Maple News reports that Canada is implementing a series of updated border measures designed to both ease restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers and tighten requirements for unvaccinated individuals. A major shift will take place starting November 30, when the list of recognized COVID-19 vaccines will be expanded. Canada will begin accepting Sinopharm, Sinovac, and COVAXIN alongside earlier approved vaccines such as Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson. This move aligns Canadian policy more closely with the World Health Organization’s emergency use listing, making entry more accessible for travellers vaccinated with these formulations globally.
In a significant change taking effect on January 15, 2022, several groups that were previously exempt from vaccination rules will be required to be fully vaccinated in order to enter Canada. This includes international students aged 18 and above, work permit holders (excluding those in agriculture and food processing), professional athletes, essential service providers like truckers, and family members of citizens or permanent residents. Those not meeting vaccination requirements must fall under a narrow set of exemptions or they will be denied entry.
Exemptions will still apply to certain categories, such as agricultural and food industry workers, marine crew members, new permanent residents, resettled refugees, and individuals entering Canada on compassionate grounds. Children under the age of 18 may also qualify for exemptions in specific scenarios. However, even these travellers will face ongoing testing, quarantine, and other public health requirements.
For Canadian citizens and permanent residents, a welcome change arrives November 30. Fully vaccinated individuals returning from trips of less than 72 hours will no longer be required to present a negative COVID-19 molecular test. However, trips longer than three days will still mandate a pre-arrival PCR test. This development comes after growing domestic and cross-border pressure to remove costly and logistically challenging testing requirements.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently indicated a planned three-phase strategy to phase out PCR testing requirements for travellers, beginning with short-duration trips and likely expanding to U.S. and international travellers. No firm timelines have been set for the later phases.
The business community, including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, has strongly advocated for dropping pre-departure testing for fully vaccinated travellers. Industry stakeholders argue that such rules hinder cross-border business activity, particularly given the high cost and limited accessibility of PCR testing, which often ranges from CAD $150 to $300 per test.
Recent easing of travel by the United States, which now permits fully vaccinated Canadians to enter without testing, has increased scrutiny on Canada’s entry measures. While Canada has now partially aligned with this trend, further changes are being urged to facilitate smoother travel and support economic recovery.
With the new rules coming into force, international students and foreign workers should prepare to meet the stricter health requirements, including proof of full vaccination with an approved vaccine, to ensure smooth travel and timely entry into Canada.