Pandemic COVID-19 all countries: avoid non-essential travel outside Canada

Updated: April 13, 2021

Note:

Original publication: March 14, 2020

The Public Health Agency of Canada is continuing to advise travellers to avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is advising extra caution if you must travel. Variants of the virus causing COVID-19 are under investigation in many countries, and it is expected that these variants will be reported in more countries as time goes on. The Public Health Agency of Canada is closely monitoring the situation and working with its international partners including the WHO to better understand these variants and their impacts.

NEW TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Requirements related to COVID-19 testing upon arrival in Canada and a mandatory stay of up to 3 nights at a government-authorized accommodation are in effect for air travellers.
• Air travellers 5 years of age or older travelling to Canada are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test taken no more than 72 hours before the aircraft's initial scheduled departure time.
• Travellers entering Canada at land borders are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test taken in the U.S. within 72 hours of arrival at the border. 
• Air and land travellers who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 must provide proof of a positive COVID-19 molecular test conducted between 14 and 90 days prior to departure, instead of a negative COVID-19 molecular test.
• Canadians who must travel abroad should consider how they will meet these requirements before departure, and make plans for the possibility of needing to extend their stay. Travellers who receive a negative test result and are authorized to enter Canada must still complete the full, mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Before you travel:

Do not travel if you:

• have symptoms of COVID-19, even if mild
• are in quarantine or isolation,
• have been diagnosed with COVID-19
• are waiting for the results of a lab test for COVID-19
• have been in close contact with someone who has or is suspected to have COVID-19

If you are well and must travel:

• Plan where you will obtain a COVID-19 molecular test in your destination prior to returning to Canada.
• Pre-book a 3-night stay at a government authorized accommodation prior to your return to Canada.
• Verify that you can meet your destination country's entry requirements
  • Consult the Travel Advice and Advisories page, and select your destination. Information on entry/exit requirements can be found under the 'Entry/exit requirements' tab.
• Find the contact information for the Canadian embassy or consulate closest to your destination and keep the information with you, in the event that there is an unforeseen lockdown or local health services become overwhelmed.
• Check with your travel insurance provider and make sure you are covered for COVID-19-related medical expenses, other non-COVID-19 emergency-related expenses, as well as trip interruption.
• Make sure you meet requirements to board a flight in Canada.
• Plan ahead for delays to your return home, including the financial implications and the practical arrangements (e.g. flight re-booking, etc.) you may need to make.
   

During your travel:

Use multiple personal preventive practices at once (i.e., a layered approach) to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. With the increased circulation of some variants of concern that can spread more easily, it is even more important that you strictly follow recommended personal preventive practices:

• Stay informed of the local COVID-19 situation, be prepared and follow local public health advice.
• Isolate for 14 days if you're experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, even if mild. If you think you have COVID-19, follow local public health advice regarding seeking care. 
• Know where to go for medical care, including a COVID-19 test.
• Properly wear a well-constructed and well-fitting non-medical mask when recommended, such as when:
  • you're in shared space (indoors or outdoors) with people from outside your immediate household;
  • you're advised by the local public health authority.
• Minimize non-essential in-person interactions with people from outside your immediate household or close travel group. If you have to interact with people you don't live with, make sure interactions are:
  • as few and as brief as possible
  • from the greatest physical distance possible
• Avoid closed spaces (with poor ventilation) and crowded places when with people from outside of your immediate household. When possible improve indoor air quality in shared spaces through increased ventilation.
• Avoid common greetings, such as handshakes.
• Limit contact with people at risk of more severe disease or outcomes from COVID-19, like older adults and those with underlying medical conditions or compromised immune systems.
• Wash your hands often with soap under warm running water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol) only if soap and water are not available. It's a good idea to always keep some with you when you travel.
• Perform respiratory etiquette by covering your mouth and nose with your arm to reduce the spread of germs.
  • If you use a tissue, dispose of it as soon as possible and wash your hands afterwards.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that you frequently touch.

Travelling back to Canada:

Do not travel if you:

• become sick with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, even if mild, prior to your planned return to Canada
• have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 14 days
• are waiting for the results of a lab test for COVID-19
• have been in close contact with someone who has or is suspected to have COVID-19

Air travellers are required to undergo a health check prior to boarding. In the event that the air operator observes that the air traveller has COVID-19 symptoms, the air operator will be required to refuse to board the person for travel for a period of 14 days or until a medical certificate is presented that confirms that the symptoms that the person is exhibiting are not related to COVID-19.

If flying to Canada as a final destination, all travellers including Canadians must use ArriveCAN before they board their flight to Canada to submit their:

• travel and contact information
• quarantine plan (unless exempted from the mandatory requirement to quarantine)
• COVID-19 symptom self-assessments

Measures requiring all air passengers to have a well-constructed, well-fitting and properly worn non-medical mask to cover their mouth, nose, and chin during travel are in effect. Some airlines may conduct a temperature check prior to boarding.

If you do not have a well-constructed, well-fitting and properly worn non-medical mask, you won't be allowed to enter the restricted areas of the airport and continue with your journey.

When travelling by air, travellers will be asked to properly wear a well-constructed, well-fitting non-medical mask:

• at the security screening checkpoints
• at the boarding gate
• during the flight
• when required by an airline employee, staff from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, or a Government of Canada screening or quarantine officer

If you feel sick or experience any symptoms of COVID-19 during your flight to Canada or upon arrival, you must inform the flight attendant or a Government of Canada screening or quarantine officer immediately.

If you do not have symptoms but believe you were exposed to someone with COVID-19, report this information to a screening or quarantine officer on arrival in Canada. This is required under the Quarantine Act. The screening or quarantine officer will provide instructions for you to follow.

Upon arrival in Canada:

The Government of Canada has put in place an Emergency Order under the Quarantine Act that applies to all travellers arriving in Canada. The purpose of this Order is to slow the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in Canada.

Compliance with this Order is subject to verification and enforcement. Those in violation may face detention in a quarantine facility as well as fines and/or imprisonment.

Upon arrival in Canada, you MUST:

• Properly wear a well-constructed, well-fitting non-medical mask
• Undergo a COVID-19 molecular test on the first day you enter Canada and again later during your quarantine period as directed by a quarantine officer (unless you have proof of a previous positive test result 14-90 days before arrival).
• Check-in at the government-authorized accommodation you pre-booked.
  • Remain there until you receive your on-arrival test result.
  • If the test result is negative, check-out of the government-authorized accommodation and proceed to your suitable place of quarantine.
  • If test result is positive, invalid or indeterminate, await further instructions from a quarantine officer.
• For more information on mandatory quarantine or isolation requirements for travellers, please visit:
  • For travellers without symptoms of COVID-19 returning to Canada by air
  • For travellers without symptoms of COVID-19 returning to Canada by land
  • For travellers with COVID-19 symptoms returning to Canada by air
  • For travellers with COVID-19 symptoms returning to Canada by land

As the continued global movement of goods and people and the ongoing delivery of essential services will be important for Canada's response to COVID-19, there are some exemptions to the order to quarantine for classes of travellers who perform an essential job or function.

If you don't have symptoms of COVID-19 and you're a member of one of the classes of persons listed in the mandatory isolation order as exempt from federal quarantine requirements, you are still required to respect the intent of the order in addition to any provincial and local requirements.

Some provinces and territories have additional travel restrictions.

Some examples of additional travel restrictions may include:

• prohibiting non-essential travel into the province
• limited access to certain regions within the province

Please refer to the list of provincial and territorial websites for more information.

Registration of Canadians Abroad

Sign up with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to stay connected with the Government of Canada in case of an emergency abroad or an emergency at home.

Government of Canada COVID-19 information line: 1-833-784-4397.