Canadian Travel Restrictions

From Travel GC.Ca:

“Travel restrictions in Canada”

Flying to and within Canada

COVID-19 testing required for people flying into Canada Starting January 7, 2021, air travellers 5 years of age or older are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result to the airline prior to boarding international flights bound for Canada.

Mandatory 14-day quarantine or isolation Everyone entering Canada must follow mandatory isolation or quarantine requirements. Not respecting the mandatory requirements is a serious offence and you could face consequences and penalties.

Flight requirements

Pre-board COVID-19 test for air travellers coming to Canada All air travellers 5 years of age or older, regardless of citizenship, must provide proof of a negative laboratory test result for COVID-19 to the airline before boarding international flights to Canada. You don’t require a test to fly within Canada. Airlines will refuse boarding to travellers who are unable to provide a negative COVID-19 test., You must take the test within 72 hours of your scheduled departure time. Travellers departing from the Caribbean or South America can use tests conducted within 96 hours of departure (instead of 72 hours) until January 14, 2021.You must retain evidence of your test results for the 14-day period that begins on the day you enter Canada.

Types of accepted tests There are two acceptable types of COVID-19 molecular tests: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) These tests use methods such as a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab, throat swab or saliva sample. At this time, proof of having a vaccine will not replace a negative test result.

What you need to show at the airport   You must present a negative laboratory test (paper or electronic proof of result) to the airline or private operator before coming to Canada. The negative laboratory test result must include: Traveller name and date of birth, Name and civic address of the laboratory/clinic/facility that administered the test, The date on which the test was conducted, The method of test conducted (PCR or LAMP), The test result Travellers must ensure that the COVID-19 test includes all the above-noted elements. At this time, we encourage travellers to make best efforts to have their test performed at a reputable laboratory or testing facility (i.e., one recognized by the local government or accredited by a third party, such as a professional organization or international standards organization).

Testing facilities and expenses

Who is exempt from a pre-board COVID-19 test There are only a limited number of exceptions where an individual is not required to show proof of a negative test. Travellers arriving in Canada without a negative test may be subject to additional measures from federal Quarantine Officers. Children - children who are four years of age or younger (children who are five on the day of their travel must have proof of a negative COVID-19 test) Transit through Canada - transiting passengers who are only passing through Canada to reach another country Temporary exemptions for certain countries: Saint Pierre et Miquelon until January 14, 2021 Jamaica until January 18, 2021 Haiti until January 21, 2021 Crew members - a person who: is a crew member as defined in subsection 101.01(1) of the Canadian Aviation Regulations or a person who enters Canada only to become such a crew member is a member of a crew as defined in subsection 3(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations who is re-entering Canada after having left to participate in mandatory training in relation to the operation of a conveyance, and who is required by their employer to return to work as a member of a crew on a conveyance within the 14-day period that begins on the day on which they return to Canada Essential services - a person or any person in a class of persons who, as determined by the Chief Public Health Officer, will provide an essential service, if the person complies with any conditions imposed on them by the Chief Public Health Officer to minimize the risk of introduction or spread of COVID-19. (Please note: this does not include groups identified under the mandatory quarantine exemption) Emergency services - a person who: is permitted to work in Canada as a provider of emergency services under paragraph 186(t) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and who enters Canada for the purpose of providing those services is an emergency service provider, including a firefighter, peace officer, or paramedic, who returns to Canada after providing emergency services in a foreign country and who is required to provide their services within the 14-day period that begins on the day on which they return to Canada Escorting individuals for legal reasons - an official of the Government of Canada or a foreign government, including a border services officer, immigration enforcement officer, law enforcement officer, or correctional officer, who is escorting individuals travelling to Canada or from Canada pursuant to a legal process such as the deportation, extradition or international transfer of an offender National security - an official of the Government of Canada, the government of a province or a foreign government, including a border services officer, immigration enforcement officer, law enforcement officer or correctional officer, who: enters Canada for the purposes of border, immigration or law enforcement, or national security activities, that support active investigations, ensure the continuity of enforcement operations or activities, or enable the transfer of information or evidence pursuant to or in support of a legal process, and is required to provide their services within the 14-day period that begins on the day on which they enter Canada National interest - a person or any person in a class of persons whose presence in Canada, as determined by the Minister of Health, is in the national interest, if the person complies with any conditions imposed on them by that Minister to minimize the risk of introduction or spread of COVID-19 Special exemptions - individuals or a group of individuals that have been granted an extraordinary exemption from Transport Canada

Boarding your flight All passengers flying within Canada will be subject to a health check prior to boarding. This also applies to travellers arriving from outside Canada.

Travellers won’t be allowed to board if they: show any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been refused boarding in the past 14 days due to a medical reason related to COVID-19 or are subject to a provincial or local public health order

In addition, foreign nationals won’t be allowed to board a flight to Canada if: they’re travelling from a country other than the United States and are not covered by any of the exemptions in the Orders in Council or they’re travelling from a country other than the United States for an optional and discretionary purpose

All air travellers must wear a non-medical mask or face covering while travelling, except: children under 2 years old people who are unable to remove the mask without assistance people who provide a medical certificate certifying that they are unable to wear a face mask for a medical reason

Travellers with signs or symptoms If you have signs or symptoms of COVID-19 you will be required to isolate. You will not be allowed to use public transportation to travel to the place where you must isolate.

You will not be allowed to board any public flight until: 14 days have passed or you present a medical certificate confirming that your symptoms are not related to COVID-19

Arriving in Canada Foreign nationals should determine whether or not they can come to Canada, and what documents they required for entry into Canada. You will be allowed to go directly to your final destination, unless there are provincial or territorial restrictions which require you to isolate at a designated location first. You must wear a non-medical mask or face covering and practice physical distancing at all times.

Mandatory isolation or quarantine instructions

When you enter Canada, you must: isolate for 14 days if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or if you know you have COVID-19, quarantine for 14 days if you do not have symptoms, comply with mandatory isolation or quarantine requirements – failure to comply will result in fines, penalties or imprisonment

Consequences of not following the requirements

Quarantine or isolation is mandatory for people coming to Canada. Quarantine and isolation plans are evaluated by government representatives at the border to determine whether they’re suitable. This includes the risk to public health and the health and safety of those staying at the place of quarantine. The Government of Canada has put in place an Emergency Order on Mandatory Isolation under the Quarantine Act. It applies to all travellers arriving in Canada. Its purpose is to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Canada.

Consequences for failure to comply with the Emergency Order Failure to comply with this order is an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to imprisonment and/or fines. Violating any instructions provided to you when you entered Canada is an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to up to: 6 months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines If you break your mandatory quarantine or isolation requirements and you cause the death or serious bodily harm to another person, you could face: a fine of up to $1,000,000 or imprisonment of up to 3 years or both The Contraventions Act provides police (including RCMP, provincial and local police) more power to enforce the Contraventions Act. They can now issue tickets to people who do not comply with the Act. Fines range from $275 to $1000.

With symptoms: Mandatory isolation Foreign nationals with symptoms will not be allowed to enter Canada. Only Canadian citizens, permanent residents, persons registered under the Indian Act, and protected persons (refugee status) may enter Canada with symptoms. You will not be able to board a flight and enter Canada by air if you have symptoms. You must go directly to the place you will isolate and stay there for 14 days. This is mandatory and starts from the date you arrive in Canada. During the 14-day period from the time you enter Canada, you are required to answer any relevant questions asked by a Government of Canada employee.

Your isolation plan You must demonstrate that you have an adequate plan for isolation to avoid infecting others. You are expected to make plans, within your own means, before travelling to Canada. As of November 21, 2020, it is mandatory to electronically submit your isolation plan.

Without symptoms: Mandatory quarantine First, you should determine whether or not you can enter Canada. If you can enter Canada and you have no symptoms, you must quarantine for 14 days. This is mandatory and starts from the date you arrive in Canada. A negative COVID-19 test result at any point during your quarantine does not exclude you from the requirement to quarantine, unless you are part of an approved federal and provincial COVID-19 project. If you begin to show symptoms during your quarantine, are exposed to another traveller with symptoms, or test positive for COVID-19, you must begin an additional 14 days of isolation.

Your quarantine plan As a traveller, you must demonstrate that you have an adequate plan for quarantine. You’re expected to make plans, within your own means, before travelling to Canada. Foreign nationals who do not have an adequate plan may be denied entry into Canada. As of November 21, 2020, it is mandatory to electronically submit your quarantine plan. You will be asked questions about your plans for quarantine upon arrival.

Who is exempt from quarantine You may be exempt from the mandatory quarantine requirements under certain conditions, including if you: provide essential services, maintain the flow of essential goods or people, are receiving medical care within 36 hours of entering Canada (non-related to COVID-19), regularly cross the border to work, live in an integrated trans-border community Although your reason for entering Canada may fall under an exemption, you may still have to follow certain provincial and territorial restrictions (which may include quarantine), depending on your destination.

You are not exempt from the 14 day quarantine: if you have symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19, for non-essential reasons

^ This is a very detailed instructions list (also available in French) from the Canadian Federal Government that not only tells you who can and cannot enter Canada, what those who are allowed to enter must do before arriving and after arriving in Canada and gives advice on where Canadians outside of Canada can get a Covid-19 test. ^

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/flying