Canada’s Border Rules Changing Again

Canada’s border rules are changing again as the country enters a warming spring season with restrictions easing across the nation.

Canada’s border rules are changing again as the country enters a warming spring season with restrictions easing across the nation.

On Monday, Ottawa lifted several measures related to travel with many Canadians seeking trips abroad for potentially the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020.

As of 9:01pm, unvaccinated and partially vaccinated kids ages 5 to 11 accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent, step-parent, guardian or tutor no longer need to complete a pre-entry COVID-19 test to enter Canada.

However, pre-entry tests are required for partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travelers ages 12 and older who are currently eligible to travel to Canada. Children under five years of age are not required to provide COVID-19 test results.

Earlier this year, Ottawa decided to scrap pre-arrival testing requirements for fully vaccinated travelers. Now, fully vaccinated travelers and children five to 11 are also no longer required to provide a quarantine plan upon entry.

In addition, the federal government will no longer require fully vaccinated travelers entering Canada to wear masks in public spaces, monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms, quarantine if another traveler in the same travel group shows signs or symptoms or tests positive, and maintain a list of close contacts and locations visited.

All travelers, regardless of vaccination status, must continue to wear a mask throughout their entire travel journey.

Canada is further easing its travel rules at a time where COVID-19 cases are circulating in various parts of the country in a sixth wave.

Driven by Omicron’s BA.2 variant, the sixth wave has seen high spikes of infections over recent weeks, but some areas are suggesting peaks in transmission.