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International travel

Departures

An official global travel advisory remains in effect. Avoid non-essential travel outside Canada until further notice.

Arrivals

Federal requirements for all travellers returning from outside of Canada

International travellers arriving into Canada must comply with federal requirements, including mandatory border testing and hotel quarantine.

Effective April 22 at 10 pm, the requirement for a second COVID-19 test must now be completed on the eighth day after entering Canada (changed from 10 days after arrival).

Learn more about Canada’s additional restrictions on international travel.

Travellers must present proof of a negative COVID-19 test result (via either paper or electronic proof of result) to the airline before boarding a flight to Canada or at the border if entering at the Coutts crossing.

Regardless of whether you arrive at the Calgary International Airport or via the Coutts land-border crossing, all non-exempt travellers returning to or entering Alberta from outside Canada are legally required to follow federal travel restrictions and must comply with the following steps.

  • Prepare for quarantine before you arrive

    All travellers entering Alberta from outside Canada must have appropriate plans and the necessary supports in place to quarantine for 14 days. Travellers will be required to submit their quarantine plans through the ArriveCAN mobile app before boarding a flight back to Canada or arriving at the Coutts border crossing.

    Consider the following before you arrive:

    • the location of your 14-day quarantine
    • how you will travel to your quarantine location
    • how you will avoid close contact with people in your household, especially seniors and people with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems
    • how you will get necessary supplies and supports (food, medication, cleaning supplies, child care and pet care)
    • social or family support (you can’t visit anyone or have visitors while in quarantine)
  • Steps to follow if arriving at the Calgary International Airport
    1. Reserve and pay for 3 nights in a federally approved hotel to quarantine at upon arrival into Canada. Note: The hotel must be near whichever airport you are arriving into from outside of Canada.
    2. Submit your quarantine plan through the ArriveCAN mobile app before boarding your flight back to Canada.
    3. Register for mandatory COVID-19 testing (up to 5 days before arrival). All international travellers arriving at the Calgary Airport will be tested at the airport upon clearing customs.
    4. Upon arriving at the airport, provide the Government of Canada basic information using the traveller contact information form, available through the ArriveCAN mobile app.
    5. Get tested at the airport and proceed to your reserved hotel room.
    6. Quarantine in your hotel room for 3 nights while you await the results of your COVID-19 test.
    7. After your entire travelling party receives their negative test results, proceed to your home or quarantine location to complete the remainder of the 14-day quarantine period.
    8. On the eighth day after arriving in Canada, you must leave quarantine to complete a second COVID-19 test at a participating pharmacy. If you are not close to a participating pharmacy, you will receive a self-testing kit at the airport, which must be completed and returned.
    9. If you have no symptoms and your second test result comes back negative, you may exit quarantine after 14 days.
  • Steps to follow if arriving at the Coutts land-border crossing
    1. Submit your quarantine plan through the ArriveCAN mobile app before arriving at the border.
    2. Upon arriving at the border, provide the Government of Canada basic information using the traveller contact information form, available through the ArriveCAN mobile app.
    3. Get tested at the border. You will also receive a self-testing kit to use on the tenth day of quarantine.
    4. Proceed to your home or other quarantine location to quarantine for 14 days.
    5. On the eighth day after arriving into Canada, you must complete your second COVID-19 test using the self-testing kit.
    6. If you have no symptoms and your second test result comes back negative, you may exit quarantine after 14 days.

Travel within Canada

Outside Alberta

Travellers to other provinces or territories may be subject to additional restrictions and health measures at their final destination. Please check with local authorities before leaving Alberta.

Inside Alberta

Travelling within Alberta is allowed, but please do it safely:

  • follow physical distancing and gathering restrictions
  • take all necessary precautions to protect your health and the health of others
  • download and use the mobile contact tracing app while out in public

Flights with confirmed cases

Recent passengers on domestic and international airlines should monitor the Government of Canada list of flights that have confirmed COVID-19 cases and follow instructions if affected.

Industry exemptions

Travel restriction exemptions are available for specific sectors to download and use. If your industry is not represented, exemptions are assessed on a case-by-case basis using a submission checklist (PDF, 48 KB) that outlines the required information for efficient reviews.

At this time, the following professions have approved exemptions:

  • pilots
  • flight attendants
  • commercial carriers
  • select industry sectors
  • approved worksites granted a Quality of Life exemption, which can be applied for through the case-by-case review process/submission checklist

Compassionate exemptions

The federal government has recently launched a compassionate exemption online application process for critical visitation, critical support and end of life ceremonies

Once you receive federal approval, you qualify for a provincial compassionate exemption. There are some requirements to follow in the exemption as well as information on how to use it.

There are two types of compassionate exemptions, one for critical and end of life visitation and one for attendance at a celebration of life or funeral.

  1. Compassionate exemption for the purposes of being present during the final moments of life for a loved one or to support someone who is critically ill.
  2. Attendance at a funeral service or end of life ceremony.

Enforcement

If you violate a public health order:

  • you may be subject to a $2,000 fine
  • you can be prosecuted for up to $100,000 for a first offence
  • you may get a ticket at the time of an incident or post-infraction – someone who isn’t charged immediately may receive a ticket after authorities do further investigation

Unpaid fines are backstopped with fine collection actions and restrictions on registry services. You may have to pay your outstanding fine before you can renew your driver’s licence. Repeat offenders will be targeted with a new multi-agency enforcement framework.

If you are concerned someone is not following public health orders, you can:

  • remind them that not following orders is against the law and puts people at risk
  • request service from AHS public health inspectors online or call 1-833-415-9179

Submit a request online

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