U.S./Canada Travel Restriction: Beginning January 5, COVID Test Required for Travellers from China
U.S. and Canada will implement a requirement for a negative COVID-19 test for travellers arriving from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macau regions.
On December 28, 2022, the U.S. announced that it will implement a requirement for a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery for air passengers boarding flights to the U.S. originating from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong and Macau regions.
On December 31, 2022, Canada also announced a temporary negative COVID-19 test requirement for travellers arriving from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macau regions.
This new requirement is aimed at slowing the spread of the COVID virus amid the surge of COVID cases in China. The new requirement is set to take effect at 12:01 ET on January 5, 2023.
What travellers are impacted?
Starting January 5, all air passengers travelling will be required to get an approved COVID test no more than 2 days before their departure from mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau and show a negative test result to the airline upon departure.
This new requirement will apply to all airline passengers two years and older travelling from mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau, regardless of nationality and vaccination status.
The requirement will also apply to individuals travelling from China via third-country transit and passengers connecting through the United States onward to further destinations.
Additional policy from the U.S.: The requirement will apply to passengers transiting Incheon International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, or Vancouver International Airport on their way to the United States if the traveller has been in China in the last ten days. According to the CDC, these three transit hubs cover the overwhelming majority of passengers with travel originating in the PRC, Hong Kong, and Macau.
Additional policy from Canada: Travellers will be questioned about recent trips to mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macao when they arrive at Primary Inspection Kiosks and eGates, or when they make a customs statement using the optional Advance CBSA Declaration before departing for Canadian airports. If so, officers from the Canada Border Services Agency will give them more public health information on COVID-19 transmission, personal protective measures, and what to do if symptoms appear. This only relates to air travellers; arrivals by land are not included.
Those travellers testing positive more than 10 days before their flight can provide documentation of recovery instead of a negative test result.
Passengers may meet the testing requirement through a PCR test or an antigen self-test administered by a telehealth service or a licensed provider and authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the relevant national authority.
Airlines must also confirm the negative COVID-19 test result or recovery documentation for all passengers before they board their flights.
