Canada has announced it will relax its COVID-related travel requirements from February 28th. With COVID cases on the decline, Canada will begin to phase out its entry restrictions. We explore these changes and how they will affect travelers.

Relaxed COVID restrictions in Canada

In response to a decline in COVID cases, Canada will ease off its entry requirements for travelers. From February 28th, fully vaccinated travelers can enter the country with a rapid antigen test taken a day before travel. Current rules only accept PCR tests, which will still be accepted alongside antigen tests.

The Public Health Agency of Canada announced on Tuesday,

"Today, the Government of Canada announced a series of adjustments to the current border measures, representing the beginning of a phased easing of travel restrictions."

Crucially, all tests must be conducted by a laboratory, health care or telehealth provider. This means travelers won't be able to do unsupervised rapid antigen tests at home, but can still take tests verified and supervised by a telehealth service.

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Rapid antigen tests taken at home won't be accepted. Photo: Getty Images

Border officials will retain the right to randomly test arriving fully vaccinated travelers via PCR tests. However, these travelers won't need to quarantine while they await results.

Unvaccinated travelers will still require testing on arrival and Day 8, alongside a mandatory quarantine period of 14 days.

Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, said,

"Today’s announcements are a reflection of the progress we have made against this current Omicron variant. The return to mandatory random testing of all vaccinated travelers will facilitate travel for Canadians all while helping our public health authorities to detect future changes in COVID-19 importation rates and variants of concern."

Easier travel

Canada's acceptance of rapid antigen tests will be a welcome relief for travelers. Antigen tests are a lot cheaper than PCR tests and also provide results within a matter of minutes. The changes have also removed home quarantines while awaiting the results of PCR tests upon arrival.

One proposal still on the table is a testing exemption for fully vaccinated Canadian citizens making short trips abroad (less than 72 hours). This is aimed primarily at those flying back from the United States.

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The Canadian government will no longer advise against non-essential travel. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Duclos added,

"If the situation warrants, the testing exemption for short trips, under 72 hours, for instance, could be reinstated."

The government will also downgrade its Travel Health Notice for Canadians from Level 3 to Level 2. It will no longer recommend against all non-essential travel abroad.

All international flights free to land

Transport Canada’s Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting the arrival of international flights at certain airports will expire on February 28th.

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All Canadian airports will be free to welcome international flights. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Presently, only 18 Canadian airports are authorized to accept international arrivals. All remaining Canadian airports will be clear to receive international flights after the NOTAM expires.

Are you glad to see Canada's entry rules eased off? Do you have any trips to Canada coming up? Let us know in the comments.