OBSOLETE COVID THREAD 🦠 Travel to Spain/Portugal for Canadian travelers

[Friend from Barquinha]

Good news! Full cash refund so no doubt the pressure from the media had a little something to do with that! Rebooked with AF just now. Thanks all for the support.

Amazing how contracting the media, particularly CBC's consumer report services, makes the most amazing turn-arounds in company policy. Very good news on your tussle with WestJet.

 

[Traveller44]

For anyone traveling with Air France this article might be of interest
https://ca.travelpulse.com/news/air...dy-to-fly-pre-travel-health-verification.html

 

[Cleigh]

Thanks! I see they are using Travel Doc as well. Great website to determine documentation needed for entry into any country.

 

[jirit]

Normally I would be able to figure this out … however…

If I understand correctly:

Fully vaccinated Canadians arriving Spain dont need to have a COVID test (providing they are vaccinated with an EU approved vaccine which rules out Astra Seneca/ COVISHIELD)

However upon returning to Canada, the same fully vaccinated Canadians dont need to quarantine but still do need to get a PCR COVID test prior to boarding at their expense and then again upon arrival into Canada (at the government’s expense)

Does anybody have a different opinion ?

 

[dreymorris]

Normally I would be able to figure this out … however…

If I understand correctly:

Fully vaccinated Canadians arriving Spain dont need to have a COVID test (providing they are vaccinated with an EU approved vaccine which rules out Astra Seneca/ COVISHIELD)

However upon returning to Canada, the same fully vaccinated Canadians dont need to quarantine but still do need to get a PCR COVID test prior to boarding at their expense and then again upon arrival into Canada (at the government’s expense)

Does anybody have a different opinion ?

Vaccine Checker: Which Vaccine is Approved for International Travel?

If you are planning to travel anytime soon but are unaware whether the vaccine you have been vaccinated with is accepted as valid proof of COVID-19 immunity by your destination country, you can find out through our vaccine checker. To use the Covid Vaccine Checker for Travelling Abroad, select...

visaguide.world

you are correct except according to the this tracker, AstraZeneca Covishield is accepted in France and Spain.

 

[dreymorris]

Normally I would be able to figure this out … however…

If I understand correctly:

Fully vaccinated Canadians arriving Spain dont need to have a COVID test (providing they are vaccinated with an EU approved vaccine which rules out Astra Seneca/ COVISHIELD)

However upon returning to Canada, the same fully vaccinated Canadians dont need to quarantine but still do need to get a PCR COVID test prior to boarding at their expense and then again upon arrival into Canada (at the government’s expense)

Does anybody have a different opinion ?

Also it's still not clear to me who covers the cost of the test once back in Canada.

 

[Kathor1]

Fully vaccinated Canadians arriving Spain dont need to have a COVID test (providing they are vaccinated with an EU approved vaccine which rules out Astra Seneca/ COVISHIELD)

Current (27 July 2021) rules:

• Canadians flying directly from Canada to Spain (whether vaccinated or not) do not need to present proof of vaccination nor a negative test result nor proof of earlier illness.
  
  
• Canadians flying directly from Canada to France (who are vaccinated) must have a Covid-19 vaccination certificate. France recognises the AstraZeneca/Covishield vaccin as a valid vaccin for these purposes. No test required for this category of travellers from Canada to France.
  
  
• Canadians flying directly from Canada to Portugal (whether vaccinated or not) must hold either a negative RT-PCR test result (or similar NAAT test) tested within 72 hours prior to boarding, or a Rapid Antigen Test tested within 48 hours prior to boarding.

The link posted earlier - https://airfrance.traveldoc.aero - is useful and up to date in real time. Enter your departure and arrival airports to see the relevant information.

 

[jirit]

Vaccine Checker: Which Vaccine is Approved for International Travel?

If you are planning to travel anytime soon but are unaware whether the vaccine you have been vaccinated with is accepted as valid proof of COVID-19 immunity by your destination country, you can find out through our vaccine checker. To use the Covid Vaccine Checker for Travelling Abroad, select...

visaguide.world

you are correct except according to the this tracker, AstraZeneca Covishield is accepted in France and Spain.

This is interesting that France accepts the AstraSeneca Covidshield vaccine

 

[jirit]

Current (27 July 2021) rules:

• Canadians flying directly from Canada to Spain (whether vaccinated or not) do not need to present proof of vaccination nor a negative test result nor proof of earlier illness.
  
  
• Canadians flying directly from Canada to France (who are vaccinated) must have a Covid-19 vaccination certificate. France recognises the AstraZeneca/Covishield vaccin as a valid vaccin for these purposes. No test required for this category of travellers from Canada to France.
  
  
• Canadians flying directly from Canada to Portugal (whether vaccinated or not) must hold either a negative RT-PCR test result (or similar NAAT test) tested within 72 hours prior to boarding, or a Rapid Antigen Test tested within 48 hours prior to boarding.

The link posted earlier - https://airfrance.traveldoc.aero - is useful and up to date in real time. Enter your departure and arrival airports to see the relevant information.

Thanks - this is very helpful !

 

[jirit]

Also it's still not clear to me who covers the cost of the test once back in Canada.

I understand the government pays for the second test

 

[Former member 91017]

Normally I would be able to figure this out … however…

If I understand correctly:

Fully vaccinated Canadians arriving Spain dont need to have a COVID test (providing they are vaccinated with an EU approved vaccine which rules out Astra Seneca/ COVISHIELD)

However upon returning to Canada, the same fully vaccinated Canadians dont need to quarantine but still do need to get a PCR COVID test prior to boarding at their expense and then again upon arrival into Canada (at the government’s expense)

Does anybody have a different opinion ?

Where are you getting the information about a second test being needed on arrival?

See "Getting Tested to Enter Canada" at https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/t...ovid-19-testing-travellers-coming-into-canada

That is our federal travel advisory board site. There is no mention of a second test required *EXCEPT* if you have a layover, still in the EU or elsewhere outside Canada, that will cause your initial departure test to time out at 72 hours prior to arrival in Canada. If you have such layover (let's say: Iceland, for a daylong layover, for example), then you will need to be re-tested prior to boarding your connecting flight into Canada. *THAT* would be at your expense.

The only testing that the governments are paying for in Canada have to do with maintaining safe workplaces, or performing assessments at health test centres for people who think they might have come into contact with COV. But if you are merely curious, or you are travelling, then you have to go to a pharmacy and pay anywhere from $40 to $200 for a test and the documentation it comes with. If your workplace does testing, they are acquiring RAT kits from your local public health unit, at a very low cost -- or not cost depending on the public health unit and the type of workplace, and employees are not to be charged for tests. All presumptive positives on RATs must go for PCR testing, and are reported to the health unit, but something in the range of 60% of presumptive positives are negative on PCR testing. Negative RAT results are 100% accurate. Positive RAT results run only about 40% correct on the whole. (My partner does RAT testing with public health as a volunteer, and as a department lead at his university; also works as a volunteer in a pharmacy school vaccination clinic).

 

[CalgaryLynn]

Normally I would be able to figure this out … however…

If I understand correctly:

Fully vaccinated Canadians arriving Spain dont need to have a COVID test (providing they are vaccinated with an EU approved vaccine which rules out Astra Seneca/ COVISHIELD)

However upon returning to Canada, the same fully vaccinated Canadians dont need to quarantine but still do need to get a PCR COVID test prior to boarding at their expense and then again upon arrival into Canada (at the government’s expense)

Does anybody have a different opinion ?

That is my understanding!

 

[BombayBill]

Where are you getting the information about a second test being needed on arrival?

See "Getting Tested to Enter Canada" at https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/t...ovid-19-testing-travellers-coming-into-canada

That is our federal travel advisory board site. There is no mention of a second test required *EXCEPT* if you have a layover, still in the EU or elsewhere outside Canada, that will cause your initial departure test to time out at 72 hours prior to arrival in Canada. If you have such layover (let's say: Iceland, for a daylong layover, for example), then you will need to be re-tested prior to boarding your connecting flight into Canada. *THAT* would be at your expense.

The only testing that the governments are paying for in Canada have to do with maintaining safe workplaces, or performing assessments at health test centres for people who think they might have come into contact with COV. But if you are merely curious, or you are travelling, then you have to go to a pharmacy and pay anywhere from $40 to $200 for a test and the documentation it comes with. If your workplace does testing, they are acquiring RAT kits from your local public health unit, at a very low cost -- or not cost depending on the public health unit and the type of workplace, and employees are not to be charged for tests. All presumptive positives on RATs must go for PCR testing, and are reported to the health unit, but something in the range of 60% of presumptive positives are negative on PCR testing. Negative RAT results are 100% accurate. Positive RAT results run only about 40% correct on the whole. (My partner does RAT testing with public health as a volunteer, and as a department lead at his university; also works as a volunteer in a pharmacy school vaccination clinic).

My understanding is that fully vaccinated travelers into Canada will need a pre arrival test and a post arrival test. This is what i understand from the government website. “

Who doesn’t need an arrival test​

Fully vaccinated travellers still have to do an arrival test.”

you may be exempt from quarantine but not testing.

 

[Former member 91017]

My understanding is that fully vaccinated travelers into Canada will need a pre arrival test and a post arrival test. This is what i understand from the government website.

Where do you get that information? The link I posted -- and explained, which comes from the travel.gc.ca statement, does not indicate a *post arrival test* is required:

"
you must take a test within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time of your flight to Canada. Airlines will refuse boarding to travellers who are unable to provide a valid molecular test result.

• If you have a connecting flight:
  • the test must be conducted within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time of your last direct flight to Canada
  • you may need to schedule the test in your transit city

All travellers must:

• provide one of the accepted types of tests, not an antigen test
• keep proof of your test results for the 14-day period that begins on the day you enter Canada." (from the site linked in my post above)

 

[dreymorris]

My understanding is that fully vaccinated travelers into Canada will need a pre arrival test and a post arrival test. This is what i understand from the government website.

That's my understanding also.

 

[dreymorris]

My understanding is that fully vaccinated travelers into Canada will need a pre arrival test and a post arrival test. This is what i understand from the government website.

To clarify, I agree with you.

 

[BombayBill]

To clarify, I agree with you.

You’re one of the few that do.

 

[dreymorris]

Where do you get that information? The link I posted -- and explained, which comes from the travel.gc.ca statement, does not indicate a *post arrival test* is required:

"
you must take a test within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time of your flight to Canada. Airlines will refuse boarding to travellers who are unable to provide a valid molecular test result.

• If you have a connecting flight:
  • the test must be conducted within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time of your last direct flight to Canada
  • you may need to schedule the test in your transit city

All travellers must:

• provide one of the accepted types of tests, not an antigen test
• keep proof of your test results for the 14-day period that begins on the day you enter Canada." (from the site linked in my post above)

Checklists of requirements​

Fully vaccinated traveller exemption checklist
Starting July 5, 2021, fully vaccinated travellers who are permitted to enter Canada may be exempted from the federal requirements to:

• quarantine, including the government-authorized hotel for air travellers, and
• complete a day-8 test
  

Final determination regarding this exemption is made by a government representative at the border based on the information presented at the time of entry into Canada.

Travellers who crossed the border before July 5, 2021 do not qualify for the exemption.

Before you travel​

Use the same email address for all of your entry requirements, where applicable (that is, when registering for COVID-19 testing upon arrival and creating your ArriveCAN account).

• Find out if you can enter Canada
• Check if you qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption
• Get your pre-entry COVID-19 test
• Register in advance for your arrival test
• Have a quarantine plan in case you don't receive the exemption
• Use ArriveCAN to submit your proof of vaccination

Arriving in Canada​

Have the following items with you for assessment by a government official at the border:

• ArriveCAN receipt
• proof of vaccination
• pre-entry test results
• other travel documents

After arriving​

• Take a test on arrival or get a home test kit (as instructed)

If you meet the requirements and are exempt from quarantine, you may travel on by air or land to your destination.

You must:

• follow local public health measures
• wear a mask while in public for 14 days
• maintain a list of all close contacts for your first 14 days in Canada
• keep copies of your proof of vaccination for 14 days

Flying checklist (if you're not eligible for fully vaccinated traveller exemption)Driving checklist (if you're not eligible for fully vaccinated traveller exemption)Requirements for entering Canada by private boat

Fines and consequences​

You are under a legal obligation to meet the testing and entry requirements. Failure to comply with any requirements or providing false information may result in fines, penalties or imprisonment.

Exemptions for testing and quarantine​

If you think you may be exempt from mandatory requirements:

Find out if your travel is exempt

Did you find what you were looking for?​

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Date modified: 2021-07-09

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[dreymorris]

You’re one of the few that do.

 

[BombayBill]

I can understand if people have different understanding on this subject as you need to be a lawyer to deconstruct all the if and buts. My information is coming from

We couldn't find that Web page (Error 404) - Travel.gc.ca

Government of Canada's official one-stop-shop for comprehensive international travel information.

travel.gc.ca

And my current interpretation is that you must post arrival test. However my opinion may change as I fill my second glass of vino verde.

 

[Former member 91017]

OK... so, back to the site:

The rules are different for those who: Departed Canada prior to July 5th.

See the section: FIND OUT IF YOUR TRAVEL IS EXEMPT here: https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/exemptions (See the yellow and green highlights).

It seems to have to do with *timing* mostly. You need to be considered "fully immune", not merely in receipt of the second dose.

 

[jirit]

the website seems to suggest that you need a pre-boarding test and an arrival test even if you fully vaccinated regardless of your nationality

Find out if your travel may be exempt​

All eligible vaccinated travellers
Fully vaccinated travellers who are eligible to enter Canada are exempt from some requirements if they meet certain conditions.
Check if you qualify as fully vaccinated
Pre-entry test required
Arrival test required
Exempt from Day-8 test
Exempt from quarantine
Exempt from mandatory hotel stopover

 

[jirit]

More on the arrival COVID test...

Taking your arrival test​

When you enter Canada, you'll be instructed to either take an arrival test at the border, or receive a home test kit.

If you don’t qualify as fully vaccinated, you will also get a kit to use on Day-8 of your mandatory quarantine (except for travellers who are only passing through on their way to or from Alaska).

There is no fee for the arrival test.

Who doesn’t need an arrival test​

Fully vaccinated travellers still have to do an arrival test.

Travellers who provide a positive COVID-19 test result may be exempt from arrival testing.

 

[dreymorris]

the website seems to suggest that you need a pre-boarding test and an arrival test even if you fully vaccinated regardless of your nationality

Find out if your travel may be exempt​

All eligible vaccinated travellers
Fully vaccinated travellers who are eligible to enter Canada are exempt from some requirements if they meet certain conditions.
Check if you qualify as fully vaccinated
Pre-entry test required
Arrival test required
Exempt from Day-8 test
Exempt from quarantine
Exempt from mandatory hotel stopover

That's my understanding

 

[Albertagirl]

That's my understanding

As I understand it, the test is officially required, but some persons may be excluded from actually doing it, when test kits are being handed out to travellers on arrival. I don't really know where I heard this, but I think that it may be from a CBC report about the changes happening when travellers arrive in Canada. I paid little attention to it, as I have no control over it and am willing to take and report on the take-home arrival test, if required.

 

[Wanderingfriend]

Also it's still not clear to me who covers the cost of the test once back in Canada.

I just came back into Canada and the test was free.

 

[BombayBill]

I just came back into Canada and the test was free.

Could you elaborate please? You were tested at an airport and received results at airport? Or were tested at airport and went home and got results in 72h?

 

[Wanderingfriend]

I came by car back into Canada from USA. I had to pay for the 72 hour before test, but when I got to the border, the test was free. I am assuming it is the same for flying.

 

[BombayBill]

And the test in Canada was the result immediately available after the test?

 

[Wanderingfriend]

At the border, we have been now home one day, no results yet

 

[Cleigh]

The test to return to Canada is a PCR test which does take 24-48 hours for results.

 

[Albertagirl]

The test to return to Canada is a PCR test which does take 24-48 hours for results.

That depends on where you get it. See this thread: COVID Covid Test at Madrid Airport