Canada: New Travel Measures

Last Updated on February 23, 2023

Key Points  

  • Lifting of travel restrictions for the countries of Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe 
  • Lifting of short-term pre-arrival test exemptions  

Overview 

The government of Canada lifted restrictions for travelers returning from 10 specific countries and will lift travel pre-arrival requirements. Travelers arriving from or who have transited through the countries of Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe in the last 14 days will be allowed to enter Canada once more beginning 18 Dec. 2021 at 11:59 pm. For additional information on the omicron variant in Canada click here.  

Beginning 21 Dec. 2021, the government of Canada will lift short trip pre-arrival test exemptions. Travelers will now require a pre-arrival negative PCR test result for all trips, even when exiting the country for 72 hours or less.  

What are the Changes? 

The government of Canada will lift previous travel restrictions that were put into place on 27 Nov. 2021. The government will also require all travelers to obtain a pre-arrival negative PCR test regardless of trip duration.  

Looking Ahead  

The government of Canada is advising Canadian citizens and permanent residents to avoid non-essential travel outside of the country due to changing global travel measures. Continue to check the government of Canada’s website and Envoy’s website for additional updates and information.  


Content in this publication is for informational purposes only and not intended as legal advice, nor should it be relied on as such. For additional information on the issues discussed, consult an attorney at one of the two U.S. Law Firms working with the Envoy Platform or another qualified professional. On non-U.S. immigration issues, consult an Envoy global immigration service provider or another qualified representative.