Travelling during Covid as a Fully Vaccinated Canadian

So finally the world is in a safe enough place - or at least North America seems to be - where travel is back on the table. As a Canadian, travel is only really possible if you’re fully vaccinated (thankfully, I am), as new regulations allow for fully vaccinated Canadians to skip mandatory quarantine upon re-entering the country. That said, it’s not like it’s without its headaches.

If you’re a fellow Canadian planning to travel, as of July 5th, 2021, you can avoid a mandatory quarantine so long as you’re fully vaccinated and adhere to a few rules and steps. Below is a breakdown of the travel process and my personal take on it.

Step 1. Get a PCR/nasal swab Covid-19 test.

Luckily, you can get these tests rather easily, especially in certain areas of the country. In Ontario, go through Shoppers Drug Mart and Life Labs (a joint effort) to schedule a test. You can do most of the leg work online, though it is a longer process than you’d expect. First, fill out all the necessary forms on Life Labs, including your travel info and Passport information. Then you’ll pay them for your test… a nice $200 before tax. The good thing about this though is that they will get the test completed before your flight, so if you only have 72 hours to produce a negative result for your flight, they’ve got you covered. I mean, I wouldn’t suggest booking your test for the day before your flight if you want to avoid a headache, but they’ll give you a workable window based on your departure information. From there, you can take your confirmation number and book your test/request a test through Shoppers Drug Mart. They will then get in touch with you and schedule a time. While pricey and a lot of steps, it was actually all rather easy and the test results came within 36 hours.

Step 2. Download (or update if you already had it) the ArriveCAN

You will need this to enter your information before you return to the country, including proof of vaccination. So either have your proof of vaccinations on you/with your travel documents, or photograph/scan each proof of vaccine, because you’ll need to upload that information into the app. You’ll also need to know the dates you received your vaccines. This information can only be entered within the 72-hour window before your return flight (much like you your Covid-19 PCR test in Step 3), hence why it’s important to have photos and/or the real proof of vaccination on you when travelling.

Step 3. Get a Covid-19 PCR test within 72 hours before returning to Canada.

While not necessarily a difficult thing to do, albeit unpleasant if you’re getting the nasal swab (which is the most common), this can be complicated because various countries have different testing capabilities. If you can book a Rapid PCR test, do so. It’s more expensive but its your best chance at getting test results back in time for your flight. That said, I still would recommend maximizing that 72 hour window by getting the test as far out as possible. Don’t go the day before and expect results in time unless you’re asking for trouble.

The amount of people in front of me at the check-in desk at the airport who did NOT have a Covid-19 test was rather shocking given this has been a mandated rule for months now. Do yourself and everyone in line a favour and get the Covid-19 PCR test in advance! Again, I went probably 68-70 hours before my flight’s departure - still enough time for it to be “kosher” but long enough that I had wiggle room in case of any hiccups.

Step 4. Another Covid-19 test at home or at the airport

Assuming you’re fully vaccinated when returning to Canada, you’ll be able to bypass the hotel stay and two-week quarantine. However, you do NOT get to skip another Covid-19 test upon arrival. While normally this would be done at the airport (should you be flying into Toronto Pearson) with Switch Health, the sheer volume of inbound passengers has meant that now you’re more likely to be swabbing yourself at home. That’s right, you will be shoving one of those swabs into your own nose!

As you depart the airport (after a careful vetting process so that only the fully vaccinated can go a certain exit), you will likely be handed a box to take home with you so that you can swab yourself within 24 hours of landing. There will be clear instructions in the box about the process but I will briefly summarize for you. First you will need to create an account with Switch Health. Then you will register your testing kit number (found on the vial in your bio-hazard bag). Then you will administer the at home swab test while on a video call with a telehealth member, who will both direct you through the steps and make sure you’re doing the test correctly. This telehealth member will instruct you how to swab, while making sure you sanitize plenty to keep those handling the specimen safe. Once you’ve swabbed, you will pack up the sample (swab in vial, vial in bio-hazard bag, bio-hazard bag in the Switch Health Box, and the box placed inside a pre-labeled Purolator envelope) and arrange for a pickup. The whole process is pretty smooth, though not always comfortable - I mean, you’re swabbing yourself after all.

I personally got concerned when the earliest available pick-up window was past the 24 hour mark, but after getting in touch with someone at Switch Health, they assured me that it was okay.

If you’re not fully vaccinated, these at-home kits will be given to individuals for after their hotel stay, to be used on Day 8 of their quarantine. But luckily, two jabs in the arm affords me the ability to skip another round of sticking something up my nose.

Now for the travel experience…

I can’t speak for all flights or all airports but a morning flight from Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) to the US was not a pleasant experience. Expect lineup after lineup. If you’re checking your bag, a lineup just to drop it off. Then a longer line than normal for security, and then an even longer line for US customs. It seems as if Air Canada is running majority of their US flights in the morning, from 8am-10am, so customs gets quite busy. I got to the airport two hours early, and I just made it through to the gates with 20 minutes to spare. Enough time to quickly grab a shitty airport breakfast that I had to eat on the flight. Because unless you relish getting up early to have breakfast, eating at the airport isn’t a realistic option. There are limited choices, long lines, and should you only get to the airport two hours early, you can forget that morning coffee or pre-departure bite. Which you will need if you’re not prepared to pay for food on board because Air Canada has suspended their meal offerings on US flights during Covid.

I would like to note that everyone I encountered, from airport staff to flight attendants, were extremely friendly and helpful. In fact, they were some of the nicest encounters I’ve had with Air Canada staff or US immigration/customs agents.

Overall, it’s not the most enjoyable process, but it’s doable if you have the energy for it. And sitting on that brand new fresh Air Canada plane with a wonderful entertainment system definitely helped make the flight more enjoyable, even with the mask.

A quick note for anyone wondering or unclear, you must wear a mask at all times in the airport and on the plane, except when eating and drinking. If you are grazing your food, you will be expected to wear a mask in between slow casual bites. The idea is that you’re only not wearing the mask when actively eating or drinking. But again, unless on a long flight- it’s really quite manageable.

On returning to Canada…

Once again, be prepared for lineups on all ends. In the US (I was flying in from Denver) I faced long lines at the check-in counter, despite having check-in online. This is because they need to verify you’ve downloaded the ArriveCAN app, you’ve received a negative Covid-19 test, and they’ll check for vaccinations as well. It will be line, after line, with slow moving people and individuals who have clearly ignored all the government instructions. Don’t be that person. I know it’s confusing but don’t be that person who is trying to get on the plane without meeting any of the requirements, to only either cry and beg for the staff to help you or to get indignant that you’re being refused your ticket. I know that sounds harsh but if 95% of us can figure it out, so can the other 5%. …. Can you tell that I’m bitter about some of the people who wear ahead of me in-line at the airport? Their mistakes dragged out an already long process, again eating into my coffee/breakfast time.

Once you’re returned to Canada, the airport process is long but rather easy. You will go through Canadian customs, first by filling out one of those questionnaires on the computers, then by talking to a customs agent. They’ll likely ask you about why you were travelling, where you went and for how long, and then will ask to see proof of your vaccinations, as well as your code from the ArriveCAN app (the code only given AFTER you’ve filled it out). They’ll check all your paperwork and documents, give you a pamphlet about Covid-19 and its risks as well as who to call if you have any symptoms or questions, and then the agent will give you a sticker for clearance before indicating where you have to go. Once you’re through customs, you’ll get your luggage and head on out, but not before being handed your at-home testing kit. Again, you may be directed to test at the airport but given the volume of incoming persons, you’re more likely to get the at-home kit.

And that’s all folks. It’s all pretty simple albeit monotonous. Expect long lines, slow moving people, what feels like endless stops and checks with a side of exhausting and sometimes confusing bureaucracy, and a whole lot of nasal swabbing.