As of April 1st 2022, the Canadian border will no longer require a pre-arrival negative COVID-19 test from fully vaccinated travellers entering or returning to the country. Previously, a rapid antigen test or a PCR test indicating a person does not have COVID was required by border authorities. This rule change should encourage Canadians to travel abroad this summer, since they will no longer need to stress about getting tested in a foreign country before returning home. Now that the USA border is open to tourists, a growing number of Canadians plan to visit. This change will also make the Canadian border less intimidating to potential visitors from USA and other countries, and will help the Canadian tourism industry rebound from a challenging two years.
Crossing the Canadian border will still require proof of vaccination in order to be exempt from strict quarantine requirements. Travellers can upload this proof to border authorities via the Government of Canada ArriveCAN app, which is free to download on iOS and Android devices. Successfully crossing Canada’s border also requires a valid ID, so Canadians thinking about vacationing outside the country should make sure their passport does not expire before their trip would finish. Canadians with a criminal record (including DUI offences) may need to obtain a special entry waiver before visiting some destinations including the United States. Many countries still have COVID testing requirements for visitors, so always do your research before booking a trip.
