Effective January 7, 2021 all passengers five years of age or older, are required to test negative for COVID-19 before travelling by air from another country to Canada.
Documentation of a negative laboratory test result must be presented to the airline prior to coming to Canada. The test must be performed using a COVID-19 molecular polymerase chain reaction (or PCR) and the result must be from a lab accredited by an external organization (e.g., a government, a professional association or ISO accreditation). Only written or electronic proof of a negative lab test result (PCR test) conducted within 72 hours prior to boarding a flight to Canada will be accepted.
Anyone who receives a negative test result and is authorized to enter Canada must still complete the full, mandatory 14-day quarantine. All travellers will have their quarantine plans reviewed by a government official and, if not suitable, will be required to quarantine in a federal quarantine facility. Travellers to Canada must use the ArriveCAN App or website and provide accurate contact information and their mandatory 14-day quarantine plan on or before entry.
At this time, proof of having a vaccine will not replace a negative test result. While a vaccine protects an individual from illness, further evidence is required to understand if a vaccinated person can still shed virus.
For now, the requirement for a negative COVID-19 test is only required for air travellers and does not apply to Canadian travellers returning to Canada by vehicle. The federal government is currently working with provincial authorities on options to introduce testing regimes at land border crossings as well. Travellers returning to Canada at a land border crossing are still required to quarantine for the mandatory 14-day period.
Further information on this new requirement can be found here,
https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2020/12/pre-departure-covid-19-testing-and-negative-results-for-air-travellers-coming-to-canada.html.
The CSA is monitoring this matter closely and will provide members with updates as soon as they are available.
