This is the text of an email sent to the Justice Centre on February 13, 2021, as sent by the federal government.
Dear Canadian citizen,
You are receiving this email because you are registered with the Government of Canada’s Registration of Canadians Abroad service.
The Government of Canada announced today further testing and quarantine requirements for international travelers arriving to Canada’s air and land ports of entry.
These new measures are in addition to existing mandatory pre-boarding and health requirements for air travelers. This means that travelers will still be denied boarding if they do not meet the pre-boarding molecular test (PCR) requirements. Find below some high-level information on these new measures.
For travelers arriving to Canada by land:
As of February 15, 2021, all travelers, with some exceptions, arriving to Canada by land, will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test result taken in the United States within 72 hours of pre-arrival, OR a proof of a positive test result within 14 and 90 days prior to arrival.
This is consistent with the requirements already in place for air travelers. Essential workers such as truckers and emergency service providers, as well as those who live in cross border communities, will be exempt from this requirement. Further information on exemptions will be available in the coming days.
In addition, as of February 22, 2021, travelers entering Canada at the land border will be required to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival as well as toward the end of their 14-day quarantine.
For more information, see the following page on entering Canada by land during COVID-19: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/awareness-resources/entering-canada-covid-19-land.html
For travelers arriving to Canada by air
As of February 22, 2021, all air travelers, with some exceptions, will:
• be required to take a COVID-19 molecular test when they arrive in Canada before exiting the airport, and another toward the end of their 14-day quarantine period.
• be required to reserve prior to departure to Canada, a 3-night stay in a government-authorized hotel.
• be required to stay at their reserved hotel for up to 3 nights, at their own cost, while they await the results of their arrival test.
The list of PHAC-approved hotels (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice/mandatory-hotel-stay-air-travellers.html) will be available online on February 18, 2021. Travellers must reserve their accommodation prior to departure to Canada and pay for the cost of their 3-night mandatory stay. Costs of these hotel stays may vary slightly at each location. The price will include costs associated with the room, food, cleaning, infection prevention and control measures, security and transportation. Travelers must present proof of having reserved and pre-paid for their accommodation through ArriveCAN.
Travellers who receive a negative test result from the test upon arrival at the airport in Canada, and have a suitable quarantine plan, will be able to leave the hotel and proceed to complete their 14-day quarantine at their planned quarantine location. Travellers who need to use public transportation or have an onward domestic flight to reach their final destination and planned quarantine location, can do so after they receive a negative result from the test they took when they arrived to Canada.
The Public Health Agency of Canada will supply ports of entry with test kits for travellers to take to meet the above-noted test requirements for air and land entry.
Travelers who do not meet the new quarantine requirement may be subject to fines.
For more information, see the following page on Entering Canada by air during COVID-19: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/awareness-resources/entering-canada-covid-19.html
Useful Links
We encourage you to visit the following webpages regularly for more information on the new measures to prevent further introduction and transmission of COVID-19 and new variants of the virus into Canada:
• News release – Government of Canada expands restrictions to international travel by land and air: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2021/02/government-of-canada-expands-restrictions-to-international-travel-by-land-and-air.html
• Backgrounder – Additional testing and more stringent quarantine requirements for travel to Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2021/02/additional-testing-and-more-stringent-quarantine-requirements-for-travel-to-canada.html
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Travel restrictions, exemptions and advice: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice.html
• Backgrounder – Transport Canada Expansion of international flight restrictions: https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2021/01/expansion-of-international-flight-restrictions-at-canadian-airports.html
• Backgrounder – New testing and quarantine measures for non-essential international air travel : https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2021/01/canada-to-implement-new-testing-and-quarantine-measures-to-reduce-covid-19-infection-related-to-non-essential-international-air-travel.html
Help for Canadians outside Canada:
In case of emergency, call the closest Government of Canada office (https://travel.gc.ca/assistance/embassies-consulates). If the office is closed, your call will be transferred to the 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa. Call direct at +1 613 996 8885 (call collect where available) or sos@international.gc.ca.
Registration of Canadians abroad:
We strongly recommend you keep your registration up to date at https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration. Ensure that passport numbers, contact details and an address are included in your registration. If you have already returned, please update your profile. You may access your profile at https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration or send an email to roca@international.gc.ca with your date of departure.