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I will travel back to BC from another country. What are COVID travel rules?

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Reviewed by
Nov 4, 2021

Take this short questionnaire to find out if you can come to Canada. Use the federal ArriveCAN application to plan your trip.

On July 5, 2021, COVID-19 fully vaccinated travellers may be exempt from some quarantine restrictions upon arrival to Canada. Learn more about the exemptions and to determine if you meet the conditions.

Effective January 7, 2021, at 12:01 am EST, all air passengers five years of age or older will be required to test negative for COVID-19 before travelling from another country to Canada. Documentation of a negative laboratory test result must be presented to the airline prior to boarding a flight to Canada. The test must be performed using a COVID-19 molecular polymerase chain reaction (or PCR) test and must be taken within 72 hours prior to the traveller’s scheduled departure to Canada.

Travellers arriving to Canada by land or water, as of February 15, 2021, with some exceptions, will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test result taken in the United States within 72 hours of pre-arrival, or a positive test taken 14 to 180 days prior to arrival.

The Government of Canada will be further increasing surveillance efforts to ensure travellers entering Canada complete the applicable mandatory 14-day quarantine period under the Quarantine Act. Travellers to Canada must use the ArriveCAN App or website and provide accurate contact information and their mandatory 14-day quarantine plan on or before entry.

Violating any instructions provided when you enter Canada is an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to up to six months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines.

On July 1, 2021 BC updated the procedures in place for travellers returning from other countries. Go to Self-Isolation on Return to BC for full details.

Federal requirements for travel within Canada

The Government of Canada requires all travellers 12 years and 4 months of age or older to be fully vaccinated and to show proof of vaccination to depart from any Canadian airport, travel on VIA Rail or Rocky Mountaineer trains, and when staying on a non-essential passenger vessel for more than 24 hours.