In response to increased protection measures against the Covid virus, Canada announced plans to ease border restrictions and is removing the mandatory PCR testing requirement and other pandemic travel restrictions for people coming into the country. This is a key change for Canadian business travellers, vacationers, and for business people and tourists crossing the border into Canada.
Effective February 28, 2022, at 12:01 a.m. EST:
- Canada has removed the requirement of a negative PCR test for Canadians returning home to Canada from abroad.
- Travellers arriving in Canada from any country and who qualify as fully vaccinated will be randomly selected for arrival testing.
- Travellers will not be required to quarantine while awaiting their test results.
- Children under 12 years old who are travelling with fully vaccinated adults will continue to be exempt from quarantine.
- Unvaccinated Canadian travellers returning to Canada will continue to be required to test on arrival, on Day 8 and quarantine for 14 days.
- Unvaccinated foreign nationals will not be permitted to enter Canada unless they meet one of the few exemptions.
- Travellers will have the option of using a COVID-19 rapid antigen test result (taken the day prior to their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry) or a molecular test result (taken no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry) to meet pre-entry requirements.
- A rapid antigen test taken at home does not meet the pre-entry requirement – it must be authorized by the country in which it was purchased and must be administered by a laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth service.
- https://www.canada.ca/en/publi...
- Canada will no longer recommend that Canadians avoid travel for non-essential purposes.
- On February 28, 2022, at 16:00 EST, international flights carrying passengers will be permitted to land at all remaining Canadian airports that are designated by the Canada Border Services Agency to receive international passenger flights. Currently only 18 Canadian airports can receive international flights.
For further information on the easing of travel restrictions, read the full news release from Public Health Agency of Canada.
Business Travel Recovery
The Global Business Travel Association predicts a full recovery by 2024. 52% of CEOs surveyed say they expect their company’s business travel spend to reach 2019 levels in 2022, and business travellers say they are ready to travel again:
- 86% need travel to accomplish their business goals.
- 81% believe that their volume of domestic business travel will be greater or on par in 2022 than it was prior to the pandemic.
- 54% miss travelling and hope to travel more often in the future.
- 43% wouldn’t mind travelling less in the future, whether they indicated they miss it or not.
- 81% of business travellers say their company requires vaccines for travel and in-person meetings.
COVID has individuals, families, big corporations and small business owners, and there can be confusion at the border or when trying to board a flight to Canada. An experienced immigration professional can help qualified travellers cross the border into Canada, and help prepare your immigration application.
Call Ackah Law BEFORE you cross the border (403) 452‑9515 or contact@ackahlaw.com.
