New COVID-19 Testing Requirements For Air Travellers Flying Into Canada

On January 6, 2021, Canada's federal government issued a News Release announcing the issuance of an Interim Order by its Minister of Transport, the Honourable Marc Garneau.  Among other things, the Interim Order formalizes COVID-19 testing requirements first announced on December 31, 2021, for all air travellers coming to Canada. 

Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test Result Prior to Boarding

Effective January 7, 2021, all travellers over five years old, regardless of citizenship, must provide proof of a negative laboratory COVID-19 test result to the airline prior to boarding a flight to Canada.  The test must be conducted within 72 hours of the traveller's scheduled departure, and it must be performed using: (i) a molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or (ii) Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP).  Failure to present this information at the time of boarding will result in an automatic denial of boarding by the airline.