Summer is the season to travel especially in Canada where people from all over the world visit this beautiful country and enjoy the pleasant weather. Keeping in mind the rising cases of COVID cases throughout the world, Canada has yet again resumed mandatory random testing for fully vaccinated travellers arriving by air. The airports for testing include Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and Toronto. If you are a student planning to travel to Canada for the first time, here is what you need to know!
According to this new rule, after the passengers complete their customs declaration, some will be selected for a random test and notified about it through email notification within 15 minutes. The email would specify the details of how they can arrange the test which includes where and when they can get the test done.
Please note that the arrival test is free.
The email will be from noreply.pasdereponses@notification.canada.ca or quarantine.covid19.quarantaine@phac-aspc.gc.ca. You must follow the instructions in the email.
The email id on which passengers would receive the email will be the same one used for ArriceCAN.
Passengers are free to pick up a self-swab kit at select test provider locations, get the test in person, or via a virtual appointment for a self-swab test.
The quickest and easiest way to complete your arrival test is to use near-airport locations where the slots are available.
How to complete your arrival test?
For this, the passenger will have to:
- Register with the approved test provider.
- Schedule the test with them.
Please note that the test must be completed by the end of the next calendar day after arriving in Canada.
For instance, if you arrived in Canada at 10:00 a.m. on July 1, you should complete your arrival test by 11:59 p.m. on July 2. (which is the end of the next day post-arrival)
Make sure to keep your ArriveCAN e-receipt number until your test is complete. Also, don’t forget to keep the email notification.
Your arrival test results
It should come in 4 days from the date the test was done. It is always advisable to contact your test provider if you do not get the result within this time frame.
Fully vaccinated travellers
Fully vaccinated passengers can take public transportation, including connecting flights without waiting for your arrival test results.
Travellers aren’t required to quarantine while awaiting their test result if they’re randomly selected for a mandatory arrival test.
Note: It is mandatory to fill in ArriveCAN within 72 hours before arriving in Canada. Not doing this would disqualify the passenger for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption. The passenger could be required to quarantine for 14 days and complete arrival and Day-8 COVID-19 tests. So, make sure to fill in ArriveCAN within 72 hours before arriving in Canada.
Travellers who don’t qualify as fully vaccinated
Travellers who won’t qualify as fully vaccinated may not be allowed to enter Canada, and even if they’re allowed entry, they must complete an arrival COVID-19 test.
They must also complete a COVID-19 molecular test on day 8 of their mandatory 14-day quarantine.
If the passenger completes his or her test via an in-person appointment, they must immediately fall back to their place of quarantine. The passenger is free to take public transportation to their place of quarantine without waiting for your arrival test results.
Source: Arrival Testing in Canada
