What documentation do I need to enter Canada?
When should I get the documentation that I need to enter Canada?
Get your documentation as soon as possible if you haven’t done so already. Double check that your passports or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) documents are valid and up-to-date.
If you require a visa to enter Canada, please note there are processing time delays for applications. The country you’re travelling from may also impact the processing time of your visa. To check processing time estimates for visas, please refer to the Government of Canada’s Immigration and Citizenship website and under “application type” select “Temporary residence.”
We also recommend that visiting filmmakers, Industry conference attendees, and members of the press inform their TIFF representative of their visa application status as they may be able to provide additional guidance or assistance. Contact information is available here.
What is the ArriveCAN app and do I need to use it?
All visitors and returning residents must use the ArriveCAN app to enter Canada. The information you need to provide in the ArriveCAN app must be completed within 72 hours before your arrival in Canada.
ArriveCAN is a free digital platform operated by the Government of Canada that helps travellers comply with Canada’s border measures quickly and securely. If you are travelling by air, land, or water, you will be required to provide:
- contact information and travel details
- COVID-19 vaccination information
- a quarantine plan if you’re not a fully vaccinated traveller or have a medical exemption
Once you submit your information through ArriveCAN, a receipt will be displayed and emailed to you. You will need to show this receipt when you’re boarding a plane or seeing a Canada border services officer upon arrival.
ArriveCAN is available for iOS, Android, and web. Visit canada.ca/ArriveCAN for further details.
The information you need to provide in the ArriveCAN app must be completed within 72 hours (or three days) before your arrival in Canada.
One of the main reasons for longer lineups and delays entering Canada is due to individuals not updating the ArriveCAN app prior to their travels.
You will be required to provide:
- contact and travel details
- COVID-19 vaccination information
- a quarantine plan if you’re not a fully vaccinated traveller or have a medical exemption
Once you submit your information through ArriveCAN, a receipt will be displayed and emailed to you. You will need to show this receipt when you’re boarding a plane or seeing a Canada border services officer upon arrival.
A time-saving tip for travellers who use the web version or the mobile app of ArriveCAN: if your first point of arrival in Canada is Vancouver International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, or Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, you can save time at the airport by using ArriveCAN’s Advance CBSA Declaration feature. We strongly encourage travellers who meet the above criteria to make use of this feature.
ArriveCAN is available for iOS, Android and web. Visit canada.ca/ArriveCAN for further details.
Please note: The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) recently shared with the media that they will allow fully vaccinated travellers entering through the land border a one-time exemption from fines or quarantine requirements if they unknowingly fail to submit the required health documents through the ArriveCAN app. This only applies to individuals who have not had a history of non-compliance at the border. After the one-time exemption, individuals must provide the required documents through the app or face quarantine, testing, or fines up to $5,000. Foreign nationals will be denied entry to the country.
Do I have to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination?
Yes. Canada requires all non-Canadian travellers to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter Canada. You will also need to provide COVID-19-related information electronically through the ArriveCAN app prior to your arrival in Canada.
To qualify as a fully-vaccinated traveller, you must have received one of the following inoculations at least 14 calendar days before the day you travel:
- at least two doses of a vaccine accepted by the Government of Canada for the purpose of travel
- or a mix of two accepted vaccines
- or at least one dose of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine
It’s the responsibility of those who choose to travel into Canada to ensure they meet appropriate vaccination and documentation requirements to enter the country, as well as any other countries or regions that may be part of those travels. More information from the Government of Canada is available here.
Do I need to get a COVID-19 test before flying to Canada?
No. Pre-entry COVID-19 tests are not required for fully-vaccinated travellers entering Canada by land, air, or water. You must still use the ArriveCAN app app within the 72 hours prior to your arrival to Canada.
Will I be tested for COVID-19 when I arrive?
Possibly. The Government of Canada requires fully-vaccinated travellers entering Canada to be subjected to random arrival testing at all of its airports and land-border crossings (additional information available here). All COVID-19 testing for air travellers will be done outside of the airport. Travellers who have been selected for a mandatory test will receive an email shortly after entering Canada. It will be sent to the same email address you used for ArriveCAN.
What should I do if I’ve been randomly selected for a mandatory COVID-19 test?
If you received an email for mandatory COVID-19 testing, please follow the instructions outlined in the email as your instructions will be based on where and how you entered Canada (additional information available here).
You will most likely be directed to a LifeLabs location near the Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) or one of the many Shoppers Drug Mart locations.
LifeLabs near Pearson Airport (YYZ)
6900 Airport Rd., Mississauga, Ontario
Shoppers Drug Mart (location closest to the TIFF Bell Lightbox)
388 King St. W., Toronto, Ontario
If you’re selected for a mandatory arrival test, you’re under a legal obligation to take the test within the required timeframe. If you don't comply, you may face fines or other enforcement measures.
