Some pandemic requirements still in place for border travel, warns CBSA

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on April 5, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

Canada Boarder Services Agency is reminding travellers that not all requirements changed on April 1 for those arriving in Canada.
CBSA director of operations, Lisa White said they want to make sure there is no confusion between what is no longer required and what remains in place. Requirements for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travellers remain the same.
“Fully vaccinated travellers entering Canada will not have to present a pre-arrival test, that is the largest change. What is remaining the same is the requirement for travellers to complete their pre-arrival information into ArriveCan,” said White.
She said travellers can submit the information up to 72 hours in advance on their mobile phones or computer and she recommends not to do it while they wait in line, as cellphone signal is not the greatest at the border.
“That remains mandatory and it’s very important that travellers are aware of that, because failure to complete and submit your information in ArriveCan could lead to the mandatory 14 day quarantine,” said White.
She said after submitting the information on ArriveCan it provides people with a confirmation code and she recommends keeping a copy of it.
“I really encourage people to grab a screenshot of that confirmation code in case there’s technical glitches once they get to the booth, get to the border and you know they don’t have access to it,” said White.
She added that the random testing at the border continues to be in effect and they encourage people to factor in the possibility of getting tested into their travelling timelines.
“Usually whenever there’s a change announced people might get confused or might think that there’s more changes than what there actually are,” said White.
“The next couple of weeks, historically at Coutts and other southern Alberta land borders, have been really busy historically with snowbird season. We can expect to see that Alaska traffic picking up as well…that kind of intermixes with snowbird season so we’re anticipating a busy next couple of weeks at border crossings in southern Alberta,” said White.
She said they recommend travellers plan their return to Canada to avoid peak times.
White said travellers also need to remember that border crossing offices are federal buildings and therefore masking is still required, regardless of the mask mandate being rescinded in Alberta.
“If you need to come in to speak to an officer, or get that testing or what have you, we’re going to ask folks to make sure they have their masks on,” said White.
Border wait times are posted in the CBSA website at https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-eng.html

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