Travel Alert: Negative COVID-19 Test To Be Required To Enter Canada By Land

Canadian citizens working in the U.S. under TN visa status may soon be required to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test when seeking entry to Canada by land in order to renew or extend their TN visa status at the U.S. land port-of-entry.

According to Prime Minister Trudeau in an announcement today, a Covid-19 testing requirement for entry into Canada by land will go into effect February 15, 2021. While Canadian border officers cannot deny entry to Canadian citizens without proof of a negative test, the prime minister stated, such individuals could face fines of up to $3,000. It is unclear if the testing requirement will apply to Canadian citizens who are only entering Canada to U-turn in order to seek re-entry to the U.S. for purposes of renewing their TN visa status (i.e. flagpoling).

Canadian citizens already must provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test in order to travel by air to Canada. Such air travelers will also have to undergo quarantine requirements at government approved hotels in the near future.

Note: Canadians may not be able to use the same test to enter Canada as planned to use for entry to the U.S. by air. Canada requires a molecular test such as PCR or LAMP, but they do not accept the antigen test, which is accepted by the U.S. (Covid testing is currently only required for entry by air to the U.S.)

Canadian citizens who want to avoid these new travel requirements when renewing their TN visa status may request that their employers file an I-129 petition for an extension of their TN visa status.