We talk in detail about the features of entering Canada in 2024: is it possible to get a visa, is it possible to enter the country, how to get there, what restrictions exist.
The pandemic and political situation have had their consequences on the conditions for entry into Canada. In this article we will talk about current restrictions and opportunities in 2024.
Canada lifts coronavirus restrictions
From October 1, 2022, all travelers, regardless of citizenship, will no longer need to:
- provide health information through the ArriveCAN app or website;
- provide a vaccination certificate;
- be tested before or upon arrival;
- carry out quarantine or isolation;
- Monitor and report signs or symptoms of COVID-19 upon arrival in Canada.
Is it possible to get a visa to Canada now?
Yes, there are no restrictions on applying for any type of visa.
Does Canada currently issue visas to Russians?
There is no suspension in accepting documents for a Canadian visa; their issuance continues.
After the February events in Ukraine, the processing time has increased, as the immigration service is aimed at quickly processing applications from Ukrainian citizens under the special CUAET program .
Does it make sense to apply for a visa now? If you know that you are definitely going to go to Canada, then yes. The earlier your application is submitted, the greater the chances of receiving a decision on it by the date you need. More details on the Canada visa 2024 page .
Is it possible to travel to Canada now?
Yes, there are no entry restrictions, including for Russians and citizens of CIS countries. The only thing is that you will have to fly to Canada with at least 1 transfer, and cheaper tickets require 3-4 transfers.
Good options for transfers are Turkey and Serbia , as tickets are available at reasonable prices, and a visa is not required for transit in these countries.
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Chronology of changes to entry features
At the end of 2020, entry into Canada required vaccination and a suitable purpose for the visit – tourists were prohibited from entering.
On January 15, 2022, restrictions on the purpose of travel were lifted; to fly to Canada you only need to be fully vaccinated.
Effective June 20, 2022, Canada has eliminated the vaccination requirement for domestic and international travel for Canadians. This definitely gives hope to foreigners too.
As of October 1, 2022, Canada has lifted coronavirus restrictions for all travelers regardless of citizenship.
What documents are needed to enter Canada?
To enter Canada, you only need a passport with a visa.
PCR test, vaccination and quarantine are not required.
Medical insurance is not required for a visa or entry into Canada, but having it will be a plus, since medicine in the country is expensive.
Documents for a minor child
The list of documents depends on who the child is traveling with.
One
- your own passport with a visa (the parent’s passport, which contains the child’s name, will not work);
- a copy of the birth certificate;
- a power of attorney from the parents in English or French, which contains the address, telephone number of the parents, and the name, address and telephone number of the adult who will accompany the child in Canada;
- notarized consent for the departure of a child for Russian border guards.
With one of the parents
- international passport with visa;
- a copy of the birth certificate;
- power of attorney in English or French from the parent who is not traveling with the child. Must include the address and telephone number of the remaining parent, as well as a copy of the signed passport.
With both parents
- international passport with visa.
How to travel to Canada now from Russia
Air traffic between Russia and Canada is closed, so to get to the country you will need to make at least 1 transfer. For flights from Russia, the most adequate option is Türkiye, Istanbul. You can also consider Abu Dhabi, UAE.
For a ticket with only 1 transfer you will need to pay more.
If you need tickets to Canada at a lower price, you need to consider options with at least 2-3 transfers.
Airfare to Canada now
Ticket prices vary depending on the city of your stay, transit country, and travel time.
Tickets must be looked at comprehensively: the city of the airport closest to you => transit country => city in Canada. In addition to price, other factors certainly influence, for example:
- availability of a transit country visa, if required;
- duration of the journey;
- duration of night and day transfers;
- the need to change the airport for a transfer;
- departure and arrival times (convenience of travel to and from the airport).
You can search for tickets yourself in a convenient aggregator .
How to bring money to Canada
If we are talking about a simple tourist or guest trip, then everything is simple – just take cash with you.
From Russia you can take no more than 10,000 USD per person; if you need more, then apply for a card from another country and use non-cash payment.
Please note that amounts over 10,000 CAD will need to be declared at the airport of arrival.
Russian cards: the former Visa and MasrterCard do not work in Canada, nor does the World. You can take a risk and take a Union Pay card from a Russian bank with you, but they are not accepted everywhere and it is not a fact that at some point they will not stop altogether.
While in Canada, you can apply for a local card and receive a transfer from a friend or relative via SWIFT, but in Russia it is now extremely poorly functioning. We wouldn’t count on this option.
The best way is to apply for a foreign bank card. Now there are many offers from Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Uzbek banks. When entrusting registration to third parties, be careful, as there are now many scammers in this area.
Coronavirus restrictions
The information below was relevant only until October 1, 2022. After all coronavirus restrictions have been lifted, you can safely enter Canada, all you need is a visa.
Vaccination
Not required now.
To be considered fully vaccinated, you must have at least 2 doses of an approved vaccine or 1 dose of Johnson & Johnson. The second dose must be given no earlier than 2 full weeks before arrival in Canada.
Vaccines approved in Canada
The following list is currently current:
- AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD (ChAdOx1-S, Vaxzevria, AZD1222);
- Bharat Biotech (Covaxin, BBV152 A, B, C);
- Janssen Jcovden (Johnson & Johnson, Ad26.COV2.S (JNJ-78436735));
- Medicago Covifenz;
- Moderna (Spikevax, mRNA-1273);
- Novavax (NVX-COV2373, Nuvaxovid, Covovax);
- Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2);
- Sinopharm BIBP (BBIBP-CorV);
- Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc).
Documentation of having had COVID-19 does not replace vaccination.
Sputnik-V and other Russian vaccines are not approved. If you receive a booster of an approved vaccine after two doses of Sputnik, you will also not be considered fully vaccinated.
PCR test before departure and upon arrival
Not required now.
There is no requirement to take a test before flying to Canada.
You must still register in the ArriveCAN app within 72 hours before departure. We will tell you more about registration below.
Upon arrival in Canada, a system is used to randomly select candidates for the test. If you are selected, you will receive an email to the email address provided in ArriveCAN within 15 minutes of clearing customs. They will indicate where and when you need to take the test.
Quarantine requirements
Not required now.
Quarantine is not required in most cases. You may be required to quarantine if:
- test positive for Covid-19;
- you did not provide information to ArriveCAN in a timely manner.
ArriveCAN
Not required now.
Although many restrictions have already been lifted, the requirement to provide information in the ArriveCAN application remains mandatory.
You can also create an account and enter data via computer , then you will need to print the result and take it with you.
Information must be sent no later than 72 hours before travel.
If you forget or ignore the requirement, you may be fined 5,000 CAD.
Requirements for a vaccination certificate
To upload a certificate to the ArriveCAN application, you need to make sure that it meets the requirements:
- is official;
- contains:
- your name (as in your passport);
- name of the organization that performed the vaccination;
- name of the vaccine;
- date(s) of vaccination;
- must be in English or French, or in another language with a translation into English or French (certification from a translation agency is sufficient).
You cannot provide just a QR code, a full certificate is required.
Is it possible to travel to Canada now: summary information
Below we summarize the information from the article:
- you can fly to Canada;
- You can apply for a visa, the acceptance of documents has not been suspended;
- visas are issued, but processing times are extended;
- coronavirus restrictions have been lifted;
- no vaccination required;
- There are no direct flights from Russia to Canada, you need to fly in transit;
- You can take out a maximum of 10,000 USD from Russia; if you need more funds, apply for a foreign card that will work in Canada.