Random testing, rapid antigen tests: Canada travel updates for students

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16 Feb 2022

Here are the latest Canada travel updates: the government announced on Tuesday that it would ease COVID-19 testing rules for fully-vaccinated travellers from Feb. 28, 2022. This follows recent data that indicates the latest wave of COVID-19 driven by the Omicron variant has passed its peak in Canada.

According to the latest Canada travel updates, fully vaccinated travellers will be subjected to randomised arrival testing, but will no longer be required to quarantine while awaiting test results, said a statement from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Unvaccinated travellers must test on arrival, on Day 8 and quarantine for 14 days. Unvaccinated foreign nationals will not be permitted to enter Canada unless they meet one of the few exemptions.

Travellers will still have to take a COVID-19 test to fly to Canada but can opt for a cheaper rapid antigen test. Source: Cole Burston/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP

Canada travel updates: Less stringent COVID-19 testing rules for travellers

According to the latest Canada travel updates, travellers will now have the option of using a COVID-19 rapid antigen test result or a molecular test result to meet pre-entry requirements, said the government.

Antigen tests are typically cheaper than a molecular test; they provide results within minutes, which would allow those who test positive to be isolated quickly, said reports.

“Taking a rapid antigen test at home is not sufficient to meet the pre-entry requirement – it must be authorised by the country in which it was purchased and must be administered by a laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth service,” said the statement.

“As provinces and territories adjust their public health measures, and as we transition away from the crisis phase, it is now time to move towards a more sustainable approach to long-term management of COVID-19.”

The government previously announced that travellers must be fully vaccinated to enter Canada from Jan. 15, 2022. This ruling includes international students travelling to Canada and individuals who were previously allowed to enter the country without being fully vaccinated.

International students travelling to Canada should receive the full series of a vaccine or a combination of vaccines accepted by the Canadian government. Canada’s approved vaccines currently include: