Travel to Canada: Requirements for COVID-19 vaccinated travellers

Vaccines accepted by the Government of Canada for the purpose of travel to and within Canada:

• AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD (ChAdOx1-S, Vaxzevria, AZD1222)
• Bharat Biotech (Covaxin, BBV152 A, B, C)
• Janssen/Johnson & Johnson
• Moderna (Spikevax, mRNA-1273) including for children aged 6 to 11 years
• Novavax (NVX-COV2373, Nuvaxovid, Covovax)
• Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2) including for children aged 5 to 11 years
• Sinopharm BIBP (BBIBP-CorV)
• Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc)

To qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller, you must have received, at least 14 calendar days by the day you travel:

• at least 2 doses of a vaccine accepted by the Government of Canada for the purpose of travel
• or a mix of 2 accepted vaccines
• or at least 1 dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine

If your proof of vaccination is not in English or French, you need a certified translation in English or French.

Your certified translation must include the stamp or membership number of a professional translation association.

Translation of documents

Keep both the original proof of vaccination and the certified translation with you while you travel.

If your proof of vaccination doesn't meet all of the requirements, it will be considered invalid. You will not qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller.

If you do not qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption, you may still be able to enter Canada.
Find out if you can enter Canada

If you have a connecting flight:

• the test must be timed for the scheduled departure time of your final flight that lands in Canada
• you may need to schedule the test in your transit city or if you’re travelling for longer than 24 hours, you may want to consider taking a molecular test instead of an antigen test.

Your proof of a valid negative test result is timed from the initial scheduled departure time of your flight to Canada:

• a negative molecular test is valid if taken outside of Canada within 72 hours
  • for example, if your flight is scheduled to leave at 11:00 am on Friday, your test must have been taken any time after 10:59 am on Tuesday
  • Delayed flights: if your flight is delayed by the airline, your negative COVID-19 molecular test can be used for up to an additional 24 hours (to a maximum of 96 hours) from the scheduled departure time. If the delay causes your test to be more than 96 hours old, you’ll need to be retested.
• a negative antigen test is valid if taken outside of Canada no more than one day before
  • for example, if your flight is scheduled to leave at 11:00 am on Friday, your test must have been taken on the Friday or anytime on Thursday
  • Delayed flights: if your flight is delayed by the airline, your test can be used for up to an additional 24 hours from the scheduled departure time. If the delay causes the test result to be more than 24 hours past the one day limit, you’ll need to be retested.

Cancelled flights: if your flight is cancelled by the airline, there are no extensions to the time limit for your pre-entry test. If your new scheduled flight is not within the time limit for your test, you’ll need to be retested.

Airlines may refuse boarding to travellers who are unable to provide a valid negative test result or proof of a previous positive molecular test result taken at least 10 calendar days and no more than 180 calendar days before entering Canada.

• for example, if your positive COVID-19 molecular test was taken on January 1, then January 11 would be the earliest scheduled departure date of your flight to Canada, or the first day you could use it to enter Canada by land or water
• if your positive proof is accepted you won’t have to take arrival or Day-8 tests

Special testing requirements for India and Morocco ended on January 28, 2022. Travellers arriving from these countries must follow the same requirements as all travellers, if eligible to enter Canada.

You must take your pre-entry test outside of Canada based on the time you arrive at the land border or marine port of entry:

• a negative molecular test is valid if taken outside of Canada within 72 hours of arrival
  • for example, if you enter Canada at 11:00 am on Friday, your test must have been taken any time after 10:59 am on Tuesday
• a negative antigen test result is valid if taken outside of Canada no more than one day before arrival
  • for example, if you plan to enter Canada by land or water on a Friday, your test must have been taken on the Friday or anytime on Thursday

A positive molecular pre-entry test result taken less than 10 calendar days before your planned entry or flight to Canada is not a valid test result for entry to Canada.

A positive antigen pre-entry test result is never a valid test result for boarding a flight or entry to Canada, not even if it is from within 10 to 180 calendar days before your date of entry.

Foreign nationals with symptoms or with a positive result from less than 10 calendar days before arriving will be denied entry.

Canadians: To avoid being fined $5,000 per traveller (plus surcharges), wait to enter Canada at least 10 calendar days after your positive molecular test result. If travelling by air, you’ll be denied boarding. Counting starts the day following the day of testing.

• for example, if your positive COVID-19 molecular test was taken on January 1, then January 11 would be the first day you could use it
• January 11 would be the earliest scheduled departure date of your flight to Canada, or the first day you could use it to enter Canada by land or water
• if you had a positive antigen test result, you must either:
  • wait until you obtain a negative antigen test result,
  • obtain a positive molecular test result to use after 10 days have passed from the date the molecular test was taken, or
  • obtain a negative molecular test result which can be used within 72 hours of your scheduled flight or entry to Canada by land or water
• if your positive proof is accepted you won’t have to take arrival or Day-8 tests
• Canadians include citizens, people registered under the Indian Act, permanent residents and protected persons (refugee status)

• RT-PCR – reverse transcription real time PCR
• Quantitative PCR (qPCR)
• Isothermal amplification
• Droplet digital PCR or digital droplet PCR (ddPCR)
• Transcription-mediated amplification (TMA)
• RNA (Ribonucleic acid)
• Ct (cycle threshold)
• CRISPR
• Sequencing
• Next generational sequencing (NGS) or whole genome sequencing (WGS)
• Oxford Nanopore sequencing (LamPORE)
• Detection of the N gene
• Detection of Orf1a/b
• Detection of the S gene
• Detection of the E gene
• Detection of the RdRp gene

When you arrive at the border, you must present a valid negative test result (paper or electronic proof) or proof of a previous positive molecular test result taken at least 10 calendar days and no more than 180 calendar days before entering Canada. Counting starts the day after your test.

The proof must include:

• traveller name and date of birth
• name and civic address of the laboratory or testing provider that administered or professionally observed the test
• the date on which the test was taken
• the type of test taken
• the test result

Keep proof of your test results with you for the 14-day period that begins on the day you enter Canada.

If a Canadian citizen, person registered under the Indian Act, or permanent resident does not provide proof of a valid test result they:

• will be allowed entry, but may be subject to a fine of up to $5,000 plus additional surcharges or face criminal prosecution
• may also be required to go to a designated quarantine facility if they are symptomatic on arrival at the border and do not have a suitable quarantine plan

How to isolate upon returning to Canada

Foreign nationals without a valid negative pre-entry COVID-19 test result, proof of a previous positive molecular test result, or who have symptoms of COVID-19, will be denied entry into Canada.

Select the country you’re coming from. Not all countries have testing facilities information available yet.

Canadian government offices abroad do not provide medical services (including administering COVID-19 testing) or cover medical expenses for Canadian citizens abroad. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

• Embassies and consulates by destination
• Emergency Watch and Response Centre

1. Locate the proof you'll need to upload

Use your Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination
Use your Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination PDF with QR code to smooth your journey.
The Canadian proof is a bilingual file that shows the country of issuance as Canada, the issuing province or territory, your name, and birthdate above a QR code, followed by doses received
• If you don't already have it, download a PDF file of your Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination from your province or territory

Others without Canadian proof of vaccination
The proof you use:
• must be official certificates, passes, cards, receipts, or confirmations that show any first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccine you received
• can't show only a QR code
• must show as text:
• your name
• the name of the government or organization who administered the vaccine
• the brand name or any other information that identifies the vaccine(s)
• the date(s) you received the vaccine(s)
• must be in English, French, or a certified translation into English or French
Use the original file you received, or take a clear well-lit photo of your paper proof
• file formats accepted: PDF, PNG, JPEG or JPG
• maximum file size for upload: each image upload has a 2 MB size limit

2. Save or move your proof of vaccination file(s) to have ready to upload

• if you'll be using the ArriveCAN mobile app, save the file(s) onto your phone or you can take a picture of your paper proof of vaccination
• or if you'll be signing into ArriveCAN online, save onto your computer
• you can also send your proof to someone who'll complete your ArriveCAN form for you

To be ready for your trip, create your free ArriveCAN account

3. Upload your proof in ArriveCAN in the traveller profile

Upload your proof of vaccination and your travel documents before any planned travel:

• Sign in to ArriveCAN from a computer or use the mobile app
• Select 'Travellers' and '+ Add traveller' to set up your profile and the profile of other travellers who are likely to accompany you
• Enter your travel documents and vaccination information
• When asked to upload your proof of vaccination, click the button labelled 'Add file/photo' and select the PDF file or photo you saved in Step 2 or use the camera to take a picture of your proof
• If proofs of vaccination for your first and second dose are in separate files or photos, click the on Add file/photo button again to upload the second proof
• A screen will show that your traveller profile is being saved
• You can add, delete or save travellers at any time by clicking on the ‘travellers’ tab at the bottom of the screen
• Within 72 hours before your entry, click on ‘start’ on the home screen to start your ArriveCAN submission. You’ll need to answer questions about your pre-entry test result, travel history, quarantine plan and symptoms. To qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller, your ArriveCAN receipt must show an A, I, or V next to your name

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 and keep it for 14 days after entry.

Complete your ArriveCAN form to get your receipt within 72 hours before your return to Canada.

People entering by land who were unaware of the mandatory use of ArriveCAN will be informed by a Border Services Officer of the mandatory requirements to submit their information through ArriveCAN and will be allowed to:

• return to the U.S. to take the time to complete ArriveCAN and re-enter Canada after submitting it or
• complete their ArriveCAN submission at the border crossing, if it is operationally feasible

People arriving by boat (including ferry) may use ArriveCAN to submit your proof of vaccination within 72 hours of arriving or when you enter Canada. Travellers arriving by boat must still provide a pre-entry test within 72 hours of their planned entry into Canada.

You must be prepared to quarantine when entering Canada as you could be required to quarantine for 14 days if you don’t meet the requirements of a fully vaccinated traveller.

A suitable quarantine plan must be entered into ArriveCAN. You may be asked to explain your quarantine plan at the border.

• If you’ve installed the free ArriveCAN mobile app, update it first (if you don’t have auto update on).
• If you don't have a smartphone, sign in to ArriveCAN online
• You clicked to the next page without scrolling down after answering all the vaccination questions.
• The vaccine you received is not an accepted vaccine in Canada.
• Your last dose was less than 14 days before entering Canada.

If you’ve already submitted your information and have an ArriveCAN receipt without your vaccination information (i.e., without an I or a V next to your name), start over in ArriveCAN before you cross the border. ArriveCAN will clear your previous submission.

Use ArriveCAN – It’s free, download the mobile app or sign in online

If ArriveCAN didn’t ask you to upload proof of vaccination, or showed a message that you are not eligible to enter Canada, there are several possible reasons:

• You haven’t updated your free ArriveCAN mobile app. Update it first (if you don’t have auto update on).
• The vaccine you received is not an accepted vaccine.
• Your last dose was less than 14 days before entering Canada.

If you’ve already submitted your information and have an ArriveCAN receipt without your vaccination information (for example, without an I or a V next to your name), start over in ArriveCAN before you cross the border. ArriveCAN will clear your previous submission.

If you uploaded your proof of vaccination into ArriveCAN and qualified as a fully vaccinated traveller at the border (meaning that you have an A, I, or V next to your name on your ArriveCAN receipt), you should not receive further emails or notifications from ArriveCAN.

If your submission included travellers who are not exempt from the requirement to quarantine (e.g., unvaccinated 12- to 17-year-olds or unvaccinated dependent adults), you will receive ArriveCAN notifications and will be asked to complete daily reporting for the unvaccinated travellers. If you did not have an A, I, or V next to your name on your ArriveCAN receipt, you did not qualify as fully vaccinated and will get post-border notifications.

If you are receiving notifications that don't reflect your situation, use the ArriveCAN contact form so that your situation can be resolved:

Contact ArriveCAN form

You may see one or more letters beside your name on your receipt. This means that you may have to discuss one of the following with a Government official at the border:

• (Q) your quarantine plan
• (S) your symptom self-assessment
• (V) or (I) your vaccination status (ensure you have evidence of your proof of vaccination when you travel and be prepared to show it on arrival)

If there’s no letter I, V, or A next to your name

• you aren’t fully vaccinated according to Canada’s requirements, or
• you didn’t upload proof of vaccination (1 image for your one-dose vaccine, 2 images for your two-dose vaccine, or 1 image that includes details of both of your doses)
• you’re travelling for exempt essential travel

If you’ve already submitted your information and have an ArriveCAN receipt without your vaccination information (for example, without an I, V or A next to your name), start over in ArriveCAN before you cross the border. ArriveCAN will clear your previous submission.

Fully vaccinated travellers are not exempt from mandatory randomized arrival testing.

Requirements for children aged 5 to 11 accompanying fully vaccinated parents (and other eligible adults):

• unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children must be tested if their accompanying parent is selected for mandatory randomized testing
• children who qualify as fully vaccinated are not required to be tested if their accompanying parent is selected for mandatory randomized testing
• children who qualify as fully vaccinated must be tested if they are selected for mandatory randomized testing

Who is exempt from arrival testing

• Already recovered: Travellers who provide a positive COVID-19 molecular test result, conducted at least 10 calendar days and no more than 180 calendar days before entering Canada. Counting starts the day after the test is taken.
  • for example, if your positive COVID-19 molecular test was taken on January 1, then January 11 would be the first day you could use it
  • January 11 would be the earliest scheduled departure date of your flight to Canada, or the first day you could use it to enter Canada by land or water
  • if your positive proof is accepted you won’t have to take arrival or Day-8 tests
• Travellers arriving by boat
• Children under the age of 5
• Crew and essential service providers already exempt from arrival testing continue to be exempt

Find out if your travel is exempt from arrival testing

• Abbotsford (YXX) - LifeLabs
• Calgary (YYC) – Switch Health
• Edmonton (YEG) – Switch Health
• Halifax (YHZ) – Switch Health
• Hamilton (YHM) – Switch Health
• Kelowna (YLW) - LifeLabs
• Montreal (YUL) - Biron
• Ottawa (YOW) – Switch Health
• Quebec City (YQB) – Biron
• Regina (YQR) – LifeLabs
• Saskatoon (YXE) - LifeLabs
• St. John’s (YYT) – Switch Health
• Toronto (YTZ) - Switch Health
• Toronto (YYZ) – Switch Health
• Vancouver (YVR) – LifeLabs
• Victoria (YYJ) - LifeLabs
• Waterloo (YKF) – Switch Health
• Winnipeg (YWG) - Dynacare

Starting October 29, 2021, the swab stations located at 17 land points of entry stopped operations.

When you arrive at a land border crossing, you’ll be given a self-swab kit to complete. You’ll need to follow the instructions in your self-swab kit to complete the test at your destination.

Follow the directions you receive on arrival to complete your test:

• if you were directed to a testing service at the airport, you’re required to register with the testing service provider, and the provider will collect your sample; most travellers will be notified of their test result within 72 hours
• if you are provided with a self-swab kit, use the instructions in the kit to complete it within 24 hours of entering Canada, and arrange for it to be picked up as directed in the kit. Most travellers will be notified of their test result within 4 to 7 days.

If you haven’t received your test result in these time frames, you should contact your test provider.

You may not receive your test result if:

• you provided incorrect contact information
• information is missing
• the test is still being processed
• there’s an inconclusive result

You are under a legal obligation to take the arrival test within the required timeframe. If you don't comply, you may not be exempted from quarantine. You may also be required to go to a quarantine facility, face fines, or other enforcement measures.

You must take another test.

• If you completed your test using a kit: another kit should be automatically couriered to you by your testing provider but it is recommended that you contact the provider to ensure a kit is on its way.
• If you were tested on-site at the airport: contact your testing provider to find out how to complete a re-test.

LifeLabs manages all COVID-19 testing for travellers arriving at these provinces.

Contact LifeLabs

Phone

• Toll-free: 1-877-313-4982

Email

• servicetravel.west@lifelabs.com

Switch Health manages all COVID-19 testing.

Contact Switch Health

Phone

• 1-647-977-1030
• Toll-free: 1-888-966-6531

Email

• contact@switchhealth.ca

Dynacare manages all COVID-19 testing for travellers arriving in Manitoba.

Contact Dynacare

Phone

• 1-855-497-1071

Website: Dynacare border testing

Biron manages all COVID-19 testing for travellers arriving in Quebec.

Biron:

Phone

• 1-866-382-0287

Email

• info@biron.com

Adults travelling with fully vaccinated children between the ages of 5 to 11 should upload their proof of vaccination into ArriveCAN.

The benefit of uploading the child’s proof is that, if they are travelling with an adult who does not qualify as fully vaccinated, the child would qualify for all fully vaccinated traveller exemptions.

If you qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller, your unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children are exempt from quarantine, without any limitations on their activities. This means, for example, they don’t need to wait 14 days before attending school, camp or daycare.

Some federal rules for children entering Canada may be different from the provincial or territorial rules. In this case, you must follow the stricter rules.

Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated youth 12 to 17 years of age are subject to the 14-day quarantine, and all testing requirements for pre-entry, arrival and Day-8 tests, whether or not they are accompanied by travellers who qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller.

Follow the checklist of testing and quarantine requirements

Dependents 18 years of age or over who are unvaccinated because of mental or physical limitation may enter but must follow all testing and quarantine requirements, even when they are accompanied by parents or guardians who qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller.

Follow the checklist of testing and quarantine requirements