Canada Will Require Negative COVID-19 Test 72 Hours Before Arrival
Jan 3, 2021, 8:21 pm
#301
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: YVR
Programs: Air Canada Super Elite 2+ Million Miles
Posts: 2,478
Sorry, wrong link, and many more available through Google search.
How CBSA determines “essential travel” revealed in internal memo
With the U.S.-Canada border closed to non-essential travel, CBSA officers use in-house guidelines to determine if now is the right time for a foreign national to come to Canada.
https://www.cicnews.com/2020/05/how-...html#gs.p42buu
How CBSA determines “essential travel” revealed in internal memo
With the U.S.-Canada border closed to non-essential travel, CBSA officers use in-house guidelines to determine if now is the right time for a foreign national to come to Canada.
https://www.cicnews.com/2020/05/how-...html#gs.p42buu
Jan 3, 2021, 8:35 pm
#302
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM
Posts: 605
Sorry, wrong link, and many more available through Google search.
How CBSA determines “essential travel” revealed in internal memo
With the U.S.-Canada border closed to non-essential travel, CBSA officers use in-house guidelines to determine if now is the right time for a foreign national to come to Canada.
https://www.cicnews.com/2020/05/how-...html#gs.p42buu
How CBSA determines “essential travel” revealed in internal memo
With the U.S.-Canada border closed to non-essential travel, CBSA officers use in-house guidelines to determine if now is the right time for a foreign national to come to Canada.
https://www.cicnews.com/2020/05/how-...html#gs.p42buu
This conversation is (almost exclusively) about Canadians leaving Canada and returning. Nothing has changed their either (except PCR adding a processing step). Canadians can leave and return, and they can make their own judgement as to whether their travel is essential or not, and noone at CBSA or HC makes a determination about their self-judged essential trip. CBSA is not asking Canadians the same questions as they as foreigners, so why do you bring that up?
I'm in YYC. Currently all international flights go to Sun destinations. These flights are permitted by the government.
Jan 4, 2021, 9:56 am
#304
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: ZRH
Programs: AC SE 100K
Posts: 924
One thing that I suppose frustrates me is that a small group of people like me - who work outside of Canada but live in Canada have been essentially locked out of coming home for almost a year now. It is these situations whereby - you are putting people really to the brink - that makes me lose my patience with the whole situation and all the chatter. I would normally do 3 months on / 10 days in Canada - 3-4 times per year. Have done it for years - but now am basically out - - no way to go back and check on property, business, see my immediate family etc. . It is a disaster frankly - but people like me are caught up in this. What is essential travel? Apparently it is not going home after working away - but it has been taking people like me to the mental brink.
When I read all the chatter - all I can feel is we are a forgotten group and totally not on the radar. As for this testing requirement. It is not impossible but it is a challenge. Here in Switzerland, most places provide you a test result in 72 hours - which is too slow to address the Canadian requirement. Most of the countries seem to have 96 hour rules - which is actually 100% easier to comply with (especially in a country notorious for not working on weekends - even the military). Also - don't get me started on the $400 fee it costs here to get the test - which takes all of 5 minutes.
I get that people should not travel - but eventually - you have to get home - - and to me that is essential (and I will do my quarantine - on my own dime and on my own time!!).
When I read all the chatter - all I can feel is we are a forgotten group and totally not on the radar. As for this testing requirement. It is not impossible but it is a challenge. Here in Switzerland, most places provide you a test result in 72 hours - which is too slow to address the Canadian requirement. Most of the countries seem to have 96 hour rules - which is actually 100% easier to comply with (especially in a country notorious for not working on weekends - even the military). Also - don't get me started on the $400 fee it costs here to get the test - which takes all of 5 minutes.
I get that people should not travel - but eventually - you have to get home - - and to me that is essential (and I will do my quarantine - on my own dime and on my own time!!).
Jan 4, 2021, 10:12 am
#306
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YXU
Programs: AC SE100K, National E/E, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond, MB, Avis PC
Posts: 964
It seems that it indeed isn't. Just to add another data point. Transborder security and US preclearance at YYZ was a bit of a zoo today. Almost missed my connection. There was a lot of folks there who didn't seem like they're traveling on business. Families with small children, lot of people who looked like retirees. I guess when they are traveling south for several months, the need for the test is not a real deterrent. The situation may be completely different in April compared to now.
Jan 4, 2021, 10:37 am
#307
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,172
It seems that it indeed isn't. Just to add another data point. Transborder security and US preclearance at YYZ was a bit of a zoo today. Almost missed my connection. There was a lot of folks there who didn't seem like they're traveling on business. Families with small children, lot of people who looked like retirees. I guess when they are traveling south for several months, the need for the test is not a real deterrent. The situation may be completely different in April compared to now.
Jan 4, 2021, 10:44 am
#309
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: YUL
Posts: 1,000
One thing that I suppose frustrates me is that a small group of people like me - who work outside of Canada but live in Canada have been essentially locked out of coming home for almost a year now. It is these situations whereby - you are putting people really to the brink - that makes me lose my patience with the whole situation and all the chatter. I would normally do 3 months on / 10 days in Canada - 3-4 times per year. Have done it for years - but now am basically out - - no way to go back and check on property, business, see my immediate family etc. . It is a disaster frankly - but people like me are caught up in this. What is essential travel? Apparently it is not going home after working away - but it has been taking people like me to the mental brink.
When I read all the chatter - all I can feel is we are a forgotten group and totally not on the radar. As for this testing requirement. It is not impossible but it is a challenge. Here in Switzerland, most places provide you a test result in 72 hours - which is too slow to address the Canadian requirement. Most of the countries seem to have 96 hour rules - which is actually 100% easier to comply with (especially in a country notorious for not working on weekends - even the military). Also - don't get me started on the $400 fee it costs here to get the test - which takes all of 5 minutes.
I get that people should not travel - but eventually - you have to get home - - and to me that is essential (and I will do my quarantine - on my own dime and on my own time!!).
When I read all the chatter - all I can feel is we are a forgotten group and totally not on the radar. As for this testing requirement. It is not impossible but it is a challenge. Here in Switzerland, most places provide you a test result in 72 hours - which is too slow to address the Canadian requirement. Most of the countries seem to have 96 hour rules - which is actually 100% easier to comply with (especially in a country notorious for not working on weekends - even the military). Also - don't get me started on the $400 fee it costs here to get the test - which takes all of 5 minutes.
I get that people should not travel - but eventually - you have to get home - - and to me that is essential (and I will do my quarantine - on my own dime and on my own time!!).
Jan 4, 2021, 10:59 am
#310
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Paris
Programs: AA LT Plat (4m+), AF Plat, A3 Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat/Ambassador
Posts: 2,645
you would go to a private clinic. My sister did just that last week ok Cancun and no issues.
Jan 4, 2021, 2:12 pm
#311
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE 2MM
Posts: 16,625
When I read all the chatter - all I can feel is we are a forgotten group and totally not on the radar. As for this testing requirement. It is not impossible but it is a challenge. Here in Switzerland, most places provide you a test result in 72 hours - which is too slow to address the Canadian requirement. Most of the countries seem to have 96 hour rules - which is actually 100% easier to comply with (especially in a country notorious for not working on weekends - even the military). Also - don't get me started on the $400 fee it costs here to get the test - which takes all of 5 minutes.
Could put a crimp in planned future trips to Switzerland.
Jan 4, 2021, 2:23 pm
#312
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,293
For reference, I have had several elective Covid-19 tests in Switzerland, all of which provided results within 36h and none of which cost more than CHF200. 
Most recent was yesterday, cost CHF170, result in <24h, written pdf in English.
Most recent was yesterday, cost CHF170, result in <24h, written pdf in English.
Jan 4, 2021, 5:30 pm
#314
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: YVR
Programs: AC MM
Posts: 1,478
CHF 200 seems to be in line with that.
When I was in Germany in October, tests were anywhere between EURO 80 - 250.
Definitely a great new business opportunity for those who were in the medical testing industry.
