Canada only allows fully vaccinated travellers from now onwards. These new rules will be applied to all federally regulated transportation sectors. This includes VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains, all Canadian airports, and passenger vessels engaged in voyages of 24 hours or more, such as cruise ships. Road transportation, such as buses, for instance, is not subject to this policy.
Moreover, fully vaccinated travellers are authorized to enter Canada who will be leaving the country and returning within 72 hours of departure is no longer required to provide a molecular test result for COVID-19 to return.
This exemption only applies to travel by Canadian citizens, permanent residents or persons registered under the Indian Act who are fully vaccinated and who leave and return to Canada by air or land. It will be necessary for these individuals to be able to provide proof of vaccination. Children under 12 years of age and persons who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons are also covered by this new provision.
In addition to it, Canada does not recognize antigen tests, often called “rapid tests,” for this purpose. Since February of this year, Canada requires all incoming international travellers over age five to take a COVID-19 test regardless of whether they are vaccinated or not.
Yesterday, Canada authorized three new vaccines to the list of the ones travellers can receive to be considered fully immunized against COVID-19. Starting tomorrow, the following vaccines will be approved in Canada:
- Sinopharm;
- Sinovac;
- COVAXIN;
- Pfizer-BioNTech;
- Moderna;
- AstraZeneca; and
- Janssen/Johnson & Johnson.
To be considered a fully vaccinated traveller to Canada, one must generally have received the full recommended dose of an approved vaccine at least 14 full days before the day of departure. Individuals whose proof of vaccination is not in English or French must submit a certified translation of their document. Travellers are also required to submit all the required information through a free online application called ArriveCAN, including their proof of immunization and a quarantine plan, before arrival in Canada.
