Top Travel News for December Canadians Traveling During COVID
Canadian Travel Abroad
The Government of Canada has now lifted its travel ban. The amount of insurance company’s that cover COVID has increased. The government will soon require that you be fully vaccinated to travel. Wearing masks on planes and avoiding cruise ships is still in effect. The United States has now lifted its land border to fully vaccinated Canadians and does not require a COVID test. There will be random vaccination checks at the US land border.
Returning to Canada
A new COVID variant called Omicron variant
has been discovered in Africa, and many countries are quickly closing their borders to people requiring entry from these countries.
Canada requires a pre-entry molecular test result before entering the country unless you have traveled for a short trip. A quick trip is defined as 72 hours or less. Fully vaccinated travelers must do the following:
- Required to show a pre-entry molecular test
- Required to use ArriveCAN
- Required to take an arrival test if selected
- Exempt from quarantine
- Exempt from Day-8 testing
If you are a Canadian citizen who is not fully vaccinated, you have to quarantine in Canada.
Places to Travel for Canadians Going to the USA
Air Canada currently offers daily flights to California, Washington, Seattle, Florida, Portland, Pittsburg, Newyork, Texas, and Hawaii.
Other Destinations Open to Canadians
Many of these destinations require COVID-19 travel insurance that should include medical evacuations and hospital stays. Some popular destinations open to Canadians are the following:
- ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
- ARGENTINA
- ARUBA
- BAHAMAS
- BARBADOS
- BELIZE
- BERMUDA
- BRAZIL
- CAYMAN ISLANDS
- CHILE
- COLOMBIA
- COSTA RICA
- CUBA
- CURAÇAO (ISLAND)
- DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
- MARTINIQUE
- MEXICO
- PANAMA
- PERU
- PUERTO RICO
- SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS
- SAINT LUCIA
- SAINT MARTIN (ISLAND)
- SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
- TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
- TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
Some countries do not require a COVID test and do not require quarantining. At the same time, others require you to show a negative COVID test upon arrival. The rules are constantly changing; you can view the requirements here: https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/travel-news-and-updates/2020/covid-19.html#
No matter where you travel, you will have to show a negative COVID test upon entry to Canada.
If you are at the planning stage of your trip, you can order a Switch Health RT-LAMP Test Kit, a portable, self-administered test that you can complete from your home or accommodation around the world. There is no need to send this test to the lab, and you will have a report in 45 minutes. This test is authorized for use by Health Canada and meets the testing requirements for entry into Canada.
If the country you are visiting requires a COVID test result, you should contact the nearest Government office abroad to find a testing facility before you visit.
Please remember that all the information above is subject to change. Travel restrictions change as the COV-ID virus evolves. It is always a good idea to check the official website of the authorities in the country that you are planning to visit.
