Below are links to updated information for Canadian and American travellers from their respective governments.
Requirements could change prior to your travel date. We recommend that you double check documentation and entry requirements for each country visited prior to departure.
Please be advised that failure to comply with local laws in countries visited could impact your vacation including but not limited to the termination of travel services at your own cost.
In addition to these general guidelines, we will provide links to relevant guidelines to participants on each of our group tours.
For Canadian Travellers
The Canadian Government advises:
You should be fully vaccinated by completing a COVID-19 vaccine series in Canada or abroad at least 14 days before travelling. Be aware that although you are better protected against serious illness if you are vaccinated, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19.
If you’re unvaccinated, you remain at increased risk of being infected with and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 when travelling internationally. You should continue avoiding non-essential travel to all destinations.
Regardless of your vaccination status:
- Stay informed of COVID-19 activity at your destination, which can vary significantly and change quickly from one country to another and within regions of the country. ENTER YOUR DESTINATION into this link for local restrictions.
- Use personal protective measures (like wearing a mask, washing hands and maintaining physical distancing where possible)
- Follow any additional local public health measures while travelling
The content on this page is provided as advice. The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your safety abroad.
Before Travelling Internationally
Proof of vaccination Required to Travel Within and From Canada
Starting October 30, 2021: To depart from Canadian airports or travel on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains, travellers will need to qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller. This will also apply to travellers on cruise ships when the cruise season commences in 2022.
Before You Travel:
- Before booking a TourMagination tour, check this list of countries and their entry restrictions for Canadian travellers as well as the current Canadian advisories pertaining to each nation.
- Make sure you are fully vaccinated. Canadians can’t board any type of public transportation without being fully vaccinated.
- Be prepared to take a covid test prior to travel; the type of test will depend on the country to which you are travelling.
While Travelling:
- Follow public health guidelines on flights and in the countries you are touring, including maintaining physical distance, wearing masks, limiting numbers in indoor settings and other restrictions.
For American Travellers
Before Travelling Internationally
Do not travel internationally until you are fully vaccinated. If you are not fully vaccinated and must travel, follow CDC’s international travel recommendations for people who are not fully vaccinated.
Fully vaccinated travellers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19. However, international travel poses additional risks, and even fully vaccinated travellers might be at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some COVID-19 variants.
Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People
Before you travel:
- Make sure you understand and follow all airline and destination requirements related to travel, mask wearing, testing, or quarantine, which may differ from U.S. requirements. If you do not follow your destination’s requirements, you may be denied entry and required to return to the United States.
- Check the current COVID-19 situation in your destination.
- Check with your destination’s Office of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Health or the US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Country Information page external icon for details about entry requirements and restrictions for arriving travellers. Follow all entry requirements for your destination and provide any required or requested health information.
During Travel:
- Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation travelling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Travellers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a bus).
- Follow all recommendations and requirements at your destination, including mask wearing and social distancing.
- In areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.
Recommendations for People Who Are Not Fully Vaccinated
International travel poses additional risks and even fully vaccinated travellers are at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading new COVID-19 variants. CDC recommends delaying international travel until you are fully vaccinated.
If you are not fully vaccinated and must travel, take the following steps to protect yourself and others from COVID-19:
Before you travel:
- Get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before your trip.
- Check the COVID-19 situation in your destination.
- Check with your destination’s Office of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Health or the US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Country Information page external icon for details about entry requirements and restrictions for arriving travellers. Follow all entry requirements for your destination and provide any required or requested health information.
While Travelling:
- Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation travelling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Travellers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a bus). CDC recommends that travellers who are not fully vaccinated continue to wear a mask and maintain physical distance when travelling.
- Avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet/2 meters (about 2 arm lengths) from anyone who is not travelling with you.
- Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).
Before You Arrive in the United States:
- All air passengers coming to the United States, including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated people, are required to have a negative COVID-19 viral test result no more than 3 days before travel or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months before they board a flight to the United States.
After You Travel:
- Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel. Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days. If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
- If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
- Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not.
- Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
- Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements.
- Visit your state, territorial, tribal, and local external icon health department’s website to look for the latest information on where to get tested.
Do NOT travel if you were exposed to COVID-19, you are sick, you test positive for COVID-19, or you are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test. Learn when it is safe for you to travel. Don’t travel with someone who is sick.
Information for People who Recently Recovered from COVID-19
If you recovered from a documented COVID-19 infection within the last 3 months, follow all requirements and recommendations for fully vaccinated travellers except you do NOT need to get a test 3-5 days after travel unless you are symptomatic. People can continue to test positive for up to 3 months after diagnosis and not be infectious to others.
Advice Regarding Cruise Ships
The CDC recommends U.S. citizen travellers who are not fully vaccinated should avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide. Passengers who are not fully vaccinated are more likely to get COVID-19, which can spread more easily on cruise ships. The CDC notes there is increased risk of infection of COVID-19 on cruise ships. Many countries have implemented strict screening procedures and mandatory quarantines, which may cause unexpected delays and expenses.
Passengers with plans to travel by cruise ship should contact their cruise line companies directly for further information, continue to monitor the travel.state.gov website, and read the latest information from the CDC.
American Travellers Entering Canada
What to Do Before you Travel to Canada:
- Travellers should check if they are eligible to enter Canada and meet all entry requirements before heading to the border.
- Plan your quarantine. Even if you are fully vaccinated, you still need a quarantine plan in case it is determined at the border that you do not meet the necessary requirements. READ MORE
- Take a COVID-19 molecular test within 72 hours before arrival at the border, or be prepared to show proof of a previous positive COVID-19 molecular test that was taken between 14 and 180 days before your arrival. READ MORE
- Fully vaccinated travellers coming to Canada MUST COMPLETE the mandatory pre-arrival molecular COVID-19 test and submit their mandatory information including their digital proof of vaccination in English or French using the free ArriveCAN (App or website) within 72 hours before arriving in Canada. Antigen tests, often called “rapid tests”, are not accepted. Fully vaccinated travellers who are eligible to enter Canada continue to be subject to mandatory random testing on arrival. READ MORE
- If you are unvaccinated and have proof of a negative test result, create an account with an in-Canada Arrival test provider in advance to save time at the border.
NOTE: Travellers who are transiting through Canada to another country (and aren’t leaving the secure area at the airport) don’t need to submit their information through ArriveCAN.
At the Canadian border: For fully vaccinated travellers
- Have your ArriveCAN receipt and test result ready. If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident travelling for discretionary purposes, you must show your ArriveCAN receipt prior to boarding the flight to Canada. If you are a vaccinated traveller, you must carry your actual vaccine documentation (paper or digital copies, for each dose received) with you to show proof of vaccination, and retain it for 14 days after entry. This is in addition to the requirements for your ArriveCAN receipt.
- Provide required information and documents. Answer all eligibility and health screening questions.
- Most fully vaccinated travellers won’t need to take an arrival test. However, you may be randomly selected for the border testing surveillance program upon arrival in Canada. If you are selected for testing, complete your on-arrival test. You do not need to quarantine while awaiting test results. If selected, you must take the test or you will be subject to quarantine and penalties/fines.
- If the test is positive, isolate yourself immediately and contact local public health authorities.
At the Canadian border: For unvaccinated travellers
- Provide required information and documents. Answer all eligibility and health screening questions.
- Collect 2 COVID-19 molecular test kits. Arrival and Day 8 testing may differ for some provinces or territories. Follow the instructions provided at the border. Travellers must comply with both federal and provincial/territorial requirements. In cases where the requirements differ, travellers should follow the most stringent measures.
- Complete your on-arrival test. Keep the second kit for use on Day 8.
- If you have symptoms or an unsuitable quarantine plan, follow the directions provided by the government representative.
Your quarantine: For unvaccinated travellers
- Go directly to your place of quarantine.
- Use ArriveCAN or call 1-833-641-0343 to check-in within 48 hours to confirm that you have arrived at your place of quarantine or isolation. You’ll also need to complete a daily COVID-19 symptom self-assessment during your quarantine period as long as you are asymptomatic.
- Complete and ship your Day 8 test kit according to the instructions.
- You will be contacted by the Government of Canada and provincial or territorial officials.
All guidelines are subject to change. Check back to this page before your tour departs.
