Canada Introduces Pre-departure COVID Testing Requirement For Air Travellers

Effective January 7, 2021, all passengers five years of age or older will be required to provide a negative COVID test prior to being able to travel by air to Canada. This applies to Canadians, permanent residents and foreign nationals. This requirement was announced on December 31, 2020.

Air travellers must take a COVID-19 molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test from an accredited lab within 72 hours prior to boarding a flight to Canada.  A passenger will not be allowed to board without a negative PCR test result, and the test itself must have done within the 72 hours prior to boarding the flight to Canada.

There are very few exceptions to the COVID test requirement.  One exemption is for an "emergency service provider", who is defined as someone providing services "aimed at preserving life and property" in times of emergency.  It is not clear how travellers are supposed to prove to the airline that they are under that exemption.