Canada's test requirement for travellers is gone, but other hurdles remain

A big and costly burden has been lifted for fully vaccinated travellers: as of Friday, they no longer must take a COVID-19 test to enter Canada.

"It's about time," said Emil Kamel at Toronto's Pearson airport on Friday, on his way to Egypt. 

"Having to find a PCR test in a foreign country can get quite expensive and inconvenient," he said. "We appreciate being able to come home and not worry about those things."

However, the pandemic isn't over, and there are other things travellers may have to worry about, such as test requirements to enter other countries, and the threat of another COVID-19 wave.

Here's what to keep in mind when planning your vacation.

Vaccinated travellers may not be entirely off the hook for the test requirement if they're travelling with unvaccinated children. That's because unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people over age four must still show proof of a negative antigen or molecular test to enter Canada.

And all travellers — vaccinated or not — must still submit their travel information using the ArriveCAN app or by registering online within 72 hours before arriving in Canada. 

Although they no longer have to worry about taking a pre-entry test, vaccinated travellers may be randomly selected to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival. 

"The positive news for those that are randomly selected is that there is no need to quarantine while you're awaiting your results," said Darryl Dalton, who is chief of operations at Pearson airport with the Canada Border Services Agency.

The bad news is that those who test positive must comply with federal rules and isolate for 10 days — even if they're in a province which has reduced the isolation period to five days for people infected with COVID-19. 

Vaccinated Canadians will still have to book — and pay for — a COVID-19 test if they're visiting a country that requires one upon entry. 

Popular destinations such as Mexico, the Dominican Republic and the United Kingdom have no COVID-19 entry restrictions for Canadians, but many other hotspots, such as Jamaica and the United States (when travelling by air) demand proof of a negative antigen or molecular test.

"I suggest that travellers do their due diligence and research the location that they're going to, to see what the requirements are," said Dalton.

Seema Shirali of Markham, Ont., has a daughter in New York City. She says she's disappointed — and surprised — the U.S. hasn't followed Canada's lead and dropped the pre-arrival test requirement for international air passengers.