COVID-19 Canada Entry, Testing and Quarantine Orders

Summary#

The Public Health Agency of Canada published three related emergency orders made on September 15, 2021 that keep rules in place at the border to limit COVID‑19 importation. The orders ban or restrict entry for many foreign nationals, set testing and quarantine/isolation rules (with some exemptions for fully vaccinated people), and remain in force until November 21, 2021.

What it does#

• Keeps the Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Prohibition of Entry into Canada from any Country Other Than the United States) in effect. Most foreign nationals who have been in countries other than the United States are barred from entering Canada, subject to specific exceptions.
• Keeps the Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Prohibition of Entry into Canada from the United States) in effect. It restricts entry from the U.S. for discretionary travel and requires pre-entry testing for many non‑Canadians arriving from the U.S.
• Keeps the Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Quarantine, Isolation and Other Obligations) in effect. It requires:
  • Pre‑departure molecular (PCR/RT‑LAMP) tests for most travellers and checks at air, land and sea entry points.
  • Post‑arrival tests in Canada and retention of test and vaccination evidence for specified periods.
  • A suitable quarantine plan or proof of vaccination for those seeking exemption from quarantine.
  • Mask use during travel and in public for arriving travellers as required.
  • Detailed rules for isolation when someone is sick or tests positive.
• Lists many narrow exemptions and special categories (examples: immediate and some extended family members, crew, essential workers, certain students, diplomats, members of the Canadian Forces, people evacuated by the Government of Canada, and participants in approved sport events).
• Sets enforcement measures. Failure to follow these orders can lead to penalties up to $1,000,000 or three years imprisonment, or both.

Who's affected#

• Travellers entering Canada by air, land or sea — including Canadian citizens, permanent residents, temporary residents and foreign nationals.
• Foreign nationals who recently visited countries other than the United States (they face a general ban unless exempt).
• People arriving from the United States (they face testing and travel-purpose limits).
• Fully vaccinated travellers can qualify for exemptions from quarantine if they meet the evidence and testing requirements.
• Families, students, seasonal or temporary workers, crew, health workers, and some essential-service workers — many are specifically mentioned in exemption lists.
• Provincial and local public health authorities and federal agencies involved in border screening and enforcement (named across the orders).

If the source’s lists or wording are unclear for a particular group or a specific situation, the orders allow officials (for example, the Chief Public Health Officer or the Minister of Health) to make case-by-case determinations or impose conditions.

Why it matters#

• These orders control who may enter Canada and under what conditions. That directly affects travel plans, work and family reunions across borders.
• They keep strict testing, quarantine and isolation rules in place while offering limited relief for people who are fully vaccinated and can show required proof.
• The rules aim to reduce the chance of importing COVID‑19 cases and new variants during an ongoing global pandemic, but they can cause delays, extra costs (tests, certified translations), and denied entry for people who don’t meet the requirements.
• The measures are temporary and tied to the public health emergency; they were made on September 15, 2021 and stop applying at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 21, 2021, unless extended or changed.