Effective today (November 30, 2021), fully vaccinated individuals who have the right to enter Canada and depart and re-enter the country within 72 hours will not be required to present a COVID-19 PCR test before re-entering.
Who is this exemption for?
The exemption applies to Canadian citizens, permanent residents or individuals registered under the Indian Act who:
- Depart by land or air, and
- Re-enter within 72 hours either by land or air.
They must have evidence to confirm that their departure and re-entry has been within a 72-hour period.
The exemption also applies to accompanying children under the age of 12, and individuals with medical contraindications to vaccination.
Which vaccines are considered for this exemption?
Effective today, Canada has also extended the vaccines acceptable to be considered fully vaccinated for the purposes of traveling to Canada. These include:
- Sinopharm,
- Sinovac, and
- COVAXIN.
Please remember that traveling individuals must have had their last vaccine dose at least 14 days prior to their travel date.
Will PCR tests continue to be accepted instead of vaccination?
Starting today, vaccination will be required for travel within and out of Canada. A valid COVID-19 molecular test will no longer be accepted as an alternative to vaccination unless travellers are eligible for one of the limited exemptions, such as a medical inability to be vaccinated. Travellers should contact their airline or railway company to obtain the necessary form and submit it in accordance with their carrier’s approval process as of today (November 30).
Where can I get more information?
You can visit the Government of Canada travel advisory page to follow news and updates.
Need help in understanding requirements that may specifically apply to you? Speak with us today.
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