The government announces arrival testing changes for all air travelers

Arrival testing changes for all air travelers will begin on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. These changes include;

1. Mandatory random arrival testing resumes for air travelers qualified as fully vaccinated

2. All COVID-19 testing for all air travelers will be done outside of airports

3. Travelers who must test will receive an email shortly after entering Canada

There are no changes to arrival testing at land borders. Mandatory random testing continues at land border points of entry.

1. Mandatory random testing will resume as of July 19, 2022, for travelers who qualify as fully vaccinated, arriving in Canada by air to the four major Canadian airports, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and Toronto. To qualify as a fully vaccinated traveler to Canada, travelers must have been vaccinated with a primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine accepted by the Government of Canada for the purpose of travel at least 14 calendar days before entering Canada.

2. All testing for air travelers, for both those who qualify as fully vaccinated and partially or unvaccinated people, will be completed outside of airports, either via an in-person appointment at select testing provider locations and pharmacies, or a virtual appointment for a self-swab test.

3. Air travelers who qualify as fully vaccinated and who are selected for mandatory random testing, as well as air travelers who do not qualify as fully vaccinated, will receive an email notification within 15 minutes of completing their customs declaration. The email will contain information to help them arrange for their test with a testing provider in their region. Unvaccinated travelers can complete their tests by a virtual or in-person appointment with the test provider at their store or at select pharmacies and still respect their quarantine requirements. Those who are required to take a test on arrival should complete their test by the end of the next calendar day.
   

All travelers must continue to use ArriveCAN (free mobile app or website) to provide mandatory travel information within 72 hours before they arrive in Canada and/or before boarding a cruise ship destined for Canada, with few exceptions.

Unless exempt, travelers who do not qualify as fully vaccinated must continue to test on Day 1 and Day 8 of their mandatory 14-day quarantine. Arrival, Day 8, and mandatory random COVID-19 molecular tests must be completed with a Public Health Agency of Canada-approved test provider. Test providers vary based on where travelers enter the country.

The Canadian Minister of Health, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos explained the government's decision in a press release; "As we have said all along, Canada's border measures will remain flexible and adaptable, guided by science and prudence. We need to keep border testing measures in place because that is how we track the importation of the COVID-19 virus and of new variants of concern. We will keep adapting our border measures to balance the need to protect Canadians while supporting our economic recovery."

SOURCE: The Government of Canada

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