Travel Testing and 14-Day Quarantine Order

Summary#

The government issued the Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Quarantine, Isolation and Other Obligations) under the Quarantine Act on January 6, 2021. It temporarily tightened travel rules: air travellers five years and older generally had to show a negative COVID-19 molecular test taken within 72 hours before departure, and people entering Canada remained subject to 14-day quarantine or isolation. The Order was in force until January 21, 2021.

What it does#

• Requires most air travellers aged five years and older to show a negative COVID-19 molecular test performed within 72 hours before the aircraft’s initial scheduled departure.
• Keeps the basic rule that people entering Canada must:
  • answer screening questions and provide contact or quarantine-plan information;
  • report their arrival and quarantine/isolation address within 48 hours;
  • monitor and report health status during the 14-day period.
• Requires people who are symptomatic to isolate and asymptomatic travellers to quarantine for 14 days. The 14-day period restarts if they develop symptoms, are exposed, or test positive.
• If a traveller cannot meet quarantine or test requirements, a screening or quarantine officer can direct them to a designated federal quarantine facility near the port of entry.
• Requires masks while entering Canada and while in transit to quarantine/isolation (with limited exceptions).
• Lists many exceptions and narrowly defined authorizations (crew, certain essential workers, medical reasons, some students and cross‑border residents, compassionate cases, and approved sport events).
• Gives the Chief Public Health Officer and the Minister of Health authority to set conditions and designate officials to administer the Order.
• Enforcement: non-compliance can lead to penalties up to $750,000 and/or imprisonment for up to six months, and possible fines up to $1,000 under the Contraventions Act.

Who's affected#

• People flying to Canada from any country (main target of the new pre-departure test rule).
• All travellers entering Canada by land, sea or air are still subject to quarantine/isolation rules and reporting requirements.
• Airlines and airport operators (they must check test evidence before boarding).
• Border and public health officials who enforce the rules and may place travellers in federal quarantine facilities.
• Some workers and travellers are explicitly exempt (crew, certain essential or national‑interest travellers, people seeking urgent medical care, some students, habitual cross-border residents, and others listed in the Order).

If it’s unclear whether a specific traveller fits an exception, the Order leaves room for officials (the Chief Public Health Officer or the Minister of Health) to decide or impose conditions.

Why it matters#

• The Order aimed to reduce the risk of importing COVID-19 and new, potentially more contagious, virus variants by adding a pre-departure test layer on top of existing quarantine rules.
• For travellers, it meant planning ahead: arranging a valid test, keeping a quarantine plan and contact details ready, and being prepared for the possibility of being sent to a federal quarantine facility if they can’t meet requirements.
• For the public, the rule was meant to lower the chances that incoming travellers would start new chains of community transmission and to protect strained health systems.
• The measure was temporary and specific; it replaced an earlier order and was set to expire on January 21, 2021.