OTTAWA — The federal government’s multi-phase easing of border measures continues today and includes new relaxed requirements for younger travellers.
Effective April 25, 2022, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children aged five to 11 who are accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent, step-parent, guardian or tutor are no longer required to complete a pre-entry COVID-19 test for entry to Canada.
Pre-entry tests are still required for partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers 12 and older who are currently eligible to travel to Canada. Children under five years of age are not required to provide a COVID-19 test result.
Additionally, all fully vaccinated travellers are no longer required to provide a quarantine plan upon entry. This requirement has also been removed for children aged five to 11 who are accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent, step-parent, guardian, or tutor and travellers with a medical contraindication to a COVID-19 vaccine.
And finally, fully vaccinated travellers arriving to Canada are no longer federally required to do the following for 14 days after arriving:
- mask while in public spaces;
- monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms;
- quarantine if another traveller in the same travel group exhibits signs or symptoms or tests positive; and
- maintain a list of close contacts and locations visited.
The federal government is reminding travellers that they are still required to use ArriveCAN to provide mandatory travel information within 72 hours of their arrival to Canada and/or before boarding a plane or cruise ship destined for Canada. That information includes contact and travel info, and
vaccination information and proof of vaccination (if applicable).
“The gradual easing of restrictions for travellers is part of our balanced and science-based approach to managing COVID-19 and its variants,” said Transport Minister Omar Alghabra.
He added: “Although some restrictions may be easing, air and rail travellers are reminded that they are still required to wear a mask throughout their travel journey. Wearing a mask offers an extra layer of protection for you and your fellow travellers, and will help keep Canadians, workers and our transportation system safe.”