British Columbia Reopening Date Updated:

Effective October 30th, Fully vaccinated foreign nationals may be allowed to enter Canada for discretionary travel on the following dates if they meet specific criteria:

• Effective August 9: American citizens and permanent residents of the United States, who currently reside in the United States, who meet specific criteria to qualify as fully vaccinated
• September 7 (intended start date): All other foreign nationals who qualify as fully vaccinated

Canada Entry:

Step 1:

Pre-entry test result requirements

All travelers 5 years of age or older, regardless of citizenship or vaccination status, must provide proof of a COVID-19 negative molecular test result to enter Canada or proof of a previous positive test result taken between 14 and 180 days.

Rapid antigen tests will not be accepted.

When and where to get a negative pre-entry test result

If you’re flying to Canada, you must take a molecular test within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time of your flight to Canada.

All travelers must:

• provide one of the accepted types of molecular tests, not an antigen test
• keep proof of your test results for the 14-day period that begins on the day you enter Canada

Who doesn’t need a pre-entry test

Most travelers, including those who qualify as fully vaccinated, still have to provide pre-entry test results.

Step 2: 

Quarantine plan in case you don’t qualify as a fully vaccinated traveler

You must be prepared to quarantine for 14 days, in case you:

• don’t meet the requirements of a fully vaccinated traveler

A suitable quarantine plan must be entered into ArriveCAN. You may be asked to explain your quarantine plan at the border.

Step 3:

Upload proof of vaccination in ArriveCAN

You must use ArriveCAN, which is free to use, to enter your proof of vaccination, quarantine and travel information up to 72 hours before your travel.

If you don’t provide the required information in ArriveCAN before arriving at the border you won’t be considered as a fully vaccinated traveller, even if you meet all the other requirements.

Exceptions

• People arriving by boat (including ferry): you may use ArriveCAN to submit your proof of vaccination within 72 hours before or when you enter Canada
• People with a disability or other special circumstances may be exempt from using ArriveCAN

Proof of vaccination requirements

Your proof of vaccination (receipts, cards, confirmations) must contain the following information as text, not only a QR code:

• the name of the person who received the vaccine
• the name of the government or organization who administered the vaccine;
• the brand name or any other information that identifies the vaccine that was administered
• the dates on which the vaccine was administered. If the proof of vaccination is one document issued for both doses that only includes the date of the most recent dose, use that date.

Canadians can get proof of vaccination from their province or territory.

Uploading proof of your vaccination in ArriveCAN

In ArriveCAN, within 72 hours before your travel, you must:

• provide information on your vaccination status. This includes information on any first or, if applicable, second vaccine doses that you received, including:
  • dates the vaccines were administered
  • the country where they were given
  • name of vaccine
• upload a photo or PDF file of your proof of each vaccination:
  • if you received two doses and they are both recorded on a single card or PDF, upload that same image or file for dose 1 and again for dose 2
  • file formats accepted: PDF, PNG, JPEG or JPG
  • maximum file size for upload: each image upload has a 2 MB size limit
• preferred file format: if you received a PDF file of your vaccination record, upload the PDF rather than an image, since the PDF is clearer and easier to read
• these must be in English, French, or a certified translation into English or French

Bring your original proof of vaccination with you while you travel and for 14 days after entry.

Final determination of your vaccination status will be made at the border. You must bring a digital or paper copy of your proof(s) of vaccination with you.

Step 4:

Checklist of what to have ready at the border

Have the following items with you, on paper or a screenshot for assessment by a government official at the border:

More info here. 

Returning Home:

As of 12:01AM ET on June 12, 2022, CDC will no longer require air passengers traveling from a foreign country to the United States to show a negative COVID-19 viral test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board their flight.

For more information, see Rescission: Requirement for Negative Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Result or Documentation of Recovery from COVID-19 for all Airline or Other Aircraft Passengers Arriving into the United States from Any Foreign Country.