Easing of Travel Restrictions - Canada Travel Update

The temporary suspension on direct flights from India to Canada has been extended till 21st August, 2021.

During this period, air travelers intending to travel to Canada from India may do so via an indirect route. They will need to obtain a pre-departure negative COVID-19 molecular test result from a third country before continuing their onward journey to Canada. One of the current and popular third country options for travelling to Canada is through Mexico wherein :-

1. On arrival visa will be provided to all travellers holding a Canada or USA visa.

2. No Quarantine will be required.

3. There will be a layover period of 48 hrs. to get a RT PCR test report.

Below are the current travel restrictions in place for air travellers arriving in Canada:-

Arriving in Canada before 9th August, 2021

A Covid-19 molecular test will be taken at the airport on arrival in Canada. For non-vaccinated travellers there is currently a 14-days quarantine required including a mandatory 3 nights reservation at a government – authorized hotel followed by an 11-days quarantine plan. Once the test result received is negative, the traveller may check out of the hotel and proceed to their place of quarantine. A second kit with instructions will also be provided for a self-administered test to be done after 8 days of arrival as well. If the test result is positive or indeterminate, they will be guided further as per instructions from a quarantine officer.

Fully vaccinated travellers who have received vaccines approved by Canada at least 14 days prior to the day of entering Canada are exempt from the 3-night government hotel stay, the 14-day quarantine, and day-8 Covid-19 test, if meeting all other eligibility requirements.

Arriving in Canada on or after 9th August, 2021

Air travellers arriving after 9th August 2021 will no longer need to book a 3-night stay in a government-approved hotel, regardless of vaccination status. However, those who are not fully vaccinated must still quarantine for the 14 days period.

Even if a traveller is fully vaccinated, they will still need to prepare a 14-day quarantine plan in case the officer determines that they are not eligible to be considered a fully-vaccinated traveller. They should not cancel their 14-day quarantine plan until they have received a confirmation from the officer that they are exempt and do not need to quarantine. Fully vaccinated travellers will not need a post-arrival test unless they are randomly selected to complete a Day 1 - COVID-19 molecular test, but they must still complete a pre-arrival COVID-19 test.

Please find below the list of vaccines currently accepted for fully vaccinated status in Canada:-

• Pfizer-BioNTech

• Moderna

• AstraZeneca/Covishield

• Janssen/Johnson & Johnson

Vaccines not currently accepted for fully vaccinated status in Canada:-

• Bharat Biotech (Covaxin)

• Cansino (Convidecia)

• Gamalaya (Sputnik V, Gam-Covid-Vac)

• Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV, Sinopharm-Wuhan)

• Sinovac (CoronaVac)

• Vector Institute (EpiVacCorona)

• Other

Moving forward from September’21 onwards if Canada’s epidemiology remains favourable, the government intends to open Canada’s borders to fully-vaccinated travellers for non-essential travel too.