Latest update: April 25, 2022
Most recent updates to Canada’s travel restrictions & immigration policies during the COVID-19 pandemic
April 25: Canada further eases border measures
As of April 25, Canada has relaxed more measures at the border, making it easier for certain groups to enter Canada. These are the changes to border measures:
- Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children aged 5-11 no longer need a pre-departure test: Children aged 5 to 11 who are accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent, step parent, guardian, or tutor will no longer be required to complete a pre-entry COVID-19 test in order to be admitted to Canada. However, pre-entry tests will still be required for partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers ages 12 and older who are currently eligible to travel to Canada.Children under 5 years of age are not required to provide a COVID-19 test result.
- Fully vaccinated travellers no longer need to require a quarantine plan upon entry: For months now, fully vaccinated travellers have not been required to quarantine upon entry to Canada. However, fully vaccinated travellers were required to prepare a quarantine plan in case there were issues. As of April 25, this requirement has been removed.
April 1: Canada has ended pre-arrival COVID-19 testing for fully vaccinated travellers
As of April 1, 2022, fully vaccinated travellers no longer need to take a pre-arrival COVID-19 test in order to enter Canada. Travellers who are not fully vaccinated and arriving in Canada, whether by air or at the U.S.-Canada land border, must still take a COVID-19 test prior to arriving at the port of entry.
Fully vaccinated travellers still have to submit proof of vaccination via the ArriveCAN app in order to enter Canada. As well, travellers arriving by air may still be subject to randomized PCR testing at the airport (although fully vaccinated travellers selected for random testing do not have to isolate while awaiting results).
Most unvaccinated adult travellers are not able to enter Canada at this time. However, those unvaccinated travellers who are eligible to enter Canada remain subject to strict COVID-19 testing and isolation requirements.
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Who can enter Canada during COVID-19?
If you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19: You are eligible to enter Canada as long as you follow the special travel requirements for vaccinated travellers. In order to be considered “fully vaccinated,” you must have received the full series of one of the COVID-19 vaccines approved for entry to Canada (or a combination of accepted vaccines). You must have received your last dose at least 14 days prior to travelling. Canada currently accepts seven vaccines: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Covishield, Johnson & Johnson, Sinopharm, Sinovac, and Covaxin. If you have been vaccinated using a different vaccine, Canada does not consider you fully vaccinated at this time.
Children under the age of 12 travelling with fully vaccinated parents/guardians can enter Canada and are exempt from quarantine requirements. Refer here for details about requirements for children under the age of 12.
If you are unvaccinated/partially vaccinated against COVID-19: You can only enter Canada if you meet one of the exemptions to Canada’s travel restrictions and follow Canada’s special travel requirements (including COVID-19 testing and mandatory 14-day quarantine). The following groups can cross the border into Canada, even if they are unvaccinated:
- Children under the age of 18 who wish to visit family or attend post-secondary institutions;
- Temporary foreign workers working in farming or food processing (other occupations require vaccination);
- Approved permanent residents (COPR-holders) who have not yet arrived in Canada;
- Those transiting through Canada to another country; and
- Those entering for compassionate reasons, those receiving essential medical services, those living in certain border communities, members of marine crews, and certain types of diplomats.
Unvaccinated travellers should note that proof of vaccination is required for domestic flights within Canada and for train travel on Canada’s national VIA Rail network. Moreover, most Canadian provinces require proof of vaccination to access non-essential services and activities, like restaurants, gyms, concerts, etc.
Are you planning travel to Canada? Make sure you have proper health insurance coverage for your stay. Explore your health insurance options with our partner, Cigna. Get started today with a free quote!