There's an UPDATE to this story: https://www.exnews.net/post/british-columbians-holiday-travel-plans-threatened
There are new rules for Canadians returning home from outside the country beginning November 30, 2021
There's also a new "must have" app, called ArriveCAN.
The biggest change is for Canadians returning to Canada after being out of the county for less than 72 hours. They will no longer need proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
Returning travelers will still need proof of vaccination. Paper or digital documentation are both acceptable.
If you don't have proof you may have to get tested and/or self-isolate. You may also receive a hefty fine.
For Canadians returning after being out of the country for longer than 72 hours or visiting Foreign Nationals the ArriveCAN app should be used to submit:
- Contact information and travel details
- Vaccination information and pre-entry test results
- Quarantine plan
If the information isn't submitted via the ArriveCAN app 72 hours prior to arriving at the border they:
- won't be eligible for the fully vaccinated traveler exemption
- may face additional delays at the border for public health questioning
- may be subject to fines or enforcement action
The rules apply to Foreign Nationals as well as Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
If you're a Foreign national you may be denied boarding your flight to Canada or be denied entry into Canada if crossing at a land, rail, or marine border crossing.
Canadians or permanent residents won't be denied entry but once again they may face medical questioning, fines, and self-quarantine,
You can download the app for free on your smartphone or device.
If you have not received the COVID-19 vaccination for a medical reason you will likely need documentation.
Unvaccinated children under 12 returning after being out of Canada longer than 72 hours won't be permitted to attend school or daycare for 2 weeks.
The new rules come into effect on November 30, 2021
- if you have a reusable receipt
- are an essential service provider
- are traveling with an under 18
- are traveling with an under 12
Here is a list of acceptable vaccines:
- Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2)
- Moderna (Spikevax, mRNA-1273)
- AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria, COVISHIELD, ChAdOx1-S, AZD1222)
- Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S)
Starting November 30 2021, 03:01 AM EST, the following COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO) will be accepted by the Government of Canada for travel:
- Bharat Biotech (Covaxin, BBV152 A, B, C) Starting November 30
- Sinopharm (Beijing) BBIBP-CorV (Vero Cells) Starting November 30
- Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc) Starting November 30
To qualify as a fully vaccinated traveler, you must have received at least 2 doses of an accepted vaccine or a mix of 2 accepted vaccines, or at least 1 dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine, at least 14 full days prior to the day you travel.
Canadians citizens, those registered under the Indian Act, and permanent residents, who have been in the Southern Africa region within the previous 14 days, including South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Namibia:
must follow new pre-entry testing before continuing their journey to Canada, and post-arrival requirements
Foreign nationals who have been in these countries within the period of 14 days will not be permitted entry into Canada.
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