Canada relaxes some entry requirements for fully vaccinated travelers

With the number of Omicron cases tumbling, Canada plans to relax some of its entry requirements for vaccinated visitors and will no longer recommend Canadians avoid travel for nonessential reasons, according to the country’s Public Health Ministry. 

Starting February 28, vaccinated travelers will have the option to show an antigen test taken within 24 hours instead of a PCR test administered within 72 hours. Arriving fully vaccinated passengers will face random secondary COVID-19 testing instead of the previous mandatory tests for all arriving passengers. Vaccinated travelers will also not be required to quarantine while awaiting the results if they are selected for one of these random tests. 

The government attributes the change to a number of factors “including Canada’s high vaccination rates, the increasing availability and use of rapid tests to detect infection, decreasing hospitalization rates and growing domestic availability of therapeutics and treatments.”

In addition, the requirement that international flights land at specified Canadian airports will sunset on February 28 at 4pm allowing more travelers to fly directly to their destinations. 

“These measures will allow vaccinated Canadians to once again reunite with family and friends and reap the economic benefit that travel provides. We will continue to evaluate our measures and will not hesitate to make necessary adjustments to keep Canadians and our transportation system safe,” said Omar Alghabra, Canada’s Minister of Transport

Canada’s updated entry requirements for fully vaccinated travelers

If you are not a Canadian citizen, you must be fully vaccinated to enter Canada. Those who wish to travel to Canada should still check to make sure they are eligible to enter as well as register online with ArriveCAN.

You must show proof of a negative COVID-19 antigen test administered no more than 24 hours prior to departure or a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to departure. 

Children age 12 and younger who are traveling with a fully vaccinated adult are exempt from quarantine. 

Note that some of Canada’s provinces and territories may have additional requirements for entry so make sure you check with your final destination before departing. 

Canada’s entry requirements for unvaccinated travelers

Unvaccinated foreign nationals still are not allowed to travel to Canada unless they qualify for one of the country’s exemptions. 

Returning unvaccinated Canadians still face a 14-day quarantine and testing upon arrival and Day 8 of quarantine.