Maple News reports that beginning November 30, Canada will enforce strict new travel and border measures requiring full COVID-19 vaccination for most travelers aged 12 and above. This mandate applies to air travel, railways under federal jurisdiction—such as VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer—and cruise ships or other passenger vessels traveling for 24 hours or more. However, the mandate excludes road transportation like buses.
This is the next phase in Canada’s phased approach to controlling the pandemic at the border. The measure was initially announced in October and included a temporary grace period allowing travelers to present a valid negative PCR test in lieu of vaccination. That grace period ends November 30. From now on, only a small subset of travelers—such as those with medically documented exemptions—may qualify for limited exemptions under the new policy.
Foreign nationals who entered Canada before October 30 and are not fully vaccinated will still be allowed to exit the country via air until February 28, 2022. They must, however, present a negative COVID-19 molecular test result before boarding their outbound flight.
In a move aimed at easing short-term cross-border travel, fully vaccinated Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered First Nations persons under the Indian Act will no longer be required to provide a molecular COVID-19 test if they return to Canada within 72 hours of leaving the country. This exemption applies to land and air travel and extends to children under 12 and those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.
However, those traveling outside of Canada for longer than 72 hours must still present a valid molecular test result prior to re-entry. Canada does not accept rapid antigen tests as a substitute.
In addition, starting November 30, Canada will recognize three more COVID-19 vaccines for the purposes of travel eligibility and public health compliance: Sinopharm, Sinovac, and COVAXIN. These additions join the previously accepted Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccines.
To qualify as fully vaccinated, travelers must have received their final recommended dose of any accepted vaccine at least 14 days before entry. Proof of vaccination must be provided in English or French—or be accompanied by a certified translation—and submitted through the government’s ArriveCAN app along with quarantine plans and other required documentation.
Maple News will continue to monitor Canada’s evolving travel policies as the global response to COVID-19 develops.