Travelling outside of Canada

[Incogneto]

I used to travel quite a bit for work, but its obviously been a while now....

I am doing my first out-of-Canada trip mid-September.

What do I need to know for getting back into Canada? Do I just take the form that says I got my Vaccine?

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Incogneto

I used to travel quite a bit for work, but its obviously been a while now....

I am doing my first out-of-Canada trip mid-September.

What do I need to know for getting back into Canada? Do I just take the form that says I got my Vaccine?

You need to download the arrivecan app and fill out the form before customs.

I believe you will also still need to get a PCR test no more than 72 hours before you come back.

[Incogneto]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

You need to download the arrivecan app and fill out the form before customs.

I believe you will also still need to get a PCR test no more than 72 hours before you come back.

so I need to get a PCR test in the US while I am gone?

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Incogneto

so I need to get a PCR test in the US while I am gone?

Yes. Unless your trip is less than 72 hours. Then you can get a pcr test here 72 hours before your return and those results would still count.

See: https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/tr...try-vaccinated

For the requirements for vaccinated travellers.

[Sliver]

BTW, finding a PCR test down there with rapid results is a total PITA. There are many "rapid tests" with the results promised within 72 hours, which doesn't give you a lot of confidence since you need the results before 72 hours. Their promise leaves absolutely no wiggle room.

Also, basically all the rapid tests with rapid results down there are antigen tests, which the Canadian border will not accept. It needs to be PCR.

I almost got stuck in the USA last week. Driving from Arizona through Utah, Idaho and Montana we had an almost-impossible time finding a rapid PCR test. We had some high-up border guy in New Brunswick trying to help as well as the fataing Canadian Consul out of Houston. Finally, in some weird town in Idaho we found a place that still had the 72-hour wait for results, but some lady there took pity on us and rushed the results through the lab. We got them back an hour before getting to the border.

I think if you fly there are tests available at the airport. The only rapid PCR test I could find in Utah was in the airport, but it was after security, so didn't help us as we were driving.

It was good we had the PCR test results at the border. It's non-negotiable that you need it. I did grab an antigen test in Utah on the way back in case we were totally unable to find the PCR test the border required, but it wouldn't have mattered. The border guy said it was PCR test or nothing.

Also, bizaro86 is definitely correct on the arriveCan app thing. I didn't have that and somehow missed that I needed it despite having a ton of documentation that legitimized my trip. Then, there was a weird cell service thing going on at the border. Full reception for a minute, then zero. Full reception, then zero. I truly believe the American side was pulsing some sort of jammer. Never seen anything like it. Anyway, so we couldn't download the app. I asked the border guard if I could drive back to a town in the States to get reception. No. Okay, can I have a guest WiFi from the Canadian side. No. Can I drive into Canada to get reception. No. Okay, then what the fata do you want me to do? Turns out he wanted me to sit in no man's land for literally one hour before he was just like, don't worry about, I'll just override it.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Incogneto

I used to travel quite a bit for work, but its obviously been a while now....

I am doing my first out-of-Canada trip mid-September.

What do I need to know for getting back into Canada? Do I just take the form that says I got my Vaccine?

Only other thing I have read anecdotally is the 72hr PCR test can be challenging to coordinate if you are returning from overseas and the trip takes longer. The challenge of meeting multiple countries testing rules if your trip involves layovers can make it tough to fit everything into a 72hr window.

For example, the guy I was reading about was returning to Australia from the Caribbean, transiting the US and Middle East on the way. Needed a test to enter the US but by the time he arrived in Australia it would have expired (longer than 72 hours). And finding another one while in transit when you had connection time restrictions really complicated the matter.

[Incogneto]

ok. So what I am hearing is that flying in from JUST the US, I should be able to be tested at the airport, and I need to use the app.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Incogneto

ok. So what I am hearing is that flying in from JUST the US, I should be able to be tested at the airport, and I need to use the app.

I wouldn't leave it to the airport.

If you book in advance, you can get a free test from Frys or Walgreens. And you'll get the results in less than 24 hours usually. But you can't walk in, or try to book same day - book in advance.

It's a lot less stress at the airport if you have your test already

[JBR]

Originally Posted by Incogneto

ok. So what I am hearing is that flying in from JUST the US, I should be able to be tested at the airport, and I need to use the app.

Just depends where you are going. We flew back from Arizona in July. Fairly easy to book a PCR test at Walgreen's or CVS within 72 hours. We got results in 24 hours. No cost.

[MegaErtz]

Originally Posted by Sliver

BTW, finding a PCR test down there with rapid results is a total PITA. There are many "rapid tests" with the results promised within 72 hours, which doesn't give you a lot of confidence since you need the results before 72 hours. Their promise leaves absolutely no wiggle room.

Also, basically all the rapid tests with rapid results down there are antigen tests, which the Canadian border will not accept. It needs to be PCR.

I almost got stuck in the USA last week. Driving from Arizona through Utah, Idaho and Montana we had an almost-impossible time finding a rapid PCR test. We had some high-up border guy in New Brunswick trying to help as well as the fataing Canadian Consul out of Houston. Finally, in some weird town in Idaho we found a place that still had the 72-hour wait for results, but some lady there took pity on us and rushed the results through the lab. We got them back an hour before getting to the border.

I think if you fly there are tests available at the airport. The only rapid PCR test I could find in Utah was in the airport, but it was after security, so didn't help us as we were driving.

It was good we had the PCR test results at the border. It's non-negotiable that you need it. I did grab an antigen test in Utah on the way back in case we were totally unable to find the PCR test the border required, but it wouldn't have mattered. The border guy said it was PCR test or nothing.

Also, bizaro86 is definitely correct on the arriveCan app thing. I didn't have that and somehow missed that I needed it despite having a ton of documentation that legitimized my trip. Then, there was a weird cell service thing going on at the border. Full reception for a minute, then zero. Full reception, then zero. I truly believe the American side was pulsing some sort of jammer. Never seen anything like it. Anyway, so we couldn't download the app. I asked the border guard if I could drive back to a town in the States to get reception. No. Okay, can I have a guest WiFi from the Canadian side. No. Can I drive into Canada to get reception. No. Okay, then what the fata do you want me to do? Turns out he wanted me to sit in no man's land for literally one hour before he was just like, don't worry about, I'll just override it.

I experienced the exact same thing at the Sweetgrass/Coutts border recently, but I'm not sure what leads you to believe the Americans are jamming the signal. I thought it was an issue with the Canadians jamming the signal as I had no problems whatsoever on the American side.

[bizaro86]

NAAT tests are also acceptable, and are cheaper in some places.

[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by Sliver

BTW, finding a PCR test down there with rapid results is a total PITA. There are many "rapid tests" with the results promised within 72 hours, which doesn't give you a lot of confidence since you need the results before 72 hours. Their promise leaves absolutely no wiggle room.

Also, basically all the rapid tests with rapid results down there are antigen tests, which the Canadian border will not accept. It needs to be PCR.

I almost got stuck in the USA last week. Driving from Arizona through Utah, Idaho and Montana we had an almost-impossible time finding a rapid PCR test. We had some high-up border guy in New Brunswick trying to help as well as the fataing Canadian Consul out of Houston. Finally, in some weird town in Idaho we found a place that still had the 72-hour wait for results, but some lady there took pity on us and rushed the results through the lab. We got them back an hour before getting to the border.

I think if you fly there are tests available at the airport. The only rapid PCR test I could find in Utah was in the airport, but it was after security, so didn't help us as we were driving.

It was good we had the PCR test results at the border. It's non-negotiable that you need it. I did grab an antigen test in Utah on the way back in case we were totally unable to find the PCR test the border required, but it wouldn't have mattered. The border guy said it was PCR test or nothing.

Also, bizaro86 is definitely correct on the arriveCan app thing. I didn't have that and somehow missed that I needed it despite having a ton of documentation that legitimized my trip. Then, there was a weird cell service thing going on at the border. Full reception for a minute, then zero. Full reception, then zero. I truly believe the American side was pulsing some sort of jammer. Never seen anything like it. Anyway, so we couldn't download the app. I asked the border guard if I could drive back to a town in the States to get reception. No. Okay, can I have a guest WiFi from the Canadian side. No. Can I drive into Canada to get reception. No. Okay, then what the fata do you want me to do? Turns out he wanted me to sit in no man's land for literally one hour before he was just like, don't worry about, I'll just override it.

This is why when the U.S border land border opens for all, people driving there and back are going to need more patience than I possess for the wait at the border.

So many Canadians are going to be unprepared and downright idiotic and bring the border to an absolute standstill. The waits will be longer than anything ever seen before by the power of 100.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by MegaErtz

I experienced the exact same thing at the Sweetgrass/Coutts border recently, but I'm not sure what leads you to believe the Americans are jamming the signal. I thought it was an issue with the Canadians jamming the signal as I had no problems whatsoever on the American side.

Dude, that's interesting because I didn't cross at Sweetgrass. My pulsing jammer was at a different crossing entirely.

I thought it was the American side because I asked the guard at the Canadian side of it was us and he said no. Could have been a lie, but you never know in this crazy world of state craft.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Dude, that's interesting because I didn't cross at Sweetgrass. My pulsing jammer was at a different crossing entirely.

I thought it was the American side because I asked the guard at the Canadian side of it was us and he said no. Could have been a lie, but you never know in this crazy world of state craft.

Did you drive into the US or fly in and drive back? I thought the land border was still closed to Canadians going to the US.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Did you drive into the US or fly in and drive back? I thought the land border was still closed to Canadians going to the US.

I believe you can only walk across the border, exiting Canada; can't drive.

[Sliver]

You can drive across the border if your travel is considered essential, which mine was. You need fairly extensive documentation to prove it's essential and we didn't see a single other Canadian plate the entire 8 days and 5000kms we drove, so it's definitely not easy or an option for the casual traveller.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Sliver

You can drive across the border if your travel is considered essential, which mine was. You need fairly extensive documentation to prove it's essential and we didn't see a single other Canadian plate the entire 8 days and 5000kms we drove, so it's definitely not easy or an option for the casual traveller.

Ah, makes sense.

[jar_e]

I’ve been twice now with the test requirements and had zero issues finding testing FWIW. My results were in 52 minutes and 3 hours in both instances. One was rural Michigan and the other was DC. Both through Walgreens, both the Rapid NAAT test and no cost.

[FlamesPuck12]

Where can you get a covid test in Calgary for traveling to the States?

The lab linked from AHS site (https://www.albertahealthservices.ca...Page17254.aspx) is charging $150 per test.

Any suggestions on a test that's cheaper than that?

[jg13]

Originally Posted by FlamesPuck12

Where can you get a covid test in Calgary for traveling to the States?

The lab linked from AHS site (https://www.albertahealthservices.ca...Page17254.aspx) is charging $150 per test.

Any suggestions on a test that's cheaper than that?

It's $150 if you tell them you're taking the test strictly to travel.

It's free if you tell them you have a slight new cough.

Both the tests $150 and free that they offer here are tests that the US will accept.

I know from first hand experience.