The Government of Canada announced a few adjustments to the current border measures to be effective starting February 28, 2022.
Travellers will now have the option of using a COVID-19 rapid antigen test result (taken the day prior to their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry) or a molecular test result (taken no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry) to meet pre-entry requirements.
It must be noted that taking a rapid antigen test at home (such as the self tests distributed by provincial governments) is not sufficient to meet the federal pre-entry requirement. The test must be authorized by the country in which it was purchased and must be administered by a laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth service, exactly like the molecular test.
The Government says it will be easing the on-arrival testing for fully-vaccinated travellers. Travellers arriving to Canada from any country, who qualify as fully vaccinated, will be randomly selected for arrival testing. Travellers selected will also no longer be required to quarantine while awaiting their test result.
Ottawa will adjust its Travel Health Notice from a Level 3 to a Level 2. This means that the Government will no longer recommend that Canadians avoid travel for non-essential purposes.
Transport Canada’s Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that restricts where international passenger flights can arrive in Canada will expire February 28, 2022. This means that international flights carrying passengers will be permitted to land at all remaining Canadian airports that are designated by the Canada Border Services Agency to receive international passenger flights.