The following travel restrictions have been introduced in Canada pursuant to the Quarantine Act, following the outbreak that was declared by the World Health Organization on November 24, 2021 of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) COVID-19 variant.
Until January 31, 2022, the Government of Canada is implementing enhanced border measures for all travellers who have been in the Southern Africa region — including South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Malawi, and Egypt — within the last 14 days before arriving in Canada.
All air travellers coming into the country, apart from those from United States, are required to be tested at the airport even if vaccinated.
A foreign national is prohibited from entering Canada if they are travelling from a country where there is an outbreak of the Omicron variant or there is a risk of an outbreak of the variant. This includes foreign nationals who were in one of the affected countries within 14 days of their arrival in Canada.
Canadians, permanent residents, and people with status under the Indian Act are still able to enter Canada irrespective of their travel history to these countries. These individuals will have to obtain a negative COVID-19 molecular test result within 72 hours of departure and complete an immediate arrival test. These travellers will be required to complete a test on day 8 after arrival and quarantine for 14 days.
Those arriving by air will be required to stay in a designated quarantine facility while they await their arrival test result. They will not be permitted to proceed to their home quarantine until they have received a negative arrival test result.
Those arriving by land may be allowed to proceed directly to their suitable isolation location. If they do not have a suitable plan — where they will not have contact with anyone they haven’t travelled with — or do not have private transportation to their place of quarantine, they will be directed to stay at a designated quarantine facility.
We expect this list of countries to expand and change over the coming weeks. Should you have any questions about your travel arrangements, please do not hesitate to reach out to our office.
