Here’s what to know about Canada’s new testing requirement for air travellers

Get ready for increased measures at the airport when you return from your vacation abroad. The federal government has announced new travel requirements in Canada for all passengers arriving from foreign countries except for the U.S., including COVID-19 testing and self-isolation.

“In the coming days, all fully vaccinated travellers arriving by air from departure points other than the United States will be subject to arrival testing,” the government announced on Tuesday.

“Fully vaccinated travellers will be required to quarantine while they await the results of their arrival test.”

Unvaccinated travellers with the right to enter Canada will now be required to stay in a designated quarantine facility while awaiting the results of their COVID-19 tests, which are taken upon arrival and on day 8.

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New requirements could also be implemented at the Canada-U.S. land border, which fully reopened for vaccinated travellers just a few weeks ago.

Canada has also added more countries to its travel ban list, and you can find all of them here. Foreign citizens who have been to these countries within the last 14 days will be denied entry into Canada.

Canadian citizens who wish to return home from any of these countries will be subject to strict testing, screening and quarantine measures.

More measures could also be added as the situation surrounding the Omicron variant evolves. “The Government of Canada will continue to assess the evolving situation, monitor case data, and adjust border measures as required,” their statement says.

These measures come just days after Canada dropped the pre-entry molecular test requirement for air travellers if their trip is under 72 hours long.

Last month, the non-essential travel advisory was officially lifted for the first time since March 2020. The federal government has also made it mandatory for all plane and train passengers to be fully vaccinated in order to board.