Enhanced COVID-19 Border Compliance and Quarantine Mandates

Policy effect

The CBSA implemented mandatory negative molecular test requirements for land border entries and established mandatory on-arrival testing, digital travel plan submission via ArriveCAN, and government-authorized hotel quarantine for air travelers.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

… contact information and, if required, a quarantine plan prior to entering, or upon entry to, Canada. Since January 7, 2021, CBSA officers have also been responsible for ensuring that travellers who are required to submit evidence of a valid pre-arrival COVID-19 molecular test, do so upon arrival. Travellers who do not have a molecular test are referred to PHAC. Foreign nationals who arrive by land and who are not in possession of valid COVID-19 test results are refused entry and directed back to the United States by a CBSA officer. BSOs must also determine a traveller's quarantine exemption status. … individuals from a public health perspective falls within the mandate of the PHAC and provincial or territorial health authorities. It is important to note that the CBSA does not issue fines in the enforcement of the Quarantine Act requirements; the decision on whether to pursue any enforcement action related to the public health orders rests with PHAC. Government approved accommodation Proposed response The CBSA supports the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) in the administration of the public health and border measures. Since February 22, 2021, travellers who are required to quarantine upon entry into Canada, with limited exemptions, are required to reserve, prior to departure to Canada, a three-night stay in a government approved accommodation. Travellers are required to stay at their reserved hotel for up to three nights, at their own cost, while they await the results of the molecular test taken upon arrival at the Canadian airport. From a CBSA perspective, upon arrival at the airport, the Border Services Officer will confirm if the traveller has evidence of a booking at a government-approved accommodation, or is exempt from the requirement. Travellers who do not have a booking … travellers entering Canada by land or air who are required to quarantine, with limited exceptions, are required to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival as well as on day 10 of their 14-day quarantine. These new measures, in combination with those already implemented, aim to reduce the risk of the importation and transmission of COVID-19 and new variants of the virus related to international travel. The Government continues to engage with partners in the U.S. to strengthen our border measures and keep both countries safe. If pressed on frequent cross-border travellers The Government of Canada … quarantine or isolation requirements, the CBSA is collecting additional contact information for all inbound international travellers. On behalf of PHAC, the CBSA captures basic biographical data, contact information, and quarantine-based information of all travellers, with limited exceptions, while in Canada. Travellers are required to submit the following information electronically before they board their flight, or before/when arriving at a land border crossing: travel and contact information quarantine plan (unless exempted from the quarantine requirement) COVID-19 symptom self-assessment This … strongly encouraged to do so using ArriveCAN. All travellers in all modes (unless otherwise exempt) are required to submit information through ArriveCAN or by calling the toll-free number, within 48 hours of their arrival and on a regular basis during their quarantine period. Travellers who do not submit the mandatory information required after they have crossed the border will be considered a high priority for follow-up by law enforcement. If pressed on usage statistics As of February 28, 2021, 1,115,801 travellers have submitted their information using either the ArriveCAN mobile or web application … travellers arriving at a land port of entry (POE) the test must be taken in the United States; or a prior positive COVID-19 molecular test taken between 14 to 90 days before entry into Canada Foreign nationals who do not have a valid molecular test will not be allowed into Canada. As of February 22, all persons, whether arriving in the air or land mode, must submit quarantine and contact information electronically (ArriveCAN) before boarding a plane to Canada or before arriving at the border, subject to limited exceptions. As of February 22, all travellers, with limited exceptions, will be required … February 15, 2021, travellers arriving by land, with limited exceptions, must present evidence of a COVID-19 molecular test taken with 72 hours in the U.S. before arriving at the port of entry. As of February 22, all travellers must submit mandatory health information digitally, including contact information and/or a suitable quarantine plan, to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) using the ArriveCAN application before boarding a plane to Canada or before arriving at a land port of entry. As of February 22, all travellers, with limited exceptions, will be required to undergo COVID-19 molecular testing on arrival and to take a second test later in the 14-day post-entry period towards the end of their quarantine. As of February 22, unless exempt, air travellers must submit evidence of a prepaid reservation for three nights at a government authorized accommodation (hotel) near the first airport of entry. Air travellers will be required to stay at their reserved hotel up to 3 days, at their own cost, while they await the result of their arrival test. Travellers who receive a negative result on their arrival test will proceed to their suitable quarantine location to complete the mandatory …

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Other Canada changes operative in 2021

• 2021-01-05Parents and Grandparents Program 2020 Income Requirement Relief
• 2021-01-27Temporary public policy for former students in Canada with expired or expiring post-graduation work permits
• 2021-02-01Ministerial Instructions on Mandatory Online Applications
• 2021-04-01Temporary public policy to exempt certain visitors in Canada from immigration requirements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
• 2021-05-17Expansion of Education Requirements for Hong Kong Open Work Permit Pathway
• 2021-06-17Rules Amending the Federal Courts Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection Rules (SOR/2021-149)
• 2021-06-21Expansion of Travel Exemptions for Approved Permanent Residents
• 2021-06-28Special PR Policy for Over-Cap International Graduate Applicants (TR to PR Pathway)
• 2021-06-28Temporary public policy exempting some foreign nationals in Canada from requiring an immigration medical exam
• 2021-06-29Express Entry Invitation to Apply (ITA) Submission Period Restored to 60 Days
• 2021-07-09Expansion of the Student Direct Stream (SDS) to Seven New Countries
• 2021-07-16Launch of a Dedicated Refugee Stream for Human Rights Defenders
• 2021-07-20Announcement and Criteria for 2021 Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) Intake
• 2021-07-30Updated Temporary Public Policy for Out-of-Status Construction Workers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
• 2021-08-12Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Seizure Provisions) — SOR/2021-202
• 2021-08-13Establishment of the Special Afghan Resettlement Programs
• 2021-08-31Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) Eligibility Expansion to Quebec Economic Streams
• 2021-08-31Expiration of Broad COVID-19 Restoration Public Policy
• 2021-09-01Mandatory Electronic Filing for Temporary Resident Applications
• 2021-09-07Border Reopening and Quarantine Exemption for All Fully Vaccinated International Travelers
• 2021-09-09Re-issuance of Exemption Policy for Excluded Family Members (IRPR 117(9)(d) and 125(1)(d))
• 2021-09-19Temporary Public Policy for Resettlement of NATO's Afghan Locally Engaged Staff
• 2021-09-30Resettlement Pathway for Afghan Human Rights Defenders
• 2021-10-06Extension of In-Person Exemption for Inland Refugee Claimants
• 2021-10-18Changes to the pre-removal risk assessment for Afghanistan
• 2021-10-25Afghan Families Resettlement Program Status Update
• 2021-11-05Closure of Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident (TR to PR) Pathway
• 2021-11-30Mandatory ArriveCAN Vaccine Disclosure for Essential Services
• 2021-12-09New Permanent Residence Pathway for Extended Family of Afghan Interpreters
• 2021-12-16Fee Exemptions and Status Extensions for Foreign Nationals Directly Affected by British Columbia Floods