Canadian Border Measures Extended: What You Need to Know

June 1, 2022 Frances Gertsch

The Public Health Agency of Canada announced that the Government of Canada will extend its current COVID-19 border safety measures until at least June 30, 2022. Members of Parliament (MP) voted 202-117 to continue COVID-19 travel measures – including mandatory vaccination to board flights, random COVID-19 testing at Canadian airports, and completion of the ArriveCAN app to enter Canada.

What does this vote mean for you as a traveller? 

It means nothing changes…yet. 

• You must still be fully vaccinated to board an aircraft at a Canadian airport. 
• You may still be randomly selected for testing upon arrival.
• You must complete the ArriveCAN app in order to enter the country.

Of course, there are a lot more details related to Canada’s COVID-19 safety measures. For specific details for children, unvaccinated travellers, and other circumstances – or for details for those crossing land borders – you should check the Government of Canada’s website before you travel.

I’ll also share a secret with you: keeping track of entry/exit and health/safety requirements is hard, even for travel agents. A great resource that is available to agents, as well as to you as a traveller, is Sherpa. This independent resource allows you to enter your trip details and look up COVID-19 test requirements, quarantine protocols, and entry requirements for your trip. 

A lot of people want change

Despite yesterday’s vote in the House of Commons, one thing is clear: a lot of people want change. 

With on-going delays and long lines at Canadian airports, advocacy groups, including the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) and the Association of Canadian Independent Travel Advisors (ACITA), continue to lobby the federal government to drop the remaining COVID-19 safety measures in place at Canadian borders. 

Canadian airlines are also calling for change. On May 20 on CBC’s The National, Ian Hanomansing spoke with Andy Gibbons, WestJet’s vice-president of government relations about the delays travellers are facing at Canada’s busiest airports. Mr. Gibbons said, “the first thing the government can do is to remove the public health agency requirements…I think we need to simplify the process. We need to review all of the COVID measures that have been put in place.”  

A recent ACITA-led petition – which was signed by 13,669 Canadians and tabled in Parliament by Member of Parliament Melissa Lantsman – also called for an end to the COVID-19 safety measures being faced by travellers. The petition cited an expanding list of countries that have eliminated pre-arrival testing, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Spain, Germany, and Denmark, suggesting that Canada is falling behind the international community.  

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health Adam Van Koeverden responded to the petition by stating that “any easing or modification of the current border restrictions in Canada is done based on the latest scientific evidence and in close consultation with our provincial, territorial and international partners, including industry stakeholders…”

What should you expect for your next trip? 

As I often say to my clients who ask me to predict what the rules will be for the trip they are booking for this fall or next winter, “I wish I had a crystal ball.” (Imagine if I did!) 

The pressure is certainly mounting for changes to current COVID-19 border safety measures. 

Nonetheless, the Government of Canada is steadfast in its mission to use scientific evidence and consultation with partners and stakeholders to guide its decisions. Its top priority continues to be the health and safety of Canadians.

As a traveller, the best thing you can do is be flexible and check reliable resources (like the Government of Canada website and Sherpa) just before you travel. You will need to be flexible and adapt to the requirements in place at the time.

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