Starting in April, the Canadian government will end the requirement to present a COVID-19 test for fully vaccinated travelers.
According to the new measures, From April 1, travelers having all required vaccine doses will not require to undergo the Pre-arrival COVID-19 test. However, the travelers arriving at each entry port would be affected by the new criteria set by the nation.
Although the government will stop pre-arrival Covid testing, it may randomly test travelers upon arrival.
The reason behind random testing is to identify and track COVID-19 variants.
The travelers don’t need to worry much about this because they will not need to quarantine while waiting on their covid test results.
Canada’s travel industry supporters have tried to influence the government against Pre-arrival testing requirements, as the testing price can put off travelers.
The CTTR called the pre-arrival testing requirement a “non-science-based” barrier and focused on the testing price figures. The COVID molecular test can cost about $200, and an antigen test price is approx. $100.
To support their statement, they further clarify that countries including the UK, Denmark, Switzerland, and Ireland have already dropped their per- arrival testing requirements. They said that these testing might affect the number of travelers to the country.
From February 28 Canadian government already eased the testing requirements.
According to the present scenario of the country, the traveler must undergo a pre-arrival antigen test report within 24 hours of the departure of flight or arrival at the country’s border.
The antigen test of the traveler has to be authorized by the government of the country he is arriving from, or else he must have undergone a molecular test within 72 hours of its arrival to the country.
Before stepping into Canada, travelers have to upload their reports through the ArriveCAN app.
The same day, the government stated that there is no need to quarantine unvaccinated children up to 12 years.
Although some of the changes are made to traveling measures, Canada continues to require travelers to receive vaccinations before entering the country.
The government stated that fully vaccinated PR candidates and temporary as well as visitor visa holders might enter the country without any restrictions.
Foreign travelers who are still unvaccinated can only enter Canada under special cases described on Canada’s official website. This includes Ukrainian citizens, temporary workers engaged in farming or food processing, and those who regularly travel for work across the borders.
Unvaccinated travelers or those who have taken only a single vaccination dose will still be tested on their arrival to the country and will be quarantined for two weeks. They might be tested again on the 8th day of their quarantine period.
The Canadian government will only consider a traveler fully vaccinated when he has taken all the recommended doses of an approved vaccine.
Presently, no booster shot of vaccine is not required. As per the government, the traveler must take the last dose of vaccination within 14 days of arrival to the country.
Prior to getting into Canada, the vaccination certificates of the travelers must be uploaded to the ArriveCAN app.
