Canada has implemented the new travel restrictions due to emerge of Omicron. Last week, travellers who came from 10 African countries were needs to follow the increased restrictions. Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zimbabwe are the affected countries. Foreign nationals who have recently visited any of these countries are not permitted to enter Canada.
These latest travel measures also impact Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are travelling to any of these countries. In order to return home, they need to take a COVID-19 test in a third country. Currently, temporary measures are in place that allows Canadians to get tested in South Africa. Only Canadian citizens and permanent residents are allowed to enter Canada from these countries, but they must also obey the strict health regulations.
With the exception of the United States, Canada follows the measures of on-arrival testing and quarantine for all travellers. Travellers who are fully vaccinated need to take a test on arrival and should be quarantined at their home until their test report results are received.
If you are also planning to travel to Canada, then you should visit the Canadian government website to check the web tools that help travellers know whether they are allowed to enter the country or not. The border officer will make the final decision on whether you can travel to Canada or not. To be recognised as fully vaccinated, you need to get a dose of any one or combination dose of the following recommended vaccines.
- Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2)
- Moderna (Spikevax, mRNA-1273)
- AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria, COVISHIELD, ChAdOx1-S, AZD1222)
- Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S)
- Bharat Biotech (Covaxin, BBV152 A, B, C)
- Sinopharm BIBP (BBIBP-CorV)
- Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc
Travellers are required to upload their documentation via the ArrriveCAN app or website.
Measures for Canadians’ travel from 10 affected countries
Travellers who are vaccinated need to get tested when they arrive. Those who have a positive report at the airport are required to get isolated at home or in quarantine facilities. Travellers with a negative report can be quarantined at home or at an approved quarantine center. They need to take a test on day 8. If the report is negative, then they can end up with quarantine. Otherwise, they will have to stay in isolation for another ten days if the test is positive. The same regulations will apply to unvaccinated travellers arriving from the prohibited nations.
Reference- https://www.cicnews.com/2021/12/canadas-new-omicron-travel-rules-at-a-glance-1219761.html#gs.icqp9h
