2020 has been quite a year for everyone. The turn of the decade began with ominous news about a new disease spreading in China. A few months on, the world was gripped into a state of lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19. Lockdowns, travel restrictions, and closed international borders came as a blow to international travel for months.
As the situation slightly improved, our understanding of COVID-19 became better, and adequate safety measures were set, borders slowly started opening up. Families separated across different countries are finally reuniting. If your loved ones live in Canada, you might finally get the chance to be reunited with them. However, if you’re travelling to Canada, there are a few things you should know.
We will discuss everything you can expect at the border when you are travelling to Canada during COVID-19.
Travelling to Canada During COVID-19
All travellers arriving in Canada during COVID-19 are required by law to present themselves to a border services officer. The officer will ask you a series of questions that you need to answer accurately. If you’re bringing any goods like plants, animal products, or food, you need to tell the officer. Have all your travel documentation and identification ready.
Arriving by air
Travellers arriving in Canada during COVID-19 will be required to confirm their identity and complete an on-screen declaration at a Primary Inspection Kiosk. Alternatively, you could be required to complete a Declaration Card onboard, depending on which airport you arrive at.
Arriving by land
If you arrive in Canada during COVID-19 by land through the US, you need to follow the signs to the checkpoint called Primary Inspection. The border services officer will study your travel documents, identification and take a verbal declaration.
Arriving by private boat
Travellers arriving in Canada during COVID-19 through private boats should proceed directly to a marine telephone reporting site. You need to call the Telephone Reporting Center (TRC) at 1-888-226-7277 to get the CBSA clearance.
What is the CBSA Declaration Card?
The CBSA Declaration Card is essentially the information that the Canadian government needs to know about travellers arriving in Canada during COVID-19. The declaration card requires you to fill in information about you, your travels, and what you are bringing into Canada with you. Passengers are provided with these cards before they enter the country.
Filling in the CBSA Declaration Card is a straightforward process. Additionally, there are instructions attached to the card to help you if you have any questions. You can fill in the information of up to four persons living at the same residence on each card when you are visiting Canada together.
We recommend keeping the card handy along with your identification and other travel documents since you will need to show the documents to the border services officers at multiple points during the process.
One of the most important documents you need to have when visiting Canada during COVID-19 is a document proving that you have purchased an adequate emergency medical travel insurance plan. If you are making plans to travel to Canada during COVID-19 and have yet to purchase the right health insurance plan, we can help you.
At Travel Shield, we can provide you with a range of options for medical insurance. We understand that your requirements might be different from another person’s. That is why we also make recommendations based on what would suit your needs the best. Feel free to contact us here or call us at 1-866-517-0606 to find out how we can help.