.
Adjustments for persons entering Canada
As of January 15th, certain groups of travellers who are currently exempt from entry requirements, will only be allowed to enter the country if they are fully vaccinated. This includes:
Individuals travelling to reunite with family (unless they are under 18 years of age and travelling to reunite with an immediate or extended family member)
International students (18 and over). Unvaccinated students under the age of 18 must attend a designated institution with a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by the province or territory and have a letter attesting to this.
Professional athletes and their support staff, and amateur athletes
Individuals with a valid work permit, including temporary foreign workers, outside of agricultural and food processing
Foreign flight crews
As of January 15th, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers will only be allowed to enter Canada if they meet one of the limited exceptions, including:
Agricultural and food processing workers;
Foreign marine crew members;
Those entering on compassionate grounds;
New permanent residents;
Newly resettled refugees;
Children under the age of 18 who are currently exempt from the travel restrictions;
Those travelling on a National Interest Exemption
Changes to ArriveCAN
As of January 15th, ArriveCAN will be updated to reflect these categories of persons. Only those who are exempt from the vaccination requirement will get an exempt ArriveCAN receipt. All other persons will now be required to upload proof of vaccination in order to get an ArriveCAN receipt.
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