Border Entry and Quarantine Orders

Summary#

The federal government, through three linked orders made under the Quarantine Act, set new travel, testing and quarantine rules for people arriving in Canada. The rules took effect on November 21, 2021, include additional changes on November 30, 2021 and January 15, 2022, and are set to expire at 00:01 EST on January 31, 2022.

What it does#

• Keeps in place three related orders titled Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (the two “prohibition of entry” orders and the Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Quarantine, Isolation and Other Obligations)) that control who may enter and what travellers must do after arrival.
• Requires most travellers to show a negative COVID-19 molecular test (PCR or similar) taken within 72 hours before boarding or entering Canada, with some specific exemptions.
• Requires testing in Canada on entry and again later during the 14-day period for many travellers; fully vaccinated people who meet the order’s rules can avoid the 14-day quarantine but still usually must do an on-entry test and provide proof of vaccination.
• Defines quarantine and isolation rules:
  • Generally a 14‑day quarantine for asymptomatic people who must quarantine after arrival.
  • A 10‑day isolation period for people who are symptomatic or who test positive.
• Recognizes recent prior infection as an alternative to some testing requirements (the acceptable window is updated to 10 to 180 days in rules effective January 15, 2022).
• Narrows who unvaccinated foreign nationals are allowed to be, starting January 15, 2022: the entry rules shift from geographic-based prohibitions to a broader rule that generally bars entry to unvaccinated foreign nationals, except for limited exemptions (e.g., certain workers, newly arrived permanent residents, resettled refugees, some marine crew, essential national-interest or compassionate cases).
• Eases one short-trip rule on November 30, 2021: fully vaccinated Canadian citizens, permanent residents and persons registered under the Indian Act who leave Canada for less than 72 hours may be exempted from the pre-departure test on return (subject to conditions).
• Keeps a long list of specific exemptions (diplomats, crew, certain workers, some students, people in remote transborder communities, etc.), but many exemptions for unvaccinated people are removed or tightened as of January 15, 2022.
• Confirms enforcement and penalties: failing to follow these orders can lead to fines or prosecution, with maximum penalties of $1,000,000 or three years imprisonment, or both.

Who's affected#

• Foreign nationals planning to enter Canada from countries other than the United States, and foreign nationals entering from the United States.
• Travellers who are fully vaccinated under the order’s definition and who can show proof of vaccination and required test results (they face fewer quarantine rules).
• Unvaccinated travellers: their ability to enter is restricted and will be more limited after January 15, 2022.
• Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and persons registered as an Indian under the Indian Act (they are not barred from entry but must follow the testing/quarantine rules in many cases).
• Specific workers and industries: health workers, agricultural and food-processing workers, marine crew, transport workers, and some essential-service providers may be treated differently under exemptions.
• International students, crew, diplomats, newly arriving permanent residents and resettled refugees — each group has tailored rules and some retain exemptions, though some exemptions for unvaccinated people are narrowed.
• People living in or regularly travelling from integrated transborder or remote border communities (some special local rules apply).

Why it matters#

• If you plan to travel to Canada, these orders set out what tests, proof of vaccination and quarantine or isolation you will need. That affects trips for tourism, work, study, and family visits.
• Fully vaccinated travellers get easier entry and may avoid quarantine if they follow the rules; unvaccinated travellers will face much tighter limits on entry starting January 15, 2022.
• The rules affect employers who rely on foreign workers, students planning to study in Canada, and families hoping to reunite across borders. Expect stricter documentation checks (including electronic submissions via ArriveCAN) and possible on-arrival testing or quarantine.
• Penalties can be severe for non-compliance, so travellers should check the exact requirements and deadlines before travel.

Note: These orders are detailed and contain many specific conditions and narrow exemptions. If you are directly affected, check the official Canada government guidance for the exact steps you must follow.