For fully immunised travellers, Canada is removing the COVID-19 test requirement.
Beginning April 1, fully vaccinated visitors to Canada will no longer require a COVID-19 test prior to arrival.
The new restrictions, according to the Canadian government, will apply to travellers entering at all ports of entry.
Although pre-arrival testing will be eliminated, the government may still test travellers at random after they arrive.
The goal of the random tests is to find COVID-19 variants and track them down.
If fully vaccinated passengers are chosen for an on-arrival test, they will not be required to quarantine while awaiting the results.
In Canada, travel industry representatives have fought against testing standards, claiming that their high cost will deter travellers.
The testing requirement, according to the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable, is a “non-science-based” impediment.
The group cited the fact that some countries have already dropped their testing requirements, such as the United Kingdom, Denmark, Switzerland and Ireland.
Canada already eased testing requirements on February 28. Currently, travellers to Canada must either produce a pre-arrival antigen test within 24 hours of flight departure or arrival at the land border. The antigen test has to be approved by the country that the traveller is arriving from, and it cannot be done at home. Alternatively, travellers can take a molecular test within 72 hours of coming to Canada. Travellers need to upload documents via the ArriveCAN app before crossing the border.
Also as of February 28, unvaccinated children under age 12 entering Canada no longer have to quarantine for two weeks.
The vaccine mandate for travellers coming to Canada remains in effect. Fully vaccinated approved permanent residents, temporary residents, and visitor visa holders may enter the country. Foreign unvaccinated travellers can only come to Canada in certain circumstances listed on the government’s website, such as Ukrainian citizens, temporary foreign workers coming to work in farming or food processing, and people who routinely travel across the border for work, among others. Unvaccinated or partially-vaccinated travellers will still need to be tested on arrival and quarantine for 14 days. They will also need to do a test on day eight of their quarantine.
In order to be considered fully vaccinated, the Canadian government requires travellers to have the full recommended dose of an approved vaccine. At this time, a booster shot is not required. The final dose must have been taken within 14 days of arrival to Canada. Travellers must upload their proof of vaccination to the ArriveCAN app.