Monday signalled the start of a new set of rules at Canada’s borders. When Ottawa lifted its advisory against non-essential travel earlier this month, it also announced other travel restrictions would be relaxed.
The new rules are the same whether a traveller arrives by air or land.
Beginning 28FEB, fully vaccinated travellers will no longer need to present a pre-departure, negative PCR test to return to Canada.
However, a negative antigen test is still required. On Friday, government officials clarified some of the new rules about antigen tests for Canadian arrivals.
The CBSA confirmed the antigen test must be taken in the country of departure, no more than one day before a departing flight or presenting at a land border crossing.
In addition, “take-home” antigen tests are not permitted - only tests authorized for travellers.
Denis Vinette, vice-president of the CBSA's Travellers Branch told the CBC, "It has to be done through a lab that will give you then the [written] confirmation that you are either negative or positive."
While antigen tests are less expensive, quicker and more easily accessed, the Canadian government is still under pressure by border town mayors, as well as the travel industry and some medical experts, to drop all border testing requirements for fully vaccinated arrivals.
Other New Rules
Unvaccinated children under 12 entering Canada with their fully vaccinated parents will no longer have to avoid congregate settings like school or daycare for 14 days.
Travellers may still be randomly selected to be tested on arrival at the border even if they are fully vaccinated. However, they no longer have to quarantine pending the test results.
