Canada Entry Requirements

Canada Entry Requirements specify the rules that travelers who wish to visit Canada must meet for hassle-free access to the country. 

Two of the most important Canadian entry requirements are a valid passport and a visa. The passport that a traveler must take for a trip to Canada cannot expire within at least six months from the date of planned travel. 

The Canadian visa policy states that most foreign travelers need to obtain a visa or travel authorization to enter Canada. According to the immigration policy of Canada, nationals of over 50 different countries can travel to Canada visa-free.

Those travelers, however, must obtain the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) in advance of their journey. Permanent residents or citizens of the USA are exempt from the eTA requirement. Moreover, non-visa-exempt countries' citizens as well as those travelers planning longer stays or visiting Canada for other purposes than tourism, business, or tranist, must obtain a visa directly from the Canadian diplomatic mission present in their home country. 

All travelers planning to visit Canada should get familiar with the up-to-date entry requirements, including covid-related documents, visa requirements as well as other documents that may be essential to enter Canada without any issues.

Currently, Canada allows entry only for fully vaccinated travelers. They no longer need to take pre-departure Covid-19 tests, which are still mandatory for partially or unvaccinated travelers, who are eligible to travel to Canada only for some essential reasons. Additionally, all travelers still need to complete the ArriveCAN health declaration within 72 hours of the intended arrival in Canada.

Since the Canadian entry requirements are subject to rapid change, we advise all travelers to check on the recent entry protocol before the planned trip.

Who can enter Canada?

• fully vaccinated travelers
• Canadian citizens, permanent residents, dual citizens
• people registered under the Indian Act, those traveling for essential reasons, persons having a refugee status

Documents check-list for entering Canada

Obligatory documents for entering Canada during the Covid-19 pandemic:

• proof of complete vaccination
• ArriveCAN

You may also need:

• an eTA
• Travel insurance with Covid-19 coverage

Canada Travel Requirements

The Canadian Government has introduced a number of entry requirements with regard to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, in addition to the previously introduced visa and passport requirements.

Current rules applicable upon entering Canada include:

• being fully vaccinated (for foreign travelers)
• completing the ArriveCAN form within 72 hours of arrival in Canada

You will also need the Canadian eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) if your nationality is listed among the eligible ones.

Although not obligatory, it is highly advisable to get travel insurance with Covid-19 coverage when visiting Canada or any other country during the pandemic.

Testing, vaccination, and quarantine requirements

Testing Requirements

From the 1st of April, all travelers visiting Canada no longer need to get tested for Covid-19 before departure.

The Canadian Government has completely eliminated the pre-departure requirement, making visiting this country much easier.

Please note that random tests are still applicable upon arrival to Canada. The border officials may select certain travelers to take a Covid-19 test upon arrival.

Vaccination Requirements

All foreign travelers wishing to enter Canada must be fully vaccinated to be able to enter Canada for non-essential reasons.

Currently, not fully vaccinated travelers cannot enter Canada unless it's for essential reasons.

Quarantine Requirements

Unvaccinated travelers visiting Canada for essential reasons must quarantine after arrival for 14 days, take a Covid-19 test after arrival, and take a Covid-19 test on the 8th day of stay.

Until the 1st of March, travelers selected for testing after arrival needed to quarantine until receiving the test results, which is no longer required.

Traveling from Canada

The Government of Canada has announced that from the 1st of March, 2022, Canadian citizens and residents traveling from Canada abroad may do so for non-essential reasons.

The Level 3 of the Canadian Travel Health Notice was dropped to Level 2, meaning that it is no longer necessary for Canadians to avoid non-essential travels abroad.

Traveling to Canada

Traveling to Canada during the Covid-19 pandemic is only possible for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, dual citizens, fully vaccinated travelers, and those traveling under a special exemption, such as being registered under the Indian Act or having a refugee status.

From March and April of 2022, Canada eases its travel rules for fully vaccinated visitors, including:

• eliminating the pre-departure testing requirements
• opening all airports in Canada for foreign travelers
• removing quarantine for travelers awaiting the post-arrival test results (for random testing upon arrival)

Make sure that you have:

• your vaccination certificate
• a confirmation of completing the ArriveCAN health declaration

You may also need an eTA authorization if traveling from one of the eligible countries.

Entry Rules for Children

Specific entry rules apply for children visiting Canada and may depend on the vaccination status of the adult accompanying them or the age of the underage traveler.

Children under 5

Children under the age of 5 visiting Canada during the Covid-19 pandemic are exempt from:

• pre-departure tests
• on arrival testing
• day 8 testing

Please note! The exemptions apply only to children, not the parents, legal guardians, or the adult accompanying the underage traveler.

Unvaccinated travelers under 12 years of age

Unvaccinated travelers under the age of 12 must follow all testing and quarantine requirements if they are not accompanied by a fully vaccinated traveler.

Unvaccinated travelers aged between 12 and 17

Travelers aged 12 and 17 must follow the applicable entry testing and quarantine requirements applicable to unvaccinated travelers, no matter if they are visiting Canada with a fully vaccinated adult or not.

Please note! Unvaccinated adult dependents that visit Canada with their guardians must also comply with the applicable for unvaccinated travelers rules regarding testing and quarantine.

Transit through Canada - rules during the Covid-19 pandemic

Transiting through Canada during the Covid-19 pandemic allows travelers to avoid the:

• pre-entry tests
• on arrival tests
• day 8 testing
• quarantine period

Canada visa requirements

The Canadian visa policy can be divided into two main categories:

• regular visa required countries
• countries eligible for eTA

If your country of origin is not listed as eligible for the Canadian Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), you will probably need to obtain a regular visitor visa or another regular visa suitable for the nature of your trip to Canada.

eTA to Canada is an obligatory document for travelers from visa-exempt countries visiting Canada by air. It serves as a multiple-entry permit to Canada, issued for 5 years and allowing numerous travels for leisure, business, or transit reasons.

If you are visa-exempt to Canada and plan to visit this country by air, make sure to apply for your eTA Canada online no later than 72 hours from the planned arrival.

Canada Passenger Locator Form - ArriveCAN

The Canadian Government has made it mandatory for all incoming visitors to complete the ArriveCAN health form online within 72 hours of the planned visit to Canada.

The online forms were introduced in 2021 to help the Canadian Government keep the Covid-19 situation under control and require travelers to provide information relating to their personal and contact details, details of the planned visit to Canada, vaccination/testing details, and travel history.

Apply for your ArriveCAN and make sure that you have the PDF confirmation of completing the health declaration with you upon arriving in Canada.

Travel Insurance

Although travel insurance is not currently mandatory to have to visit Canada during the pandemic, it's best to get travel insurance, with Covid-19 coverage specifically, to be prepared for anything that may happen during your trip abroad.

Read more about our travel insurance with Covid-19 coverage, and travel to Canada feeling safe, secure, and ready for all unprecedented circumstances.