Travellers’ Testing, Isolation and Quarantine Obligations

Date: May 25, 2021

Classification: Unclassified

Fully releasable (ATIP)? Yes

Branch/Agency: CBSA  

Proposed Response:

• All international travellers arriving in Canada must undergo a COVID-19 molecular test before and after arrival and must have a suitable 14-day plan for the mandatory quarantine that starts the day they arrive. (There are limited exceptions.)
• All travellers (age 5 and older) must present evidence of a negative COVID-19 molecular test result before boarding an aircraft to Canada, or provide a positive test result from the last 14 to 90 days to show they are no longer infectious. (There are some exceptions.)
• As of February 15, 2021, all travellers arriving by land must present evidence of a COVID-19 molecular test taken within 72 hours in the US before arriving at the port of entry. (There are limited exceptions.)
• As of February 22, all travellers must submit mandatory health information to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) using the ArriveCAN app before boarding a plane to Canada or before arriving at a land port of entry. This includes contact information and a suitable quarantine plan, as applicable.
• As of May 21, all travellers are required to disclose the countries that they were in during the 14 days before entering Canada. This information must be provided through ArriveCAN at air and land ports of entry.
• Unless exempt, air travellers must show they have made a prepaid reservation (at their own expense) for three days at a government-authorized accommodation near their first airport of entry. They are to stay there while they await the result of their arrival test.
• Travellers who test negative for COVID-19 negative on their arrival test then proceed to their suitable quarantine location to complete the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
• Travellers who become symptomatic, who test positive on their arrival test, or who do not have a suitable quarantine plan will be referred to PHAC and may be directed to complete their quarantine at a Designated Quarantine Facility (DQF).
• As of March 4, 2021, 16 land ports of entry offer onsite testing to travellers arriving in Canada.
• Travellers at ports of entry without onsite testing are provided with swab kits and real-time, online guidance so they can give themself the first test in their quarantine location on the first day in Canada, and a second test towards the end of their quarantine period.
• Every person entering Canada is required to answer any questions asked by a screening officer, quarantine officer, public health official, or peace officer during the 14-day quarantine.
• Government of Canada representatives screen travellers as they enter Canada to determine the need for quarantine or isolation.
• Non-compliant travellers who are not exempt from testing or quarantine will be referred to PHAC for further assessment and possible further action, including fines up to $3,000 and criminal prosecution.

If pressed on implementing GAAs in land mode:

• The majority of individuals crossing at the land ports of entry are essential service providers (such as truck drivers, nurses, technicians, and other people who have to cross the border every day).
• Air travellers arrive at four international airports, while there are 117 different land points of entry.
• People travelling by land are fully screened on entry as required under the Quarantine Act and are subject to all public health measures, including the submission of mandatory information via ArriveCAN, pre- and post-border testing and mandatory quarantine.

If pressed on testing and quarantine exemptions:

• Students who cross the border to attend school in Canada or the US are exempt from quarantine and testing requirements when entering Canada, subject to certain conditions. Their drivers are also exempt.
• Residents of certain remote cross-border communities, who only cross the Canada-US border to get the closest available necessities, are exempt from quarantine and testing requirements. These communities include:
  • Northwest Angle, Minnesota; Hyder, Alaska; Campobello Island, New Brunswick; and Stewart, British Columbia.
• Travellers entering Canada who tried to enter the US but were unable and then directed back to Canada are exempt from quarantine and testing requirements, as long as they never left their vehicle at the US POE.
• Foreign nationals who are not otherwise prohibited to enter Canada will be refused entry (with limited exceptions) if they do not have a valid pre-arrival COVID-19 molecular test result.

If pressed on more stringent suitable quarantine plan:

• The Government has strengthened requirements during the mandatory 14-day quarantine by stating travellers must:
  • avoid all contact with others in their household with whom they did not travel;
  • avoid staying with at-risk subpopulations or anyone who works with such a person.

If pressed on other measures to mitigate spread of virus at border:

• All travellers entering Canada must:
  • arrange for a suitable place to quarantine or isolate;
  • go directly to a place of quarantine or isolation for 14 days, unless instructed differently by a Quarantine Officer;
  • wear a non-medical mask or face covering in transit;
  • not have any guests; and
  • monitor for any symptoms.

If pressed on BSOs’ authorities:

• BSOs are designated as screening officers under the Quarantine Act and are empowered to review, challenge and confirm travellers’ statements and direct travellers to a PHAC Quarantine Officer.
• BSOs must also determine if a traveller’s is exempt from quarantine based on public health orders. Travellers who are exempt, either through a provision of the Order in Council or a Chief Public Health Officer designation, can enter Canada unless other concerns are identified.
• Once a traveller is admitted into Canada, the responsibility to monitor quarantine compliance falls to PHAC and provincial or territorial health authorities.
• It is important to note that the CBSA does not issue fines in the enforcement of the Quarantine Act requirements; the decision to pursue enforcement actions rests with PHAC.

If pressed on enhanced measures suspending incoming passenger flights from India or Pakistan:

• The federal government has suspended incoming passenger flights arriving directly from India and Pakistan until June 21.
• People travelling from India or Pakistan who are headed to Canada but are travelling indirectly must go through customs in that third country and stay there until they obtain another negative COVID-19 test. Only then can they board their flight to Canada.

Background:

Canada has implemented restrictions on non-essential travel across Canada’s international borders and mandatory testing, quarantine and isolation measures to help prevent further spread of COVID-19. With the new variants of concern, the Government put further testing and quarantine requirements in place for international travellers arriving at air and land ports of entry. Exemptions to these measures ensure that economic supply chains continue between Canada and the United States.

The Government of Canada is continuously monitoring and evaluating the situation and will ensure protective measures remain in place until they can be lifted safely.

Order in Council

New OIC 53: 2021-0421 entitled Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Quarantine,  Isolation and Other Obligations), has effect from the period beginning on May 21, 2021 (11:59:59 PM) and ending on June 21, 2021 (11:59:59 PM). This order repeals and replaces OIC 50: 2021-0313. This Order is to be read in conjunction with the Transport Canada’s Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirement of Civil Aviation Due to COVID-19 under the Aeronautics Act. The Interim Order was updated on April 22, 2021 to require that passengers departing India or Pakistan to Canada via an indirect route, obtain a negative COVID-19 pre-departure test from a third country before continuing their journey to Canada.

Requirement to Submit Information by Electronic Means - ArriveCAN

As of February 22, 2021, whether arriving by land or air, all travellers are required to electronically submit their travel and contact information, including a suitable quarantine plan, via the ArriveCAN app before crossing the border or boarding a flight. (Digital submission pre-boarding has been mandatory for air travellers since November 21, 2020).

More stringent quarantine plan:

For a quarantine location to be deemed suitable, travellers can’t stay with at-risk subpopulations including people who work in hospitals or long-term care facilities, adults over the age of 65, or those who are immunocompromised or at risk for more severe disease outcomes. In addition, travellers must avoid all contact with others in their household with whom they did not travel. 

Quarantine plan and contact information must be submitted electronically for the 14-day quarantine period to PHAC, unless travellers can’t because of a disability, inadequate infrastructure, a service disruption or a natural disaster, in which case this information can be provided in an alternate manner as specified by PHAC. This obligation does not apply to people in transit who remain in sterile transit areas.

Asymptomatic travellers can submit their contact information through:

• PHAC Contact Information Desktop App;
• the paper PHAC Coronavirus Form;
• ArriveCAN online portal; or
• ArriveCAN mobile app.

Pre-Arrival Testing Requirement

Air Mode:

As of January 6, 2021, all travellers 5 and older, regardless of immigration status, who board an aircraft destined to Canada must present proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test. The test must be taken within 72 hours before the traveller’s scheduled departure and performed using one of two methods: either Molecular Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or Reverse Transmission Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (RT-LAMP). As of January 21, instead of providing a negative test, travellers can provide a result that is positive for COVID-19 if the test was done on a specimen that was collected at least 14 days (and no more than 90 days) before the aircraft’s initial scheduled departure time.

Unless otherwise exempt, before boarding, travellers must provide to the aircraft operator, documentation demonstrating the negative or positive test result including the following elements:

1. the person’s name and date of birth;
2. the name and civic address of the laboratory that administered the test;
3. the date the test was conducted and the test method used; and
4. the test results.

Land Mode:

As of February 15, 2021, all travellers, with some exceptions, are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test result taken in the United States within 72 hours of pre-arrival, or a positive test taken 14 to 90 days prior to arrival. Exemptions include essential workers such as truckers and emergency service providers, as well as cross-border communities.

As of May 21, 2021, the OIC includes an exemption from pre-arrival testing requirements for 1) travellers from Alaska who transit via Yukon in order to return to Alaska; and 2) habitual residents of Northwest Angle, Minnesota, traveling by car to the continental U.S. 

Note:

See below for a complete list of exempted persons from Pre-Arrival Testing Requirements 

Post-Arrival Testing Requirement  

All travellers, with limited exceptions, are required to undergo COVID-19 molecular testing at time of entry and once again later in the 14-day post-entry period while they are in quarantine.

Air Mode:

As of February 22, 2021, all travellers, with some exceptions, are required to take a COVID-19 molecular test when they arrive in Canada before exiting the first airport of entry, and another toward the end of their 14-day quarantine period.

As mentioned on page 2, travellers must stay at a GAA for up to 3 days while waiting for their first test result. The GAA hotel must be in the first Canadian city arrive in. If they receive a negative result on their arrival test, they will be able to take a connecting flight to their final Canadian destination.

There are a number of hotels to choose from near each of the four international airports accepting international flights, in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal. Costs of these hotel stays vary slightly at each location. The price will include costs associated with the room, food, cleaning, infection prevention and control measures, and security as well as transportation.

Land Mode:

As of February 22, 2021, travellers entering Canada at the land border are required to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival as well as towards the end of their 14-day quarantine. Since March 4, 2021, the GOC has operated 16 testing sites at land points of entry across Canada.

Ports of Entry with onsite testing:

• Douglas, British Columbia
• Coutts, Alberta
• Queenston-Lewiston Bridge, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
• St. Bernard de Lacolle (Highway 15), Quebec
• St Stephen 3rd Bridge, New Brunswick
• Ambassador Bridge, Windsor, Ontario
• Blue Water Bridge, Point Edward, Ontario
• Emerson West Lynne, Manitoba
• Fort Erie (Peace Bridge), Ontario
• Huntingdon, British Columbia
• Lansdowne (Thousand Islands Bridge), Ontario
• Pacific Highway, British Columbia
• Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls, Ontario
• St-Armand, Quebec
• Stanstead (Route 55), Quebec
• Windsor-Detroit Tunnel, Ontario

Exemptions

The Order allows for limited exemptions to the requirements for post-entry testing and government-authorized accommodations. This includes provisions for persons providing essential services, persons seeking essential medical treatment outside of Canada, persons entering Canada to assist in a major disaster, and unaccompanied dependent children.

As of May 21, 2021, the OIC includes an exemption from post-arrival testing requirements for 1) travellers from Alaska who transit via Yukon in order to return to Alaska; and 2) habitual residents of Northwest Angle, Minnesota, traveling by car to the continental US.

Note:

See below for a complete list of exempted persons from Post-Arrival Testing Requirements as well as those exempt from the requirement to stay in a government-approved accommodation in the air mode.  

Testing exemption authorities in specific circumstances 

To manage unforeseen emergency and extraordinary circumstances when pre- and post-arrival testing may not be feasible, the following exemption authorities have been added as of February 14, 2021:

• Emergency response (Minister of Transport or Minister of Public Safety);
• National Interest (Minister of Health), subject to conditions;
• Essential Service (Chief Public Health Officer), subject to conditions
• Exemption due to extraordinary reasons (Quarantine Officer)

Alternative Testing Protocol  

In some cases where pre- or post-arrival testing or quarantine would not be appropriate due to the urgency or critical nature of the work being performed by the incoming traveller, the ability to use new testing technologies will continue to be useful through the potential future introduction of alternative testing protocols that could be considered for collection of samples within a different timeframe in limited circumstances. 

Compliance and Enforcement

Failure to provide documentary evidence of a COVID-19 test will not result in a prohibition on entry to Canada for those with a right of entry (Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents, Registered Indians). Foreign nationals who are symptomatic or who fail to provide evidence of a valid pre-arrival test will be prohibited entry into Canada. Travellers who do not comply with quarantine or testing requirements pre and post arrival will be referred to PHAC and may be subject to a fine of up to $3,000 or face criminal prosecution. Additionally, travellers in quarantine or isolation are required to answer questions and provide information to peace officers on request. Failure to provide accurate information or violating any instructions provided when entering Canada is an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to up to six months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines.

Quarantine and Isolation Requirements

All travellers entering Canada who are subject to mandatory quarantine or isolation, as well as quarantine exempt persons, are required to provide mandatory health information to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) under the Quarantine Act:

Non-exempt

Travellers are required to provide information including their travel details, phone number, email address, suitable quarantine plan and civic address where they intend to quarantine. This includes travellers who have been issued a limited release from quarantine by PHAC (such as compassionate entry);

Exempt

Travellers are required to provide contact information (phone number and email address) where they can be contacted for a period of 14 days starting on the day the enter Canada.

Quarantine Exempt Classes of Persons

As of February 14, 2021, quarantine-exempt travellers must meet more stringent obligations with respect to mask wearing and must maintain a list of contacts during their initial 14-day period in Canada. Non-medical mask requirements have been amended to align with the Transport Canada Interim Order and exempts those younger than two years of age and those with physical restrictions that prevent mask wearing.

Exemptions

The Order continues to allow for some limited exemptions to quarantine requirements, including cross-border students, cross-border communities, and land border crossings were the person was directed back from the United States or entered US territory without seeking formal entry (“flagpolers”).

Note:

See below for a complete list of exempted persons. 

Exemptions from Public Health Requirements

As of March 21, 2021, the Order has been restructured to include the complete listing of persons and classes of persons exempt from the various public health requirements within schedules 1 to 3.

• Persons Exempted from the Requirement to Provide Evidence of a COVID-19 Molecular Test – Entering by Aircraft (Schedule 1, Table 1)
• Persons Exempted from the Requirement to Provide Evidence of a COVID-19 Molecular Test – Entry by Land (Schedule 1, Table 2)
• Persons Exempted from Quarantine (Schedule 2, Table 1)
• Persons Exempted from Undergoing Tests in Canada (Schedule 2, Table 2)
• Persons Exempted from Government-authorized Accommodation (Schedule 2, Table 3)
• Occupational Groups Exempt from a Government-authorized Accommodation (Schedule 3, Table 1)

In addition to the exemptions detailed in the above schedules, the following persons and classes of persons are exempt from select public health requirements provided that they meet established conditions:

High performance amateur athletes and essential personnel  

Foreign nationals who are high performance amateur athletes participating in an International Single Sport Event (ISSE) or persons deemed to perform an essential role in relation to an ISSE, may seek entry into Canada as long as they have an authorization letter issued by Heritage Canada (PCH).

The PCH authorization letter issued pursuant to subsection 4.6(2) of the order may include a risk mitigation plan with specific conditions (quarantine exemption) developed in consultation with PHAC and supported by applicable provincial government and local health authority.

Note:

Not all high performance amateur athletes and essential personnel are exempt from the mandatory 14-day quarantine requirement.

Compassionate Entry

Pursuant to subsection 4.5(1), the requirements to remain in quarantine are different for a person who has written authorization from the Minister of Health for entry and a limited release from quarantine for one of the following purposes:

1. To attend to the death of or provide support to a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, temporary resident, protected person or a person registered as an Indian under the Indian Act who is residing in Canada and who is deemed to be critically ill by a licensed health care practitioner;
2. To provide care for a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, temporary resident, protected person or a person registered as an Indian under the Indian Act who is residing in Canada and who is deemed by a licensed health care practitioner to have a medical reason that they require support; or
3. To attend a funeral or end of life ceremony. 

Conditions or Requirements for Persons Exempted from Public Health Measures 

As of May 21, 2021, the Chief Public Health Officer may impose conditions or requirements on any person or member of a class of persons exempt under any of the public health measures set out in this OIC, including (a) a condition that allows for the collection of information about the likelihood of introduction or spread of COVID-19 by that person or member of a class of persons; or (b) a requirement, or similar measure, to those referred to in this OIC. 

Contact:

Approved by: Julia Aceti, A/Vice-President, Strategic Policy Branch

Date modified:

2022-01-19