Finkface

Are you asking about the Day 1 arrival test that is required by Canada for unvaccinated travelers? If so, that is done either at the border in a tent after you clear CBSA or you they will give you a home test to take home which you must do over video within 24 hours. There is no cost. If that isn’t what you are asking, then I am not sure what you mean. But the Day 1 test required by Canada is done by LifeLabs, contracted by the Canadian government. It is not something you need to arrange yourself. You both do need a PCR test taken in the US to enter Canada.

Have a look here. Scroll down to Arrival Testing. https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/tr...rrival-testing

flyingpbandj

No, CVS Rapid-result test is an antigen test, and this is not allowed for entrance into Canada.

allset2travel

Thank you!
You've asked all the questions that I have.

Finkface

It is pretty simple. For entry from the US, you need a molecular test (not an antigen test) taken in the US no more than 72 hours prior to the departure time of your flight into Canada if arriving by air or no more than 72 hours from the time you arrive at the border crossing if entering by land. Accepted molecular tests can be PCR, Lamp, NAAT (Abbott IDNow is a NAAT) etc. The list of accepted tests is here https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/tr...try-vaccinated

That depends where you are. The easiest/cheapest that I am aware of is the Abbott IDNow from Walgreens (free, their Red Dot test) but it is not available everywhere so you have to look in your area. CVS is also free, as are many other tests in the US. Just make sure it is a molecular test and not an antigen test and that you will get the result back in time.
Not that I am aware of. Someone on another thread mentioned a PCR self test but I wouldn’t chance it myself until I heard some data points that they were successful using it to enter Canada. Canada requires certain information to be on the test result and one is the name and address of the lab that administered the test. I don’t see how a PCR self-test would have that but it would be good to see some data points if it does actually work.
See above. IDNow is a rapid molecular test with results in anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or two. It is a shallow nasal swab. At Walgreens, it is a drive thru, self-swab and it is free. IDNow is not offered everywhere (i.e. not available in CA for example) so check your area.

iahphx

Has anyone been to CVS for their "Canada Covid test"?
On their website they include PCR and NAAT is the same box, with the (apparently prohibited) rapid test in the other box. I guess I'll have to do more research (sigh). In New England, it seems 10x harder to get a Covid testing appointment at Walgreens (at least for ID Now) than it is to get a test at CVS.

flyingpbandj

PCR and NAAT are both fine to enter Canada.

Rapid test (antigen) from CVS is NOT valid to enter Canada.

Bartolo

Friends used the CVS test (free) in Massachusetts over the weekend. PCR and results within 24 hrs. Flew back Sunday to YYZ. No issues.

eiloo

Will be driving from NY to ON tomorrow across Whirlpool Bridge which is dedicated to Nexus holders.

We all have taken the CVS PCR tests and all came back negative. However, the kid’s results are only provided by calling a toll free number. How do I prove that to the CBSA agent that the pre test was done and negative? I know they will need to get an arrival test or a test kit to do.

Maybe the answer is in the ArriveCAN app but I haven’t done that yet.

Any experiences?

seawolf

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/tr...getting-tested

eiloo

Thanks seawolf. I’ll see what I can do to get CVS to send me something that I can print or take a photo of. Confirmation of negative is only provided on the phone for minors through their automated system.

eiloo

in case this helps anyone, if you use CVS to test minors, after you text or call the number to get the results you can speak with a rep (need to call again) and they will send you a link to a secure portal to download PDFs of their results since they don’t send minors’ results in MyChart.

sydneyracquelle

I drove across land border today at Detroit tunnel. Uneventful just like 2019. I was concerned as in ArriveCan I put down Sarnia Blue Water Bridge crossing point but he didn’t care. I also arrived 4 hours later than stated in ArriveCan due to traffic and flight delay into DTW. Again he never mentioned it.

eiloo

Crossed at Peace Bridge yesterday. Almost right on time as I entered into ArriveCan. I have two, unvacinated minors that I was taking across the border. A little bit longer for the agent to check off boxes in their system at the Nexus booth. Sent us to secondary inspection and the agent their looked at our printed Covid test results from CVS and said we were good to go. I reminded him that we had two minors and then he went to get Covid test kits.

FYI, there is a test site at Fort Erie Racetrack. You could probably do it quicker on Zoom but we thought we would just get it over with.

Hoping for an uneventful crossing back to the US next weekend.

sydneyracquelle

I drove into USA today. Exactly like 2019 except
wearing masks. No covid test. No vaccination. No lines. Just what you have to declare.

ctbarron

Drove across Peace Bridge on 8/16. Two adults, two teenagers. Filled out the stuff in the ArriveCan app. Used the Nexus lane, just one car ahead of me - traffic very light. Asked all the usual questions. The person did briefly get confused about the dates of the COVID tests (I was at about 50 hours) but cleared that up. After this we were sent over to some trailers they have set up between the initial booths and the tolls. Agent came out and asked to see proof of COVID tests (I used PDF’s printed out) and vaccine cards (CDC ones). We never even got out of the car - maybe an extra 3 minutes, very easy. Not full secondary. After that we went through.

Coming back into the US yesterday we also used NEXUS, again not much traffic. Got asked the usual questions, then onward.