Canada’s New Travel Rules Take Effect Today: Here’s What You Need to Know
November 30, 2021 Marsha Mowers
Canada’s new travel rules for fully vaccinated travellers take effect November 30, 2021 : here’s a rundown of what you need to know.
Canada No Longer Requires PCR Testing for Short-term Trips
As of today, if you are fully vaccinated, Canada will no longer require a (costly) PCR/molecular negative test to enter if you’ve been out of the country for less than 72 hours. The new rules apply to both land and air travel.
This exemption is only for trips originating in Canada taken by fully vaccinated Canadian citizens, permanent residents or individuals registered under the Indian Act, who depart and re-enter by land or by air and can demonstrate they have been away from Canada for less than 72 hours.
It is important to remember to upload your vaccination information via the ArriveCAN app for entry to Canada.
The List of Accepted Vaccines Has Been Extended
Previously, only those travellers with 2 doses of a Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson were considered to be fully vaccinated. That list has now expanded to include Sinopharm, Sinovac and COVAXIN, matching the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL).
Vaccination is Now Required for Air and Train Travel
All travellers on a federally-run rail company or airline need to be fully vaccinated, whether you’re travelling domestically or internationally.
Previously, unvaccinated travellers could still travel with a negative test. However, a valid COVID-19 test will no longer be accepted as an alternative to vaccination for travel within Canada. To take a flight or a train, travellers must be fully vaccinated with one of the expanded list of vaccinations (listed above) unless they qualify for a limited exemption to this requirement.
The vaccination requirements apply to all travellers, 12 years of age plus four months, who are:
- Air passengers flying on domestic, trans-border or international flights departing from most airports in Canada; and
- Rail passengers on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains
Full details can be found on the Government of Canada website.
About the Author
Marsha Mowers made the move to editorial side of travel after many years working in destination marketing where she represented places such as NYC and Las Vegas. Her experience on “both sides” of the industry has put her in a unique position to provide valuable context to both readers and trade partners. Marsha also serves as Director of Content for TravelPulse Canada
