COVID-19 Border and Quarantine Orders

Summary#

On January 20, 2021, the federal government issued three temporary orders under the Quarantine Act through the Public Health Agency of Canada. The orders keep tight border controls in place until February 21, 2021, including limits on who may enter Canada, a requirement for pre‑departure testing for air travellers, and a 14‑day quarantine/isolation rule for people who arrive.

What it does#

• Keeps a general ban on most foreign nationals entering Canada from countries other than the United States, with a list of exemptions (family reunification, essential workers, diplomats, certain transport and medical workers, people in research vessels, etc.).
• Continues a separate restriction on entry from the United States for discretionary travel (tourism, recreation), again with specified exceptions.
• Requires most people entering Canada by air who are 5 years of age or older to show a negative COVID‑19 molecular test taken no more than 72 hours before the flight’s initial scheduled departure — or, if recently recovered, proof of a positive test taken 14–90 days before departure can be used instead.
• Requires travellers (air and non‑air) to provide a 14‑day quarantine plan (usually through ArriveCAN) and to report arrival and daily health status while quarantining.
• Requires masks on arrival and during transit to quarantine or isolation; people with symptoms must isolate and follow public‑health instructions.
• Allows the government to place people who cannot safely quarantine at home into a government‑designated quarantine facility.
• Maintains authority to issue letters of authorization for limited cases (for example, high‑performance athletes participating in approved events) and to repeal earlier versions of these orders.

Who's affected#

• Most directly: foreign nationals trying to enter Canada for discretionary travel (tourists, visitors) — most will be refused entry.
• Air travellers to Canada (including Canadians and permanent residents) who must arrange pre‑departure testing and a quarantine plan.
• People arriving with COVID‑19 symptoms or known exposures — they must isolate, may be tested, and could be sent to a quarantine facility.
• Exempt groups who still must follow testing/quarantine conditions: essential workers, crew members, diplomats, certain students at approved (“listed”) institutions, medical transport personnel, and people entering on compassionate or national‑interest grounds.
• Airlines and travel operators enforcing pre‑departure test rules, and provincial/local public‑health authorities responsible for quarantine follow‑up.

If it is unclear whether a particular person or trip qualifies for an exemption, the orders allow officials to make case‑by‑case decisions.

Why it matters#

• These orders keep Canada’s international travel tightly limited while the government aims to reduce imported COVID‑19 cases and slow the spread of new variants.
• For travellers: you likely need a negative molecular test taken within 72 hours, a clear quarantine plan, and you must be prepared to quarantine for 14 days on arrival. If you recently had COVID‑19, you may be able to use proof of a prior positive test from 14–90 days before travel instead of a negative test.
• Enforcement carries penalties. Non‑compliance with the Quarantine Act can lead to fines or imprisonment (for example, up to $1,000,000 and three years in some cases; other provisions reference fines up to $750,000 and/or six months in jail, and Contraventions Act fines such as $1,000).
• The rules are temporary and were set to expire on February 21, 2021; they replaced earlier orders and could be updated again as the pandemic changes. If you are planning travel, check official federal and provincial guidance for the latest requirements.