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Mar 25 2021 | Zayouna Admin

Travelling During the Pandemic? Here are the Current Travel Restrictions

The COVID-19 pandemic has put a severe strain on travelling outside of Canada. The main message the Canadian government is stressing, like many other countries, is that now isn’t the time to travel. But for those who still find themselves needing to travel to other parts of the world, new restrictions and guidelines need to be followed to avoid fines and legal issues.

When not to Travel

Before we dive into the current travel restrictions, it is crucial to understand when you shouldn’t be travelling.

  • You have mild, moderate or severe symptoms of COVID-19.
  • You should be in quarantine or social isolation.
  • You currently have COVID-19.
  • You are waiting for your COVID-19 test results.
  • You have been or may have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19.

Planning for Travel

If you need to travel, there are some additional health and safety aspects of your trip that you’ll need to plan. To start, look into where you can book your modular test in the country you are visiting before you come back to Canada. Check your travel insurance and confirm that it will cover COVID-19 in the event of an emergency. Finally, take some time to look into your destination’s COVID-19 entry and exit requirements and prepare yourself for possible delays upon returning to Canada.

Canada’s Current Air Travel Restrictions and Guidelines

The current air travel restrictions and guidelines are:

  • In late February, the government created a new travel regulation that requires people returning to Canada to undergo COVID-19 testing when they arrive. 
  • Following your arrival test, you are also required to stay at a government-designated hotel for up to 3 days. These three hotel days are considered a part of your mandatory standard 14-day return quarantine.
  • You will also be required to provide proof of a negative test result taken 72 hours before your departure back to Canada (an antigen test is not an accepted form of COVID-19 testing).
  • If you are travelling with children 5 years of age or older, they are also required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result upon arriving in Canada.

Canada’s Current Land Travel Restrictions and Guidelines

If you’re planning to travel to the United States by land, here are Canada’s latest land travel restrictions and guidelines:

  • You have to take a COVID-19 test 72 hours before you’re planning on returning to Canada.
  • You have to get tested in the United States.
  • Provide proof of an accepted COVID-19 test (an antigen test is not an acceptable testing method).
  • You must quarantine for 14-days after you arrive back in Canada.
  • When you arrive, you will be given two at-home COVID-19 specimen kits. One must be used on the day you come back to Canada, and the other must be used on day 10 of your 14-day mandatory quarantine.

Travelling in a Difficult Time

The COVID-19 pandemic is making travel more complicated than it’s ever been before. But these restrictions and guidelines are here to protect your health and the health of everyone else in Canada. These rules can be confusing, and it may be challenging to keep up with the ongoing changes. If you find yourself unsure of your legal rights during this time or want to ensure you are legally protected before and after you travel, please feel free to contact us now.

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