As part of Canada’s current travel regulations, foreign visitors are required to undergo a pre-arrival rapid COVID-19 test up to 72 hours before departure for Canada. Alternatively, they can provide proof of a previous positive test result from at least 10 days prior, with the test having been taken no more than 180 days before arrival.

In a potential update to these regulations, the Canadian government is considering exempting fully vaccinated Canadians from testing requirements for short trips abroad, specifically those lasting less than 72 hours. Under this proposal, vaccinated travelers would have the choice of presenting a negative rapid test taken one day before their flight or a molecular test conducted within 72 hours before departure from Canada.

However, for unvaccinated Canadians, stricter measures would remain in place. They would be required to undergo a rapid test before flying and would need to provide a molecular test upon arrival at their destination and again after 8 days. Additionally, unvaccinated travelers would need to observe a mandatory two-week quarantine upon returning to Canada.

These potential adjustments come amidst ongoing efforts to balance public health safety with facilitating international travel, especially as vaccination rates increase and COVID-19 dynamics evolve globally. The proposed changes aim to streamline travel procedures for vaccinated Canadians while maintaining robust testing and quarantine protocols for those who are unvaccinated, ensuring continued protection against COVID-19 transmission and variants of concern.

If you have any questions about the above information, please contact our partners Hudson McKenzie via email at londoninfo@hudsonmckenzie.com or by phone at +44(0) 20 3318 5794.