The Government of Canada has announced that certain Covid-19 travel measures will expire on September 30th 2022. These travel measures consist of: Vaccination requirements to enter Canada, pre-entry and post-arrival testing measures–including mandatory randomised testing of fully vaccinated individuals, quarantine and isolation requirements and the mandatory use of ArriveCAN to come to Canada.
This means that, as of October 1, 2022:
Vaccination requirements:
- Travellers will be able to come to Canada regardless of their vaccination status.
- And regardless of their purpose of travel.
ArriveCAN:
- Travellers will be able to choose to complete an ArriveCAN form.
- Travellers will no longer be required to monitor and report symptoms of Covid-19 after entry.
- Exemptions and penalties related to vaccination, testing, quarantine, isolation and the use of ArriveCAN will be lifted.
Quarantine and Isolation requirements:
- Travellers who entered Canada in the 14 days prior to the first of October 2022 will not be required to complete the remainder of their quarantine or isolation.
Pre-entry, post-arrival and mandatory randomised testing:
- Travellers who entered Canada in the 14 days prior to the first of October 2022 will not be required to complete their testing requirements.
This also extends to cruise ship travellers:
- They will no longer be required to have a valid pre-boarding test result, be vaccinated or use ArriveCAN.
Finally, travellers using federally regulated means of transportation*:
- Travellers will no longer be required to wear a mask and undergo health checks.
*These means of transportation include: Domestic flights, international flights departing from Canada, VIA Rail, Rocky Mountaineer and AMTRAK trains.
However, travellers are still “strongly recommended” to wear masks and make informed decisions when travelling. For example, travellers should not be travelling if they have symptoms of Covid-19 and provincial and territorial public health requirements are still being upheld.
Importantly, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act’s admission restrictions will still apply to foreign nationals. For entry into Canada, foreign nationals will still need to present the proper travel and immigration papers.
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra has commented, “We’ve always maintained that the extraordinary measures we introduced at our borders and on airplanes, trains and boats were temporary and that we would adjust them as the situation changes. Today we’re doing just that,” Alghabra said. “We’re taking another step to returning to the normal travel that connects families, workers, and our communities.”
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos has stated that difficulties airline staff have faced in trying to enforce measures and looking into hospital data indicates the rate of importation of cases through the border as “insignificant” has resulted in the expiration of these measures, according to CTV News.
According to Minister Duclos, if needed, the Government of Canada still maintains all possible options in terms of reinstating public health measures.
FWCanada is a Montreal-based immigration law firm that provides professional legal services on Canadian immigration. For more tips and updates on Canadian immigration, follow FWCanada on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
