Top 5 things you need to know about new travel restrictions to Canada starting next week
- You will need a valid passport or approved travel document even if you are driving across the land border, as the ArriveCAN app requirement is being replaced with mandatory digital manifest checks for all commercial and personal vehicles.
- Starting next week, unvaccinated Canadian citizens and permanent residents will face a 14-day quarantine upon entry, but new testing rules mean you may be randomly selected for a mandatory molecular test on Day 1 instead of Day 8.
- Foreign nationals who are not fully vaccinated with a Health Canada-approved vaccine will be denied entry entirely, with no exemption for essential travel like work or family visits—this includes truck drivers and seasonal workers.
- All travelers—including vaccinated individuals—must submit their travel and contact information via the updated online portal within 72 hours before arrival, or risk a $5,000 fine and potential removal from the entry line.
- Expect longer wait times at major airports like Toronto Pearson and Vancouver International, as Canada is adding new health screening questions and random testing kiosks that could delay your trip by up to two hours.