During the pandemic, the Government of Canada continues to advise against non-essential international travel. Some Canadians intend to travel outside Canada despite the travel advisories or for essential reasons.

Here are some important things you should consider before deciding to travel outside the country.

Leaving for your destination

While driving across the border is currently prohibited for non-essential purposes, commercial flights continue to be available for out of country destinations, and some Canadians are chartering private planes. By flying private, you are able to bypass airport security lines and busy boarding gates, limiting your exposure to others. Most private charter companies require all passengers to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test before take-off.

Your destination will likely require you (or anyone travelling with you over the age of 2 years) to have received a negative pre-departure test result for COVID-19.

Keep in mind the ‘three and three’ rule:

  • you will need to take the test no more than three calendar days preceding your flight, or
  • if you have had COVID-19, it must not have been within the last three months (and you must be cleared for travel by your physician).

Travel destinations now requiring testing include the U.S., U.K., Ireland and France.

You may face additional travel limitations if you have travelled to other destinations in the 14 days prior to leaving. Many countries will not allow you to enter their border if you have had recent travel to the People’s Republic of China, Islamic Republic of Iran, the Schengen Area (26 European states that have officially removed border control at their mutual borders), the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland or Federative Republic of Brazil.

On arrival to your destination, even with a negative COVID-19 test, many countries require all travelers to complete a mandatory 10- or 14-day quarantine.

Be sure to check with your travel advisor or airline 5 days before, 24 hours before and the day of your flight to ensure you are fully informed.

When you arrive home

In addition to the existing mandatory 14-day quarantine after you arrive, pre-departure COVID-19 testing and negative results are required for all air travelers coming to Canada.

All travelers aged 5+ must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of boarding their flight to Canada. Failure to do so will result in a denial of boarding.

This may be inconvenient or frustrating when you are travelling back to Canada but it has been put in place to help protect the health of all Canadians in this rapidly changing pandemic situation that remains unpredictable.

Travel insurance is vital to help keep safe

There are things that can always go wrong when you travel – broken hips, car accidents, stroke, or heart attack – and that’s why you need travel insurance. A big concern when you travel abroad is not the plane or getting COVID on the plane, but accessing healthcare when you are in another country for any emergency medical care you may need.

When you travel out of the country, many emergency medical expenses are not covered by provincial health insurance plans. If you do experience a misadventure on your trip, Emergency Medical Insurance covers hospital and doctors’ fees, prescriptions, emergency dental care, and even the return of an accompanying pet.

But remember, while you can get emergency medical travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage, you may or may not be covered for possible adverse reactions from a vaccine taken while you are out of Canada as the shots are considered elective.

The good news is your travel insurer will deal with the co-ordination and details of your emergency care so you don’t have to.

Here are important links to the advice of experts when you make your out of country travel and travel insurance decisions

Canadian Insurance Industry

Government of Canada

SBIS

SBIS will help make sure your travel medical needs are covered

Packages are available for Emergency Medical coverage for every member of your family. You can also purchase All-Inclusive insurance coverage for Emergency Medical, Trip Cancellation and Interruption, Baggage Loss, Damage and Delay, and Flight and Travel Accidents. Also, for Canadians traveling within the country, insurance coverage is available at very competitive rates.

If you require any assistance at any time in the travel insurance purchase process, you may call us at 1-800-667-0429 during our regular business hours, or email us at general@sbis.ca for prompt service at any time.