Toronto 
The federal government has officially announced that the COVID-19 pre-entry molecular test will not be required for fully vaccinated individuals returning to Canada within 72 hours.
The government in a release stated, effective November 30, 2021, fully vaccinated individuals with the right of entry to Canada who depart and re-enter the country within 72 hours of leaving Canada will not have to present a pre-entry molecular test.
This exemption is only for:
- Travellers who can demonstrate that they have been away from Canada for less than 72 hours
- For trips originating in Canada taken by fully vaccinated Canadian citizens, permanent residents or individuals registered under the Indian Act, who depart and re-enter by land or by air.
- Includes accompanying children under 12, and individuals with medical contraindications to vaccination.
For those fully vaccinated air travellers who have right of entry into Canada, the 72-hour period runs from the initially scheduled departure time for their flight leaving Canada to the scheduled departure time for their return flight to Canada. Travellers will be responsible for maintaining proof of the 72-hour period to show airline/rail companies and border officials as required (e.g., boarding pass, travel itinerary).
Canada is also expanding the list of COVID-19 vaccines that travellers can receive to be considered fully vaccinated for the purpose of travel to Canada to include Sinopharm, Sinovac and COVAXIN, matching the World Health Organization Emergency Use Listing.
Travellers can use a proof of vaccination credential issued by their province or territory, the local health facility where their vaccinations have been recorded, or from their country of vaccination, as long as it is a COVID-19 vaccine approved by the Government of Canada for the purpose of travel.
For trips out of the country longer than 72 hours, all travellers eligible to enter Canada must complete the mandatory pre-entry molecular COVID-19 test. Antigen tests are not accepted.
