COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Canada (19 November Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens are allowed to enter. The accompanying immediate and extended family of citizens and permanent residents may enter provided they remain in Canada for 15 days or longer. The citizen or permanent resident must sign a declaration certifying the relationship and have a letter issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada documenting the relationship.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• No with exceptions

• Foreign nationals are barred from entering until 30 November.

• Most foreign nationals are barred from entering Canada unless they have an essential purpose. This exclusion does not apply to the following:

• temporary foreign workers and most international students;

• French citizens who reside in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, provided they have been only in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, the USA, or Canada in the past 14 days;

• refugees or protected persons;

• a person registered as an Indian under the Indian Act.

Is a test required on arrival?

• No with exceptions

• All passengers at Calgary, Montreal, Toronto-Pearson, and Vancouver airports must undergo compulsory temperature checks before entering departure security screening.

• In Alberta province, arrivals will have the option of being tested upon entry at the Coutts land border crossing in southern Alberta and the Calgary International Airport to shorten the quarantine measures.

Test certificate required?

• No

• No negative COVID-19 PCR test result is required.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• Yes

• Anyone entering will be required to observe a mandatory self-quarantine for 14 days.

• In Alberta province, arrivals can shorten the quarantine measures if a traveller receives a negative COVID-19 test result at Coutts land border crossing in southern Alberta and the Calgary International Airport.

• Visitors in Nova Scotia from Canadian provinces and territories excluding Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador will have to abide by 14 days self-isolation measure.

Recommended Border App

• Yes

• Travellers must provide basic information using the passenger contact information form, available through the ArriveCAN mobile app, a web-based form, or a paper form. Submit information via the app within 48 hours before arriving in Canada.

• A mobile app called COVID Alert is recommended to facilitate contact tracing and exposure. More information is available here.

Airline restrictions

• Minimal

• Inbound international flights are operating.

• Domestic flights are operating.

• The suspension of all flights by Porter Airlines has been extended until 11 February 2021.

Border restrictions

• Moderate

• The land border with the United States is closed for non-essential travel. Cross-border travel restrictions with the United States are in place until at least 21 December.

• Recreational boating or fishing are not allowed under the current border restrictions. Those travelling into Canadian waters for recreational purposes may be fined and/or imprisoned.

Curfew restrictions

• Minimal

• There are no national curfew measures in effect.

• Most public health measures and restrictions are under the authority of the individual provinces and territories. There is a great deal of variability in the measures imposed or lifted by each individual province or territory.

• Nunavut extended a state of Public Health Emergency until 26 November.

• Northwest Territories extended Public Health Emergency until 24 November.

• British Colombia extended the State of Emergency until 24 November.

• In Vancouver Coastal and the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, public health orders are in effect until 23 November.

• Nova Scotia has extended the state of emergency until 29 November.

• Manitoba has extended the state of emergency until 6 December and all health regions moved to Red (critical) level.

• As of 14 November, Peel, Hamilton, York and Halton regions moved to Red zone. Brant, Durham, Eastern Ontario, Niagara, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph, and Waterloo shifted to Orange zone. Huron Perth, Middlesex-London, Sudbury, Southwestern Ontario, Huron Perth, and Windsor-Essex regions are in Yellow zone.

Social distancing restrictions

• Moderate

• There is a great deal of variability in the measures imposed or lifted by each individual province or territory. Some examples of restrictions are as follows:

• Authorities extended COVID-19 restrictions and measures in the red zones of Quebec province until 23 November. All gatherings are prohibited.

• In Yukon territory, social bubbles up to 15 people, gatherings up to 50 people (outdoors) and 10 (indoors) are allowed. Indoor planned and seated events with 50 people and outdoors up to 100 are also permitted with physical distancing.

Internal travel restrictions

• Minimal

• Rail transportation is operating.

• Public transit is available in most areas. Restrictions may be imposed by provincial or municipal governments.

• Effective 12 November, travel to and from northern Manitoba is restricted and non-essential travel is discouraged.

Non-essential businesses open?

• Yes

• Most non-essential businesses are operating, subject to local restrictions.

Restaurants open?

• Yes with exceptions

• In most areas, restaurants are open for takeaway and delivery. In other areas, restaurants are open for indoor and/or outdoor dining as long as distancing measures and public health guidelines are followed.

• In the red zones of Quebec province, bars and restaurants are closed until 23 November.

• In Peel region in Ontario, restaurants can provide take away services.

• Effective 12 November, in Manitoba, restaurants are closed to the public, however, delivery and takeout services are permitted.

Bars open cafes open?

• Yes

• In Peel region in Ontario, bars can provide take away services.

Museums and heritage sites open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Museums are open with limited capacity.

• In the red zones of Quebec province, museums, cinemas, theatres are closed until 23 November.

Personal care services open?

• Yes

• Personal care services are open with rules and regulations.

• Effective 12 November, in Manitoba, personal care services are closed for four weeks.

Places of worship open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Worship places are open with rules and regulations.

• Effective 12 November, in Manitoba, all religious and cultural gatherings are prohibited. Only virtual services are allowed.

Masks required in public?

• No with exceptions

• All travellers must wear masks or face coverings upon arrival in Canada.

• Wearing a mask is recommended in public places. Some provinces may have mandatory requirements for face masks.

Events allowed?

• No with exceptions

• In Yukon territory, indoor planned and seated events with 50 people and outdoors up to 100 are also permitted with physical distancing.

• In Peel region in Ontario, effective 13 November, celebrating holidays and life events in business establishments are not allowed. Wedding receptions and gatherings are prohibited from 13 November until 7 January 2021. Meeting and event spaces, including banquet halls, are closed.

Other Restrictions

• Schools have reopened in some jurisdictions.

• The start of the cruise ship season will be delayed until further notice. This deferral applies to cruise ships with a capacity of more than 500 crew members and passengers.

• In the red zones of Quebec province, sports centres are closed until 23 November.

• In Nunavut, all schools, libraries, fitness centres, government offices, personal services, and non-essential businesses are closed until 1 December.

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The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. This information is subject to change as the situation evolves. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Some countries are beginning to remove some restrictions gradually. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country’s embassy for information on your specific travel plans.