Government of Canada provides update about Canada’s border measures

From: Transport Canada

News release

January 28, 2022    Ottawa, ON     Transport Canada

The Government of Canada is taking a responsible, precautionary approach at the border to help protect Canadians from the global COVID-19 pandemic.  As the pandemic continues to evolve, across the country and internationally, the Government of Canada will closely monitor and adjust measures at the border, as appropriate, to help keep Canadians safe.

Today, the Government of Canada is providing an update on its border measures. It is:

  • Removing, effective January 28, 2022, the modified pre-departure test requirements for travellers coming to Canada on direct or indirect flights from India or Morocco. Travellers from these countries will no longer be required to obtain a valid negative pre-departure COVID-19 test from a third country. All travellers entering Canada are now subject to the same pre-entry test requirements, regardless of their departure country.
  • Ending the temporary exemption from pre-entry, arrival, and Day-8 testing and quarantine requirements for residents and essential workers of British Columbia who have to travel by land to or through the United States for essential food and supplies. This will end on January 31, 2022, at 20:59 PST.

Quotes

“Safeguarding the health and safety of Canadians is always at the forefront of any decision our government makes in the fight against COVID-19 and its variants. We continue to collaborate with air operators, and their hard work in implementing the ongoing changes to air travel requirements has greatly contributed to the safety and security of Canadians and our transportation system. The epidemiological situation in Canada and abroad remains closely monitored and our officials and experts continue to evaluate the measures in place and recommend necessary adjustments to keep Canadians and our transportation system safe and secure.”

The Honourable Omar Alghabra
Minister of Transport

“Border measures continue to be an important part of Canada's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and serve to protect the health and safety of all Canadians. Like every other element of the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 response, border measures are informed by available data, scientific evidence and monitoring of the epidemiological situation both in Canada and internationally.”

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health

“The safety and security of Canadians is our government’s top priority. As we fight this wave of the pandemic, we are maintaining our measured and responsible policies at the border. We will continue to take decisive action to secure our borders and protect our communities, because that’s what Canadians expect.”

The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino
Minister of Public Safety

Quick facts

  • The Government of Canada continues to require that all travellers, unless specifically exempted, have a valid negative pre-departure COVID-19 molecular test result taken no more than 72 hours before a scheduled flight to Canada or arrival at the land border, or a previous positive molecular test result taken between 10 and 180 days before departure to Canada.

  • As travellers arriving in Canada by air may be required to be tested for COVID-19 before leaving the airport, they are strongly encouraged to pre-register with testing providers prior to travel. Pre-registration will help reduce congestion in airports and processing time for travellers in crowded areas. Registration upon arrival takes about 15 minutes, whereas testing itself takes 2-4 minutes for pre-registered travellers. Pre-registering for the test has no impact on selection for testing.

  • The Government of Canada continues to advise Canadians to avoid non-essential travel outside of the country at this time.

  • All travellers, regardless of how long they were away from Canada, continue to be required to submit their mandatory information via ArriveCAN (free mobile app or website), including proof of vaccination in English or French and a quarantine plan prior to arriving in Canada.

  • Travellers should check if they are eligible to enter Canada and meet all entry requirements before heading to the border. In addition, some provinces and territories may have their own entry restrictions in place. Check and follow both the federal and any provincial or territorial restrictions and requirements before travelling to Canada.

  • All travellers eligible to enter Canada must complete the mandatory pre-departure molecular COVID-19 test unless exempt. Antigen tests are not accepted.

Associated links

Contacts

Laurel Lennox
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Omar Alghabra
Minister of Transport, Ottawa
Laurel.lennox@tc.gc.ca

Marie-France Proulx
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health
613-957-0200   

Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
media@tc.gc.ca
613-993-0055

Media Relations
Public Health Agency of Canada
613-957-2983
media@hc-sc.gc.ca

Alexander Cohen
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Public Safety
Alexander.Cohen@ps-sp.gc.ca

Public Inquiries:
613-957-2991
1-866-225-0709

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