COVID-19: Arrival testing in Canada

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Upon your entry to Canada by air or at a land border crossing, you may have to complete an arrival COVID-19 molecular test. You’ll complete your arrival test with an approved test provider. Your test provider is based on where you entered the country.

If you have to do an arrival test, you must contact the test provider for instructions on where and when to complete your test. Your test should be completed by the end of the next calendar day.

The arrival test is free.

How arrival testing protects Canadians

Arrival testing is part of the Government of Canada’s surveillance program to track the importation of the COVID-19 virus into Canada, and identify new variants of concern.

If you have to test, completing your arrival test by end of day the next calendar day is an important contribution to protect Canada and detect this contagious disease. It also helps to inform decisions on the Government of Canada’s policies and measures at the border.

Travellers qualified as fully vaccinated

If you qualify as fully vaccinated, you may be randomly selected to complete a mandatory arrival test.

Note: If you don’t complete ArriveCAN within 72 hours before arriving in Canada, you won’t qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption. You could be required to quarantine for 14 days and complete arrival and Day-8 COVID-19 tests. You could also be fined $5,000 plus applicable surcharges.

Travellers who don’t qualify as fully vaccinated

If you don’t qualify as fully vaccinated, you may not be allowed to enter Canada. If you’re allowed entry, you must complete an arrival COVID-19 test. You must also complete a COVID-19 molecular test on day 8 of your mandatory 14-day quarantine.

If you complete your test via an in-person appointment, you must immediately return to your place of quarantine.

Arriving by air

On entry to Canada, check your email to see if you must complete an arrival test. An email will be sent to the same email address you used for ArriveCAN.

You’ll receive an email within 15 minutes of completing your customs declaration and receiving your kiosk receipt. This email will have important information about where and when to get tested.

You’ll receive an email from noreply.pasdereponses@notification.canada.ca or quarantine.covid19.quarantaine@phac-aspc.gc.ca. Follow the instructions in the email.

You can complete your test in-person or pick up a self-swab kit at select test provider locations, select pharmacies, or via a virtual appointment for a self-swab test.

You can take advantage of near-airport locations, where available, for the quickest and easiest way to complete your arrival test.

Arriving by land

If you have to do an arrival test, you’ll be given a self-swab kit when you arrive at a land border crossing. You’ll complete your self-swab kit via a virtual telehealth appointment with your test provider. You’ll need to follow the instructions in your self-swab kit to complete the test at your destination. If you’re unable to complete a video consultation, contact your test provider for alternate testing options.

Use only the test kit that you received at the land border, or from the approved test provider. Tests done using any other test kit won’t be valid for the testing requirement.

Completing your arrival test

To complete your arrival test you must:

  1. Register with the approved test provider for the province of your point of entry. Use the same email address you used for ArriveCAN.
  2. Schedule your test with the test provider
  3. Complete the test by end of day the next calendar day after arriving into Canada

You must keep your ArriveCAN e-receipt number until your test is complete. If you arrived by air, you should also keep the email notification.

If you haven’t completed your test on time, you’ll be contacted by phone from 1-888-336-7735. It’s important that you answer this call.

Find your test provider

Your test provider is based on where you entered the country.

British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Yukon

LifeLabs manages COVID-19 testing for arriving travellers.

If arriving via the Vancouver airport (YVR) or Toronto Pearson airport (YYZ), you can complete your arrival test at LifeLabs’ nearby walk-in airport locations:

For other options, log in or create a LifeLabs account:

Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador

Switch Health manages COVID-19 testing for arriving travellers.

If you’re arriving at Calgary airport, pick up your test kit at the Switch Health clinic, located pre-security in the departures level of the domestic terminal (8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. MDT).

If you’re arriving at Halifax airport, pick up your test kit at the Switch Health clinic, located pre-security near domestic/international check-in (10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ADT).

For additional pick-up options or to conduct your test via a virtual appointment:

Manitoba

Dynacare manages COVID-19 testing for arriving travellers.

Log in or create a Dynacare account to get and use your home test kit:

Quebec

Biron manages COVID-19 testing for arriving travellers.

If you’re arriving at Montreal Airport (YUL), you can complete your test at the Biron clinic located in the departures area (Gate 11) (5:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. EDT).

For other locations, make an appointment with Biron’s network of clinics and partners:

Your arrival test results

Most travellers will be notified of their test result within 4 days. If you haven’t received your test result in this time frame, you should contact your test provider.

You may not receive your test result if:

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