Canada to remove all COVID-19 related travel restrictions on October 1

Edana Robitaille
Published: September 26, 2022

The Government of Canada has announced that it will be removing the vaccine requirement for all travellers and making the ArriveCan app optional, as of October 1, 2022.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) says that effective October 1, 2022, all travellers, regardless of citizenship, will no longer have to:

  • submit public health information through the ArriveCAN app or website;
  • provide proof of vaccination;
  • undergo pre- or on-arrival testing;
  • carry out COVID-19-related quarantine or isolation;
  • monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19 upon arriving to Canada.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

Additionally, masks will no longer be mandatory on flights or trains within Canada.  PHAC says the removal of travel restrictions is due to Canada’s high vaccination rates, lower hospitalization and death rates, as well as the availability and use of vaccine boosters. The government still strongly recommends that travellers continue to wear masks and monitor their health closely.

“Thanks largely to Canadians who have rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated, we have reached the point where we can safely lift the sanitary measures at the border" says Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos. "However, we expect COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses will continue to circulate over the cold months, so I encourage everyone to stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccination, including booster doses and exercise individual public health measures.

ArriveCan to become optional

The ArriveCan app will become optional for travellers arriving from abroad. Travellers will no longer need to upload their travel plans and proof of vaccination onto the app to show CBSA agents.

No requirements for domestic travel

This announcement was expected in response to the global outlook on the COVID-19 pandemic. Cases have been seeing a decline as more people become vaccinated and the virus moves towards being endemic, like the common cold, rather than a pandemic.

Canada has already suspended the vaccination requirements for domestic and outbound travel as of last June. At the time, government officials said the suspension of those vaccine mandates was a reflection of the improved public health situation, with 90% of Canadians being already vaccinated against COVID-19.

Globally, there have been over 612 million recorded cases of COVID-19 and over six million deaths since the start of the pandemic. These numbers are likely higher as many people do not get tested or otherwise diagnosed.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

© CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.

Share this article
Share your voice
Did you find this article helpful?
Thank you for your feedback.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Did you find this article helpful?
Please provide a response
Thank you for your helpful feedback
Please contact us if you would like to share additional feedback, have a question, or would like Canadian immigration assistance.
  • Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
  • Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at media@canadavisa.com
Related articles
Canada’s temporary resident population contracts as overall population growth slows
A view of Vancouver city from atop a hill.
2024: Express Entry year in review
A Canadian flag waving in front of Canada's parliament building
How to move to Canada from the US
A picture of an arrivals to Canada sign at Pearson International Airport
How IRCC’s new Immigration Levels Plan prioritizes in-Canada candidates
A man views the CN tower from a distance on a cloudy summer day
Top Stories
Rental market softens as temporary residents leave Canada
The regions in which low-wage LMIAs won’t be processed, as of July 11
Top Canadian employers hiring for jobs qualifying for category-based draws under Express Entry
Join our free newsletter. Get Canada's top immigration stories delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe
More in Express Entry
Top Canadian employers hiring for jobs qualifying for category-based draws under Express Entry
A HR manager goes through documents with a candidate for a job.
How foreign work experience can boost your CRS score in a competitive Express Entry pool
A corporate woman looking happy
IRCC issues thousands of invitations to CEC candidates, with lowest cut-off score since September 2024
An overhead picture of Niagara Falls and the American-Canadian border.
Canada updates minimum fund requirements for Express Entry programs
Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council.
Link copied to clipboard