Border and Quarantine Orders for COVID-19

Summary#

The Public Health Agency of Canada published three emergency orders under the Quarantine Act (made June 21, 2021) that keep tight rules on who may enter Canada and set testing and quarantine rules for arrivals. The orders are temporary and run until July 21, 2021, with some vaccination-related changes coming into force on July 5, 2021.

What it does#

• Introduces and renews three related orders:
  • Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Prohibition of Entry into Canada from any Country Other than the United States) — generally bars foreign nationals arriving from countries other than the United States, with a long list of exemptions (family, workers, diplomats, crew, certain students, emergency responders, etc.).
  • Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Prohibition of Entry into Canada from the United States) — limits entry from the United States for optional or discretionary travel and adds pre-arrival testing requirements for travellers arriving by land or air from the U.S.
  • Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Quarantine, Isolation and Other Obligations) — sets the main testing, quarantine and isolation rules for everyone who enters Canada.
• Key rules in the quarantine order:
  • Travellers by air must show a negative COVID-19 molecular test taken no more than 72 hours before departure (or other acceptable proof). Travellers by land face similar pre-arrival test rules.
  • Most arriving travellers must take a test on arrival and another later in their post-entry period. Tests in Canada are normally at the traveller’s expense.
  • Air arrivals (most) must stay in a government-authorized accommodation until the first test result is known. The accommodation stay covers a three-day period after arrival in many cases.
  • The order defines a “fully vaccinated person” (vaccine regimen completed at least 14 days before entering). Fully vaccinated travellers who meet documentation and testing conditions may skip the government hotel stay and the 14‑day quarantine, but must still do an on-arrival test, monitor for symptoms and may be randomly selected for testing.
  • The orders repeal earlier versions made in May 2021 and make various technical and bilingual alignment changes.
• Enforcement and penalties:
  • Failure to follow these orders can lead to fines or criminal penalties — up to $1,000,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years.

Who's affected#

• Travellers to Canada:
  • Foreign nationals are largely barred unless they qualify under specific exemptions (family reunification, essential workers, crew, diplomats, certain students, medical or compassionate reasons).
  • Permanent residents and certain approved applicants are allowed to enter; the updated order allows all permanent residents approved by immigration to enter (not limited to approvals before a specific date).
  • Canadian citizens and many returning residents must still follow testing and quarantine rules.
  • Fully vaccinated travellers are treated differently (possible reduced quarantine) if they can prove vaccination and meet testing rules.
• Industries and organizations likely to notice:
  • Canada Border Services Agency, airlines and ground carriers, airports, hotels acting as government-authorized accommodation, and universities that host international students.
• Others affected:
  • Families trying to reunite, international students, seasonal or cross-border workers, and people travelling for compassionate reasons (special exemptions may apply).

Why it matters#

• These orders keep Canada’s border highly restricted to reduce imported COVID-19 cases and variants. That affects travel plans, family visits and business trips.
• There is a first, limited easing for people who are fully vaccinated (starting July 5, 2021) — they may avoid the government hotel stay and the 14‑day quarantine if they meet the rules. This is the main practical change that many travellers will notice.
• Travellers should plan ahead: keep proof of tests and vaccination, use the electronic traveller tools required by the government (for example ArriveCAN), and budget for possible costs (testing and hotel accommodation are often at the traveller’s expense).
• The orders are temporary (in effect until July 21, 2021) and may be extended or changed as the pandemic evolves.