COVID-19 testing for travellers
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Getting tested to enter Canada
Starting April 1, 2022, pre-entry tests are no longer required for fully vaccinated travellers entering Canada by land, air or water. You must still use ArriveCAN within 72 hours before your arrival to Canada.
Who can come to Canada
- Canadian citizens (including dual citizens), people registered under the Indian Act, permanent residents of Canada, or protected persons (refugee status) are allowed to enter Canada.
- Fully vaccinated foreign nationals may be allowed to enter Canada for discretionary (tourism) travel.
Foreign nationals who don't qualify as fully vaccinated will only be allowed to enter in specific circumstances:
Find out if you can enter Canada
Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children 5 years of age or older must provide a valid pre-entry test result, even if they are accompanying a fully vaccinated adult.
Children who are less than 5 years old are not required to test, regardless of their vaccination status.
Options for providing proof of a valid pre-entry test
At this time, all travellers 5 years of age or older entering by land, air or water, must provide proof of one of the following accepted types of test results:
- Proof of a professionally administered or observed negative antigen test taken outside of Canada no more than 1 day before your scheduled flight or entry to Canada by land or water
- the one day window does not depend on the time of day the test was taken or the time of your flight or entry
- for example, if your flight is scheduled to leave or you enter by land any time on Friday, you could provide proof of a negative result from an antigen test taken any time on Thursday, or on Friday
- it must be administered or observed by a pharmacy, laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth service
- the test must be authorized for sale or distribution in Canada or in the jurisdiction in which it was obtained
- the test must be performed outside of Canada
- Proof of a valid negative molecular test taken outside of Canada within 72 hours of your scheduled flight’s departure time to Canada or your entry to Canada by land or water
- 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
- Previous positive molecular test result: you no longer have symptoms and provide proof of a positive molecular test taken at least 10 calendar days and no more than 180 calendar days before entering Canada. Counting starts the day after your test.
- 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
- this test can be taken in or outside of Canada
- a positive antigen test result is never a valid test result for boarding a flight or entry to Canada and can’t be used as proof of a previous infection
End of short trip exemption: the pre-entry testing exemption for trips 72 hours or less ended on December 21, 2021.
- Children under 5 years of age
- Those who are exempt (e.g. crew, essential services, and cross-border communities)
Flying to Canada - when to take your test
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.
Arriving by car, bus, boat, ferry or train
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
Positive results on your pre-entry test
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)
Accepted types of tests
Molecular tests
- PCR - Polymerase chain reaction
- Nucleic acid test (NAT) or Nucleic acid amplification test (NAATs)
- Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP)
These tests use methods such as a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab, nose swab, or saliva sample.
Other acceptable types of molecular tests:
- 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
Antigen tests
Your antigen test must be administered or observed by a laboratory or testing provider.
Phrases indicating a test is an antigen test could include, but is not limited to:
- rapid antigen test
- viral antigen test
- diagnostic immunoassay
- lateral flow test (LFT)
- also could be noted as an Antigen Chromatographic Digital Immunoassay, Antigen Chemiluminescence Immunoassay, or Antigen Lateral Flow Fluorescence
Providing proof of your result
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.
Arriving without an accepted COVID-19 test
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.
Fraudulent test results
All travellers arriving in Canada are required by Canadian law to respond truthfully to all questions. Providing false information to a Government of Canada official upon entry to Canada is a serious offence and may result in penalties and/or criminal charges. Foreign nationals who provide false information could also be denied entry to the country and/or be barred from returning to Canada.
Making a false declaration when boarding a flight to Canada, including the presentation of a fraudulent test result, carries the potential for up to $5,000 in administrative monetary penalties under the Aeronautics Act, in addition to a fine of $5,000 plus additional surcharges under the Quarantine Act, if the same false document is also presented upon entry into Canada.
Violating any instructions provided when you enter Canada or putting others at risk of a serious communicable disease are offences under the Quarantine Act and could lead to up to three years in prison and/or up to $1 million in fines.
Testing facilities and expenses
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.
Arrival testing
Arrival testing and quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated travellers are different than those for unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers.
Arrival testing for fully vaccinated travellers
Air travellers: register in advance for arrival testing
You may be required to get tested before exiting the airport. To speed you through the process, register in advance with the testing provider for the airport you will arrive at.
When you register, use the same email address you used for your ArriveCAN account.
Register with airport test providers
- 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 (no pre-registration required)
- Ottawa (YOW) – Switch Health
- Quebec City (YQB) – Biron (no pre-registration required)
- 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
Land border test providers
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.
Taking your arrival test
When you enter Canada, you'll be instructed to either take an arrival test at the border, or receive a self-swab kit.
You will also get a kit to use on Day-8 of your mandatory quarantine (except for travellers who are only passing through on their way to or from Alaska).
There is no fee for the arrival test.
Who doesn’t need an arrival test
Fully vaccinated travellers only need to do an arrival test if they are selected for randomized arrival testing.
Randomized arrival testing for fully vaccinated travellers
Travellers who provide a positive COVID-19 molecular test result taken at least 10 calendar days and no more than 180 calendar days before entering Canada may be exempt from arrival testing.
- For example, if your positive COVID-19 molecular test was taken on January 1, the first day you could use it for entry into Canada by land or water would be January 11. If you’re flying, the earliest scheduled departure date of your flight to Canada would be January 11.
Find out if your travel is exempt from the arrival test requirement
Fines and consequences of failing to complete the testing requirements
All travellers will receive calls from a live agent or automated system and you may also be visited at your place of quarantine by a Screening Officer to verify your compliance.
You are under a legal obligation to take the arrival and Day-8 tests. Failure to comply with the requirements of the Quarantine Act and emergency orders made under this Act is an offence and could lead to fines of up to $750,000 or imprisonment. If you do not take the tests, you may also be transferred to a designated quarantine facility.
Complete your test kit
Your kit contains all of the instructions.
Do not open your swab or tube until you are instructed to do so. This can cause contamination, or result in a delay in receiving your test result.
Your test kit service provider is based on where you entered the country. For additional instructions, or contact information for your service provider, select the province you entered Canada or select if you are driving between Alaska and the continental United States:
Travellers driving between Alaska and the continental United States
If you’re driving between Alaska and the continental United States and you come through a border crossing without a testing station, you must:
- complete the arrival test within 24 hours of your arrival in Canada
- drop it off at an approved drop box location along your travel route
Follow the instructions provided to find a drop-off location along your route.
British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Yukon
LifeLabs manages COVID-19 testing for arriving travellers.
If you haven't already done so, you must create an account to perform your home test and access your results. You must use the same email address you used for ArriveCAN.
If you usually use Internet Explorer as your web browser, use a different browser, or contact LifeLabs.
You must have internet access to:
- sign in or register to use your kit
- follow the instructions to book an appointment, including contacting a LifeLabs technician
Wait to connect to a LifeLabs technician before you open the test tube.
If you don’t have internet access
Contact LifeLabs and a customer service representative will be able to advise you.
Collection can be done over the phone, if needed.
In British Columbia, staff are available at select locations to perform the test for you.
You may bring your test kit and:
- visit the LifeLabs location at 6084 Russ Baker Way, Richmond, BC V7B 1B4 or make an appointment at a participating Shoppers Drug Mart
Contact LifeLabs to receive your test results.
Tests must be completed with LifeLabs
Your test must be completed using the LifeLabs kit provided. If you didn’t get the vaccinated traveller exemption, you must stay in quarantine until you have received a negative test result, AND your 14-day quarantine period is complete.
If you don’t have a test kit
Contact LifeLabs if you didn’t receive a kit, or you lost or damaged your kit.
Invalid or indeterminate test results
If you receive an indeterminate result on your test, you must complete another test. LifeLabs should automatically courier another test kit to you.
Contact LifeLabs right away to ensure a kit has been sent.
If you didn’t get the vaccinated traveller exemption, you must stay in quarantine until you receive a negative result from your repeat test and you have completed your mandatory 14 day quarantine.
If you don’t receive the results
Contact LifeLabs directly if you haven't received your test result.
If you didn’t get the vaccinated traveller exemption, you can only leave your place of quarantine if you receive a negative result from your test and you have completed your full 14-day quarantine.
Drop off location information for travellers in Saskatchewan
In Saskatchewan, you can arrange to drop off your sample the same day or within the next day at any one of the participating Shoppers Drug Mart locations. Before your visit to Shoppers Drug Mart, please ensure you call to confirm the store hours. If you arrive at a participating Shoppers Drug Mart location with a pre-packaged sample to drop off, please go directly to the pharmacy department and speak to a team member there to ensure your sample is shipped for testing. Visit LifeLabs for more information.
OR
You can book an appointment for a curbside pickup at any one of the participating patient service centres by calling the LifeLabs Saskatchewan customer support centre at 1-888-333-0222. Upon arrival, call the patient service centre and a Lifelabs team member will come outside to collect your pre-packaged sample.
No FedEx pick-up in your area?
If you didn’t qualify for a FedEx pick-up, you can contact LifeLabs to make alternative courier arrangements or arrange to drop off your sample at a participating location.
Contact LifeLabs
Phone
- Toll-free: 1-877-313-4982
Website
Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia
Switch Health manages COVID-19 testing for arriving travellers.
If you haven't already done so, you must create an account to perform your home test and access your results. Use the same email address you used for ArriveCAN.
If you usually use Internet Explorer as your web browser, use a different browser, or contact Switch Health.
You must have internet access to:
- log in or create your Switch Health account
- follow the 'Home Test' steps to schedule the courier pickup of your sample for delivery to the laboratory
Wait to connect to a Switch Health nurse before you open the test tube.
Watch a video on how to use your home test kit
Log in or create a Switch Health account to use your home test kit
If you don’t have internet access
Contact Switch Health and a customer service representative will be able to create an account for you and add you to a call-back time slot.
During your call-back, a nurse will guide you through the home test process over the phone. This includes:
- taking a nasal swab
- packaging the sample
- arranging a courier to pick up the sample for delivery to the laboratory
Contact Switch Health to receive your test results.
You must stay in your place of quarantine until you receive a negative test result from the test and you have completed your mandatory 14-day quarantine.
Tests must be completed with Switch Health
Your test must be completed using the Switch Health kit provided. If you didn’t get the vaccinated traveller exemption, you must stay in quarantine until you have received a negative test result, AND your 14-day quarantine period is complete.
If you don’t have a test kit
Contact Switch Health if you didn’t receive a kit, or you lost or damaged your kit.
Invalid or indeterminate test results on your test
If you receive an indeterminate result on your test, you must complete another test. Switch Health should automatically courier another test kit to you.
Contact Switch Health right away to ensure a kit has been sent.
You must stay in quarantine until you receive a negative result from your repeat test and you have completed your mandatory 14 day quarantine.
If you don’t receive the results from your test
Contact Switch Health directly if you haven't received your test result.
You can only leave your place of quarantine if you receive a negative result from your test and you have completed your full 14-day quarantine.
Contact Switch Health
Phone
- 1-888-966-6531
Website
If you haven’t received your test results, phone or email results@switchhealth.ca
Manitoba
Dynacare manages COVID-19 testing for arriving travellers in Manitoba.
Contact Dynacare
Phone
- 1-855-497-1071
Website
Quebec
Biron manages all COVID-19 testing for travellers arriving in Quebec.
Biron:
Phone
- 1-866-382-0287
Who doesn’t need a Day-8 test
Fully vaccinated travellers arriving to Canada, who meet all the criteria, no longer need to take a Day-8 test.
Check if you qualify as fully vaccinated
Alaska: If you are driving between Alaska and continental United States, you won't receive a Day-8 test kit, as you don't need to submit one.
Find out if your travel is exempt from Day-8 test requirements
Fines and consequences of failing to complete your Day-8 test
All travellers will receive calls from a live agent or automated system and you may also be visited at your place of quarantine by a screening officer to verify your compliance.
You are under a legal obligation to take the arrival and Day-8 tests. Failure to comply with the requirements of the Quarantine Act and emergency orders made under this Act is an offence and could lead to fines of up to $750,000 or imprisonment. If you do not take the tests, you may also be transferred to a designated quarantine facility.
Test results
Arrival test results
Travellers who qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption
If you qualified for the fully vaccinated exemption and are randomly selected for a mandatory arrival test, quarantine requirements will depend on where you’ve been in the last 14 days.
Vaccinated travellers who must quarantine while awaiting arrival test results
Negative results on your arrival test
Positive results on your arrival test
Getting your arrival test results at your place of quarantine
Negative results for your arrival test
You must remain in your place of quarantine and complete your Day-8 test. You can only leave your place of quarantine if you receive a negative result on your Day-8 test AND have completed your mandatory 14-day quarantine.
A negative test result usually means you don’t have COVID-19, but it is possible to receive a negative test result when you have already been infected with COVID-19, for example, prior to the development of symptoms.
You are still required to complete a test on Day-8 of your quarantine.
Positive results on your arrival test
You must isolate yourself from others immediately for a period of 10 days beginning on the day you tested positive for COVID-19, which is the day you took the test. A government representative will call you to provide additional details and instructions.
Invalid or indeterminate results from your arrival test
You must take another test. Collect another specimen using your Day-8 kit with the instructions provided. Contact your service provider, and ask them to send you a replacement kit, to use on Day-8 of your quarantine.
Day-8 test results
You can only leave your place of quarantine once your mandatory 14-day quarantine is completed. You may leave quarantine at the end of your mandatory 14-day quarantine, even if you have not received your Day-8 test result.
Negative results for your test
Even if you receive a negative result from your Day-8 test before the end of your 14-day quarantine, you must still complete your mandatory 14-day quarantine.
Positive results on your test
You must isolate yourself from others immediately for a period of 10 days that begins from the time you took the test with positive results (i.e. date/time of specimen collection). A government representative will call you to provide you with additional instructions.
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