The U.S Department of Homeland Security has recently announced that the ongoing restriction on non-essential travel at the U.S./Canada land border will be extended until at least October 21st. The CSA has been engaging with U.S. government officials and agencies to safely re-open the land border to Canadian citizens as soon as possible. This is an advocacy priority as over 70% of Canadian snowbirds travel to the United States with their Canadian vehicles and we recognize the importance and urgency of this issue. We will provide members with further details as soon as new information is available.
TRAVELLING TO THE UNITED STATES
Currently, the only way for Canadian travellers to enter the United States, for non-essential reasons, is by air.
All air passengers arriving to the U.S. from a foreign country are required to get tested for COVID-19 with a viral test no more than 3 days before their flight departs and must present the negative result or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 to the airline before boarding the flight. A test result must be in the form of written documentation (paper or electronic copy). The documentation must include:
- Type of test (indicating it is a NAAT or antigen test)
- Entity issuing the result (e.g. laboratory, healthcare entity, or telehealth service)
- Specimen collection date. A negative test result must show the specimen was collected within the 3 days before the flight. A positive test result for documentation of recovery from COVID-19 must show the specimen was collected within the 3 months before the flight.
- Information that identifies the person (full name plus at least one other identifier such as date of birth or passport number)
- Test Result
Upon arrival, the CDC recommends that fully vaccinated travellers:
- Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel.
- Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
- Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements after travel.
The CDC recommends that unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travellers:
- Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel.
- Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days.
- If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
- If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
- Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not.
- Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
- Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements.
RETURNING TO CANADA
1. Pre-arrival testing
All travellers 5 years of age or older, regardless of citizenship or vaccination status, must provide proof of a COVID-19 molecular test result (e.g. PCR and RT-PCR) to enter Canada. Rapid antigen tests will not be accepted.
If you’re flying to Canada, you must take a molecular test within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time of your flight to Canada. Airlines will refuse boarding to travellers who are unable to provide a valid molecular test result.
If you’re driving or entering by water, you must take a molecular test within 72 hours of your planned entry into Canada.
When you arrive at the border, you must present an accepted test result (paper or electronic proof) that must include:
- Traveller name and date of birth
- Name and civic address of the laboratory/clinic/facility that administered the test
- The date on which the test was conducted
- The type of test conducted
- The test result
2. Develop a suitable quarantine plan
You must be prepared to quarantine for 14 days, even if you are fully vaccinated, in case you:
- are symptomatic
- don’t meet the requirements for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption
A suitable quarantine plan, which includes a place you will quarantine, must be entered into ArriveCAN in case you don’t qualify for the exemption. You may be asked to explain your quarantine plan at the border.
Unvaccinated of partially vaccinated travellers are required to quarantine upon entry into Canada for 14-days.
3. Upload proof of vaccination in ArriveCAN
You must use ArriveCAN within 72 hours before your travel to enter your vaccination status and proof of vaccination, quarantine and travel information.
If you don’t provide the required information in ArriveCAN before arriving at the border you won’t be considered as a fully vaccinated traveller, even if you meet all the other requirements.
Final determination of your vaccination status will be made at the border. You must bring a digital or paper copy of your proof(s) of vaccination with you.
4. Arrival testing
If you qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption, you may be exempt from arrival testing. However, you may be selected for mandatory randomized arrival testing.
If you are selected for a randomized test, you:
- Must take the arrival test as directed on the day you enter Canada
- May receive a home test kit to complete within 24 hours of entering Canada
- Don’t have to wait for the results, you can travel on to your final destination, including taking connecting flights
- Are not required to pay a fee for the arrival test
Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travellers will be instructed to either take an arrival test at the border, or receive a home test kit. They will also get a kit to use on Day-8 of their mandatory quarantine.
Given the fluid situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, these requirements are subject to change. We recommend that members visit https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid prior to their return to Canada.
