Fellow racers,
It’s 112 days until our VGP is underway, regulations are changing fast and we want to keep everyone informed. this is the latest information from the Canadian government, and I’m sure they will continue to change up to the start of our event. We will be sending update as they are forwarded to us.
Peter Lambrinos, VGP Director
COVID-19 Tests
Prior to travelling to Canada
Regardless of citizenship or vaccination status, all travellers five years of age or older are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test result (taken no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry).
As of February 28, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. EST, travelers will be able to provide an antigen test result (taken within one day prior to their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry). Note that taking a rapid antigen test on your own is not sufficient to meet the pre-entry requirement – it must be authorized by the country in which it was purchased and must be administered by a laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth service.
Prior COVID-19 infections
If you have recovered from COVID-19, but continue to test positive, you are allowed to board a plane to Canada with proof of a positive COVID-19 molecular test on a specimen collected at least 10 calendar days and no more than 180 days before entering Canada as part of the pre-arrival test requirements. This is in lieu of providing a negative COVID-19 test.
ArriveCAN
All travellers, regardless of how long they were away from Canada, continue to be required to submit their mandatory information via ArriveCAN (App or website), including proof of vaccination in English or French and a quarantine plan prior to arriving in Canada.
Upon arrival in Canada
Not fully vaccinated travelers
If you are not fully vaccinated, you will need to quarantine in a suitable place for quarantine for a 14-day period and take a mandatory COVID-19 test on arrival and on Day 8.
For additional information on testing and quarantine requirements, visit: COVID-19: Travel, quarantine and borders.
Fully-vaccinated travelers
Travelers who qualify as a fully-vaccinated traveller are not required to quarantine upon entering Canada and to complete a day-8 COVID-19 test.
To be eligible, fully-vaccinated travellers must still meet:
the pre-entry testing requirements:
be asymptomatic;
submit all required COVID-19 information digitally into ArriveCAN app or website and present their ArriveCAN receipt, pre-departure test results and paper or digital proof of vaccination documents before they board their flight to Canada;
have a suitable quarantine plan in case they don’t qualify for the exemption.
Mandatory random tests upon arrival
As of February 28, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. EST, upon your entry to Canada by air or at a land border crossing, the border services officer may notify you that you have been randomly selected for a mandatory arrival test.
If you are fully vaccinated and are randomly selected for a mandatory arrival test, you:
must take the arrival test as directed on the day you enter Canada. The test may be administered at the airport or you may receive a self-swab kit at the airport or land border to complete within 24 hours after entering Canada
don’t have to wait for the results, you can travel on to your final destination, including taking connecting flights
don’t have to quarantine while waiting for your results
To speed you through the process in case you are selected for a mandatory arrival test, register in advance with the testing provider for the airport you will arrive at. When you register, use the same email address you used for your ArriveCAN account.
For detailed information, visit the page entitled COVID-19 vaccinated travellers entering Canada.
Modified quarantine for children under 12 years old who aren’t fully vaccinated and are travelling with vaccinated adults
Also as of February 28, at 12:01 a.m. EST, children under 12 years old who are not fully vaccinated, travelling with parents and other eligible adults who qualify as fully vaccinated or have a medical contraindication to vaccination will continue to be exempt from quarantine, without any prescribed conditions limiting their activities. This means, for example, they no longer need to wait 14 days before attending school, camp or daycare.
These children may be selected for mandatory random testing upon arrival; however, they will not be required to quarantine while awaiting the Day 1 test result.
In Canada
Note that upon your arrival in Canada, you will also be subject to provincial or territorial requirements that differ in each province and territory.
Consular Assistance
Canadians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact their nearest Canadian office. Contact details of our Canadian offices abroad can be found here.
Canadians can also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre (EWRC) in Ottawa directly at +1 613 996 8885 (collect calls are accepted where available). The EWRC can also be contacted by email to sos@international.gc.ca
If you have completed your trip, simply modify your file here or send an email to roca@international.gc.ca.
We encourage you to stay connected with the latest travel advice and advisories at www.travel.gc.ca. Please share this important information with other Canadians in your area.
Global Affairs Canada
