September 14, 2021
Updated Guidance on Travel Restrictions for Entry to Canada
As of 7 September 2021, foreign nationals are allowed to travel to Canada for any purpose, including discretionary purpose, if they are fully vaccinated. In specific, travellers must have received the full series of a COVID-19 vaccine accepted by the Government of Canada, as well as being asymptomatic upon arrival.[1]
Fully vaccinated travellers could be exempt from quarantine and Day-8 testing requirements. Currently, accepted vaccines include Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD, and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson. Additionally, travellers must have received their last dose at least 14 days prior to entry to Canada.
Travellers must continue to use ArriveCAN to submit information (including vaccination status and proof of vaccination) within 72 hours before arrival to Canada.[2]
Regardless of vaccination status, all travellers, with few exceptions, must meet pre-entry test result requirements (e.g., proof of a COVID-19 molecular test result). Travellers should also be prepared to quarantine for 14 days, and present a suitable quarantine plan through ArriveCAN, in case they do not qualify for quarantine exemptions.
Foreign nationals, who don’t qualify for fully vaccinated traveller exemption and whose travel is discretionary, won’t be able to enter Canada. They will continue to be required to travel for a non-discretionary purpose (e.g., international students, temporary foreign workers), or meet an exemption (e.g., immediate/extended family members).[3]
Flights from Morocco have been suspended until at least 29 September 2021,[4] and flights from India remains to be suspended until at least 21 September 2021.[5]
Until further notice, international flights are currently only allowed to arrive at the following nine airports in Canada:
- Vancouver International Airport
- Toronto Pearson International Airport
- Calgary International Airport
- Edmonton International Airport
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport
- Montréal-Trudeau International Airport
- Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport
- Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport
- Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport
As the reopening plan unfolds, travel restriction measures are still very fluid. This article is prepared for information only and it is not intended to be legal advice. It is recommended that you consult with one of our team members on this topic or any other legal issues.