COVID-19 Requirements for Air Travel

Frequently Asked Questions

Important Caveat: Nothing in this document supersedes any requirement or obligation

outlined in Transport Canada’s Interim Orders or the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Order

in Council. It is meant to complement these legal documents and provide guidance on how to

understand the requirements.

June 20, 2022

V.9.2

Table of Contents

Mask Requirements .................................................................................................................. 3

COVID-19 Testing Requirements ............................................................................................... 4

COVID-19 Testing Exemptions ................................................................................................... 6

Transiting & Quarantine Requirements ..................................................................................... 7

Domestic and Outbound Travel Restrictions & Requirements .................................................... 7

Inbound Travel Restrictions & Requirements ............................................................................. 8

Unvaccinated Travellers ............................................................................................................ 9

Other Questions ..................................................................................................................... 10

June 20, 2022

V.9.2

Mask Requirements

Q1. Who is required to wear a mask?

A1. With respect to air travel, as outlined in Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil

Aviation Due to COVID-19, all persons (even those fully vaccinated) must wear a mask at the

screening checkpoint, during the boarding process, in flight, while deplaning, and in the customs and

border processing area. This includes wearing a mask in the arrival testing area or when interacting

with a public health or border services officer. Exceptions are in place for those who:

(a) are less than two years of age;

(b) are at least two years of age but less than six years of age who are unable to tolerate

wearing a mask;

medical reason;

(d) are unconscious; and

(e) are unable to remove their mask without assistance.

All crew members are also required to wear a mask at the screening checkpoint, during the boarding

process, in flight, while deplaning and in the customs and border processing area. The only

exception is if the crew member is on the flight deck or if wearing a mask interferes with operational

requirements or the safety of the flight or endangers the crew member.

Gate agents are also required to wear a mask at the screening checkpoint and during the boarding

process (unless the gate agent is separated from any other person by a physical barrier that allows

the gate agent and the other person to interact).

Transport Canada has prepared a sample medical certificate for those who are unable to wear a

mask for a medical or physical condition. Please see

Medical Certificate for Persons with Physical or

Medical Conditions That Prevent the Use of a Non-Medical Mask or Face Covering for Civil Aviation

for the sample. The form must be signed and dated by a Healthcare Provider who is either a

physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Dentists are also authorized to sign medical

certificates in the case of masks. The medical certificate does not require the sharing of any

diagnosis or other information that is confidential in nature.

Q2. Is there an obligation to wear a mask at an airport located in a province/territory where this

requirement has been lifted provincially/territorially?

A2. Although the epidemiological situation is improving domestically, the Government of Canada

continues to recommend the wearing of a mask, especially in situations where physical distancing is

hard to maintain such as seated on an aircraft, in customs hall or during a physical screening

process. As Transport Canada continues to evaluate its COVID-19 guidance and requirements for

the aviation industry based on advice from public health authorities, masks continue to be required

at the screening checkpoint, during the boarding process, in flight, while deplaning, and in the

customs and border processing area. This includes wearing a mask in the arrival testing area or

when interacting with a public health or border services officer.

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V.9.2

Whether or not the traveller is required to wear a mask within the public area of the airport will be

based on provincial/territorial or local health regulations and at the discretion of the airport

authority.

Q3. Is there an obligation to report travellers who refuse to wear their mask despite repeated

instructions from the flight attendant?

A3. Yes, according to Transport Canada’s Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil

Aviation Due to COVID-19, air carriers must report any instance where a traveller does not comply

with crew member direction to wear a mask, unless they meet an exception. The air carrier must

keep a record of the following information for a period of 12 months, and inform the Minister, as

soon as feasible (generally expected within 24-48 hours after the incident occurs), of this record:

• the date and flight number;

• the traveller’s name and contact information, including the person’s date of birth,

home address, telephone number and email address;

• the traveller’s seat number on the flight; and

• the circumstances related to the refusal to comply.

Transport Canada will investigate all incidents to determine if the incident may be subject to

penalties such as a letter of non-compliance or a fine.

COVID-19 Testing Requirements

Q4. Will all air travellers flying to Canada be required to provide a COVID-19 test result prior to

departure?

A4. No. Fully vaccinated travellers, children under the age of 5, and any unvaccinated children

between 5-12 who accompany their fully vaccinated parent, step-parent, guardian or tutor are not

required to provide a COVID-19 test result prior to boarding international flights bound for Canada.

All unvaccinated travellers 5 years of age or older will be required to provide a pre-departure test.

To board a flight, all unvaccinated travellers must present one of the following test results:

• COVID-19 Molecular Test Result

o a negative COVID-19 molecular test result performed by an accredited laboratory or

testing provider within 72 hours of the flight’s initial scheduled departure time; or

o a previous positive test result taken at least 10 calendar days and no more than 180

calendar days before the flight’s initial scheduled departure time. Counting starts the

day following the day of testing.

• COVID-19 Antigen Test Result

o A negative antigen test result performed by an accredited laboratory or testing provider

no more than one calendar day before the flight’s initial scheduled departure time.

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V.9.2

• Self-administered tests

o Self-administered molecular and antigen test results are also accepted provided they are

observed by an authorized entity, the results are verified, and the requirements noted

above are followed. Positive antigen test results are not accepted regardless of whether

they are performed or observed by authorized entity.

Note: For connecting flights, the timeframe is calculated from the initial scheduled departure time of

the last flight to Canada (i.e., the final leg of the trip).

Important: All tests must be taken outside of Canada. Travellers cannot take a test in Canada and

use that test result to then return to Canada, even if it is within the 72-hour window.

Additional Exceptions

Additional exceptions to the requirement for presenting a COVID-19 pre-departure test include:

• Air crew members or a person who seeks to enter Canada only to become such a crew

member;

• Transiting travellers (not entering Canada through a border entry point);

• Emergency, law enforcement or border personnel; and

• Specific individuals or groups identified by Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer or the

Minister of Health.

Q5. Who is required to take an arrival test upon arrival to Canada?

A5. All unvaccinated travellers are required to undergo a COVID-19 test on-arrival as well as on day-

8 and must quarantine for 14 days.

On-arrival testing for fully vaccinated travellers has been temporarily suspended until June 30, 2022.

For more information please visit

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-

vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada#arrival.

Q6. What information should the COVID-19 test result contain?

A6. All COVID-19 test results (molecular and antigen) must include the following information:

• person’s name and date of birth;

• name and civic address of the accredited laboratory or testing provider that performed

or observed the test and verified the test result;

• date the specimen was collected and the test method used; and

• test result.

Q7. Does the traveller require another test if the flight is delayed and their test is no longer within

the allocated timeframe?

A7. Where a flight is delayed due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g., weather, mechanical delays,

diversions), the air carrier is permitted to use the originally scheduled departure time of the flight as

the benchmark. Up to an additional 24 hours can be provided for these types of situations only. In

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V.9.2

instances where the flight was cancelled, the traveller will be required to obtain another test. This

applies to both molecular and antigen test results.

Q8. What will happen if a traveller falsifies a COVID-19 test result? Will there be penalties or

fines?

A8. Under Transport Canada’s Interim Order, a person found to have made a false declaration may

be subject to a fine of $5,000. If an air operator suspects that a traveller has provided false or

misleading information related to their COVID-19 test result, they are required to notify the

Transport Canada Situation Centre immediately, with as much information as possible, so that an

investigation can be conducted. Key information to provide should include: the data and flight

number; the traveller’s name and contact information (including date of birth, home address,

telephone number and email address), and details on the circumstances related to the situation

(what made the air carrier suspicious that the information was not accurate, any names of witnesses

etc.).

Q9. What will happen if an air carrier fails to check unvaccinated Canadian-bound travellers for a

COVID-19 test result? Will there be penalties or fines?

A9. Air carriers failing to comply with the requirements of the Interim Order or other regulatory

requirements under the Aeronautics Act could be subject to a fine of up to $25,000 per infraction.

Q10. Do the COVID-19 test provisions apply to all-cargo operators, private operators, taxi

operations and domestic flights?

A10. The requirements to verify that an unvaccinated traveller has a valid COVID-19 test result

applies to all commercial, charter, all-cargo and private air operators flying into Canada, unless the

traveller is otherwise exempt (e.g., part of the flight crew). The requirement for pre-departure

COVID-19 testing does not apply to domestic flights.

COVID-19 Testing Exemptions

Q11. Are unvaccinated persons escorting human organs or tissues for life-saving transplants

exempt from COVID-19 testing?

A11. No, those escorting human organs or tissues who are unvaccinated are not exempt from

COVID-19 testing unless they are licensed to practice as emergency responders in Canada. Should a

special exemption need to be sought, the Public Health Agency of Canada should be contacted for

further information.

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V.9.2

Q12. Are international inbound travellers who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 but

have since recovered exempt from arrival testing?

A12. As outlined in the Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order, travellers will

be exempt from arrival testing so long as they can provide proof of a positive molecular test result

conducted at least 10 full days and no more than 180 days before the scheduled flight to Canada.

Travellers that present a positive COVID-19 molecular test result within the accepted testing window

mentioned above, do not need any other supporting documentation at this time. Evidence of their

positive test within the accepted time frame is sufficient. Their test result must include all required

data elements as outlined on

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/flying-canada-

checklist/covid-19-testing-travellers-coming-into-canada.

Transiting & Quarantine Requirements

Q13. Will I need to quarantine upon arrival in Canada?

A13. Fully vaccinated travellers, children under the age of 5, and unvaccinated children between 5-

12 who accompany a fully vaccinated parent, step-parent, guardian or tutor are not required to

quarantine. All unvaccinated travellers must quarantine for a period of 14 days (beginning on the

day the person enters Canada).

Q14. Will unvaccinated transiting travellers need a pre-departure test if they are staying within

the sterile area of a Canadian airport and not entering Canada through the border entry point?

A14. No. If the traveller remains within the sterile area of the airport and does not enter through a

border entry point, they will not require a pre-departure test.

Domestic and Outbound Travel Restrictions & Requirements

Q15. Who is required to be vaccinated for domestic and outbound travel in the air transportation

sector ?

A15. As of June 20, 2022, at 00:01 EDT, employers in the federally regulated air sector are no longer

required to have mandatory vaccination policies in place for their employees. This includes

aerodrome operators, air carriers, NAV Canada.

This also means that all air passengers boarding a plane for domestic or outbound travel and all

individuals who need to access the aerodrome property or restricted area of a specified Canadian

airport no longer need to be fully vaccinated, or have an exemption (i.e., medical or religious) to do

so.

It should be noted, however, that all foreign nationals, unless exempt, continue to be required to

be vaccinated to enter Canada.

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V.9.2

Q16. Will employees who have been laid off or out of work be allowed to return to work once

this requirement is dropped?

A16. As of June 20, 2022, federally regulated transportation sector employers will no longer be

required to have a vaccine policy in place; therefore, employers are free to bring workers back to the

workplace should they choose.

Q17. If I test positive for COVID-19, how long do I have to wait until I can board a plane in

Canada?

A17. Individuals who have or suspect they have COVID-19 must wait 10 days before boarding a

plane in Canada. They can, however, board a plane before the end of the 10-day waiting period if

they have completed their mandatory quarantine/isolation AND if they have a valid COVID-19 test

result or a medical certificate attesting that their symptoms are not related to COVID-19.

Q18. Will travellers require a pre-departure test to board a plane in Canada?

A18. The Government of Canada will not require travellers boarding a plane in Canada to be in

possession of a valid COVID-19 test result as a condition of boarding.

Q19. Do foreign nationals still have to be vaccinated before August 31, 2022, to take a flight to

leave Canada?

A19. Since the vaccination requirement for domestic and outbound travel is being suspended as of

June 20, 2022, travellers, including foreign nationals, no longer need to be vaccinated against

COVID-19 to board a flight to depart Canada. All other mitigation measures, such as wearing a mask

throughout the traveller’s journey, still apply and will be enforced.

Inbound Travel Restrictions & Requirements

Q20. Regarding inbound travel, who is required to be vaccinated in the air transportation sector?

A20. All foreign nationals travelling to Canada are required to be fully vaccinated, unless the

traveller meets one of the limited exceptions outlined in the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Order

in Council (Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order

). This includes foreign

flight crew.

Q21. Can a traveller use an exception form to vaccination for a sincerely held religious belief to

enter Canada?

A21. No. There is no exception on being fully vaccinated based on religious beliefs for foreign

nationals to enter Canada. Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or those registered under the

Indian Act

, who are not fully vaccinated, may return to Canada with a valid COVID-19 test result, but

must submit to testing on arrival and applicable quarantine requirements.

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V.9.2

Q22. Will I need to show my proof of vaccination every time I enter Canada?

A22. Yes, for most travellers this will be the case.

A23.

Q23. What if a traveller has two doses of non-Government of Canada accepted vaccine (e.g.,

Sputnik) and 1 mRNA shot? Would they be able to enter Canada and/or travel by air?

A23. No. To qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller to Canada, you must have received the full series

of a vaccine – or a combination of vaccines – accepted by the Government of Canada at least 14

days prior to entering Canada. For a list of vaccines accepted by the Government of Canada for the

purpose of travel to and within Canada, please visit:

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-

restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada.

Q24. What if individuals attempt to enter Canada with fraudulent vaccination documents?

A24. A person who submits false information on vaccination status could be liable to a fine of up to

$750,000 or 6 months imprisonment or both, under the Quarantine Act, or prosecution under the

Criminal Code for forgery.

Q25. What about individuals who are not able to get vaccinated due to medical conditions?

A25. Individuals who cannot be fully vaccinated due to a health condition for which vaccination is

contraindicated according to the vaccine’s label may also qualify for the eased quarantine and

testing requirements currently available to fully vaccinated travellers but must follow a modified

quarantine. In these cases, the traveller must have in their possession written evidence from a

physician who is licensed to practice medicine confirming the fact.

Q26. Why does vaccination documentation have to be in English or French, or a certified

translation?

A26. To be eligible for eased quarantine and testing requirements, travellers must provide all the

relevant information in either English or French to be processed upon entry by Government of

Canada officials at the border. The Government of Canada will accept translations that were

produced by a certified translator whose certification can be confirmed by a stamp or membership

number with a professional translation association.

Unvaccinated Travellers

Q27. Can unvaccinated travellers permitted to enter Canada be issued a boarding pass for

onward travel?

A27. Yes, all unvaccinated travellers are permitted onward domestic travel to complete their

journey and connect as required to reach their destination as long as it is within 24 hours of arrival in

Canada. Under exceptional circumstances, should major processing delays occur upon arrival in

Canada, an extension to the 24-hour window may be granted. If travel is beyond the 24-hour limit,

travellers will require a new pre-departure test.

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In addition, all travellers will also be subject to arrival testing on day 1 and day 8 and will be required

to quarantine upon arrival at their destination for a period of 14 days.

Q28. Can an unvaccinated traveller take public transportation (i.e., city bus, subway, taxi etc.) to

their place of quarantine?

A28. Yes. All travellers can take non-federally regulated public transportation to their place of

quarantine (with the exception of those who are symptomatic of COVID-19 or COVID-19 positive).