Canadian COVID-19 requirements for air travel from China, Hong Kong and Macao

Updated: February 14, 2023

As of January 5, all air travellers, 2 years of age and older, arriving from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macao must show a negative COVID-19 test result, taken no more than 2 days before their departure, to the airline in order to board their flight.

Find out more about these requirements

Due to these ever changing restrictions please make sure you always visit the Canadian Government website for the latest information at this link.

Updated: January 30, 2021

Flight suspensions:

The Government of Canada and Canada’s major airlines have reached an agreement to suspend all flights to and from Mexico and Caribbean countries until April 30, 2021. This will be in effect as of January 31, 2021.

For more information or to change your flight, please contact your airline or your tour operator.

Flight restrictions:

Effective midnight (11:59 PM) February 3rd, 2021, all international commercial passenger flights as well as all private/ business and charter flights from all countries will land at one of the four following Canadian airports: Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Calgary International Airport, and Vancouver International Airport. Flights from Saint-Pierre–et-Miquelon and cargo-only flights will remain exempt.

Contact your airline or tour operator if your travel itinerary is impacted by this new measure.

Testing and Quarantine upon arrival in Canada:

As soon as possible in the coming weeks, all non-exempted air travelers arriving in Canada must reserve a room in a Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)-approved hotel for three nights at their own cost.

Travelers will also have to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival at their own cost.

Note that the mandatory requirement for a pre-departure COVID-19 testing and negative results for all non-exempted air travelers coming to Canada is still in effect. See the Flying to and within Canada (https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/flying#health-check) page for more information on this requirement.

Testing requirements at land borders:

Similar to the pre-departure testing requirements for travellers flying into Canada, the Government of Canada will introduce a 72-hour pre-arrival testing requirement (molecular test) for travellers seeking entry in land mode, with limited exceptions such as commercial truckers.

Useful links:

We encourage you to visit the following webpages regularly for more information on the new measures to prevent further introduction and transmission of COVID-19 and new variants of the virus into Canada:

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Travel restrictions, exemptions and advice: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice.html
• Backgrounder – Transport Canada Expansion of international flight restrictions: https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2021/01/expansion-of-international-flight-restrictions-at-canadian-airports.html
• Backgrounder – New testing and quarantine measures for non-essential international air travel: https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2021/01/canada-to-implement-new-testing-and-quarantine-measures-to-reduce-covid-19-infection-related-to-non-essential-international-air-travel.html

Help for Canadians outside Canada:

In case of emergency, call the closest Government of Canada office (https://travel.gc.ca/assistance/embassies-consulates). If the office is closed, your call will be transferred to the 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa. Call direct at +1 613 996 8885 (call collect where available) or sos@international.gc.ca.

Registration of Canadians abroad:

We strongly recommend you keep your registration up to date at https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration. Ensure that passport numbers, contact details and an address are included in your registration. If you have already returned, please update your profile. You may access your profile at https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration or send an email to roca@international.gc.ca with your date of departure.

COVID-19 testing required for people flying into Canada

Starting January 7, 2021, air travellers 5 years of age or older will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test result to the airline prior to boarding international flights bound for Canada. See the news release for air travellers.

ArriveCAN registration

Since November 21, 2020, all travellers who enter Canada by air, land or marine modes are required to submit their information electronically through the ArriveCAN App; by calling the 1-833-641-0343 toll-free number or by signing online at https://arrivecan.cbsa-asfc.cloud-nuage.canada.ca/privacy before arrival. Travellers who don’t use ArriveCAN to submit their information before entering Canada will be required to call the 1-833-641-0343 toll-free number on a daily basis throughout their quarantine or isolation period to provide their post-border information. They will not be able to revert to using ArriveCAN.

For additional information, please consult the following page: Canada.ca/ArriveCAN (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/arrivecan.html)

Mandatory 14-day quarantine or isolation

Everyone entering Canada must follow mandatory isolation or quarantine requirements. Not respecting the mandatory requirements is a serious offence with consequences and penalties.

Canadians seeking emergency consular assistance can contact Canadian Citizen Services at 1-844-880-6519 or via email to ccs.scc@international.gc.ca. If the office is closed, your call will be transferred to the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa. Canadians can also reach out to the Emergency Watch and Response Centre (EWRC) in Ottawa which operates 24/7. The EWRC can be reached by phone at 1-613-996-8885 or an email can also be sent to sos@international.gc.ca.

If you have returned to Canada and have no intention to travel in the near future, simply access your file at https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration and modify the travel date and destination details by changing the departure date to today’s date. If you are unable to change the departure date, send an email to roca@international.gc.ca with the date you arrived in Canada.

December 31, 2020

Mandatory 14-day quarantine or isolation

Everyone entering Canada must follow mandatory isolation or quarantine requirements.

Testing will soon be required for people flying into Canada

Air travellers will soon be required to test negative for COVID-19 before boarding international flights bound for Canada. Effective date and details will be announced in the coming days.

More information can be found here: https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid

Below is the previous update from the Government of Canada.

Effective November 21, 2020, travellers to Canada will be required to submit arrival information digitally. This is a significant step in stopping the spread of COVID-19 by sharing traveller information quickly and securely.

Pre-arrival to Canada:

As of November 21, 2020, air travellers whose final destination is Canada will be required to submit their information electronically through ArriveCAN before they board their flight. This includes travel and contact information, quarantine plan (unless exempted under conditions set out in the Mandatory Isolation Order)( https://orders-in-council.canada.ca/attachment.php?attach=39829&lang=en), and COVID-19 symptom self-assessment.
Travellers must be ready to show their ArriveCAN receipt when seeking entry into Canada; a border services officer will verify that they have submitted their information digitally.
Travellers who do not submit the required information digitally before boarding their flight could be subject to enforcement action, which can range from verbal warnings to $1,000 fine.
Exceptions will be made for those unable to submit documents electronically due to personal circumstances, such as disability or inadequate infrastructure.

Post-entry to Canada:

As of November 21, 2020, travellers who enter Canada by air, land or marine modes, unless exempted under conditions set out in the Mandatory Isolation Order, will also be required to submit information through ArriveCAN or by calling the 1-833-641-0343 toll-free number during their quarantine or isolation period. Within 48 hours of entering Canada, travellers must confirm they have arrived at their place of quarantine or isolation and those in quarantine must complete a daily COVID-19 symptom self-assessment during their quarantine period.
Travellers who don’t use ArriveCAN to submit their information before entering Canada will be required to call the 1-833-641-0343 toll-free number on a daily basis throughout their quarantine or isolation period to provide their post-border information. They will not be able to revert to using ArriveCAN.
Travellers who do not submit the mandatory information required after they have crossed the border will be considered a high priority for follow-up by law enforcement.

The ArriveCAN app is available for download on:
•Google Play ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.gc.cbsa.coronavirus ) for Android.
•App Store (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/canarrive/id1505394667?mt=8) for iOS.

Travellers can also submit their information by signing in online (https://arrivecan.cbsa-asfc.cloud-nuage.canada.ca/privacy).

For additional information, please consult the following page: Canada.ca/ArriveCAN (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/arrivecan.html)

Help for Canadians outside Canada

Registration of Canadians abroad

Below is the previous update from the Government of Canada.

Under the Quarantine Act, everyone who enters Canada must quarantine or isolate themselves for 14 days. This means staying home and avoiding situations in which you could come in contact with others.

Your quarantine plan should confirm that you have:

a suitable place of quarantine that has the necessities of life for 14 days
private transportation to the premises, if possible
access to supplies such as prescriptions, food and cleaning supplies, and other necessary support such as child care

Do not plan to quarantine in a place where you have contact with individuals who have an underlying medical condition or compromised immune system from a medical condition or treatment, or who are 65 years of age or older.

If you are returning by plane, you must wear a non-medical mask or face covering (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks/about-non-medical-masks-face-coverings.html) while you travel to Canada. You will also be subject to screening prior to boarding. Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 will not be able to fly to Canada. Before you travel, check for updates to see how transportation measures (https://www.tc.gc.ca/en/initiatives/covid-19-measures-updates-guidance-tc/covid-19-information-for-travellers.html) affect your plans and what you need to pack.

Before Arriving In Canada

Downloading the ArriveCAN app (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice.html#ua) and entering the required information securely within 48 hours before arriving in Canada allows you to spend less time in line and limit your physical contact with others upon arrival.

During the 14 days after you arrive in Canada, the app allows you to voluntarily validate your quarantine plan and provide updates on the possible development of COVID-19 symptoms.

Arriving In Canada

You must provide specific information when entering Canada, including:

your 14-day quarantine plan
your contact information
a self-assessment of any signs or symptoms of COVID-19

You can submit this information through the ArriveCAN app (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice.html), a web form (https://arrivecan.cbsa-asfc.cloud-nuage.canada.ca/) or a paper form

Trying To Return To Canada?

Be aware that commercial airspace closures and movement restrictions can occur without warning and could prevent your return to Canada. The Government of Canada is not planning additional facilitated flights to bring Canadians home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you are unable to return to Canada, monitor local media and follow local public health advice on lockdowns or shelter-in-place orders. For more information, visit our Travel Advice and Advisories (https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories).

Help For Canadians Outside Canada

Canadians seeking emergency consular assistance can contact Canadian Citizen Services at 1-844-880-6519 or via email to ccs.scc@international.gc.ca. If the office is closed, your call will be transferred to the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa. The centre operates 24/7 and may be reached directly at +1 613 996 8885 (call collect where available) or sos@international.gc.ca.