Children or dependents
Unvaccinated children under 12 years of
age
If you qualify as a fully vaccinated
traveller, your unvaccinated children must follow
specific requirements when you return to or enter Canada. This
applies to unvaccinated children under 12 years of age who are accompanying a
parent, step-parent, guardian or tutor who qualified as a fully vaccinated traveller
when they entered Canada.
Unvaccinated children under 12 must complete pre-entry, arrival and Day-8 tests, unless you have evidence that the child had a positive COVID-19 test taken 14 to 180 days prior to arrival in Canada or the child is under 5 years of age.
For the next 14 days, the children must also:
- not attend school, camp or daycare
- not attend large or crowded settings, indoors or outdoors, such as an amusement park or sporting event
- not take buses, subways, trains or other crowded transportation
- not attend a setting where they may have contact with vulnerable people (e.g. long term care facility), including people who are immunocompromised, regardless of that person’s vaccination status or public health measures
- stay in a place that allows the child to avoid all contact with any person that:
- has an underlying medical condition that makes the person susceptible to complications related to COVID-19
- has a compromised immune system from a medical condition or treatment; or
- is 65 years of age or older
- limit contact with others:
- remain with their fully vaccinated parent or guardian, as much as possible
- wear a mask and physically distance when in contact with non-household members
What your child can do for the next 14 days, as long as they wear a mask and physically distance from non-household members:
- visit uncrowded public settings such as parks, beaches or going for a walk
- gather outdoors on your own property with people from multiple households
- gather with a small group of people from outside the household who are all known to be fully vaccinated
- take uncrowded public transportation such as a taxi, or rideshare provided masks are worn at all times by all parties
- accompany you to essential settings such as a grocery store or pharmacy
For 14 days following entry into Canada, you and any unvaccinated children under the age of 12 who travelled with you must:
- maintain a list of the names and contact information of each person with whom the child came into close contact and a list of locations visited
- wear a well-constructed, well-fitting mask in public settings
- keep a copy of the following and provide them on request to the Government of Canada or government of the province or territory where you are located, or to the local public health authority:
- all COVID-19 pre-arrival test results
- all on-arrival COVID-19 test results
- monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. If the child develops signs or symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19, you must immediately:
- isolate them for 10 days in a designated area of the home that can ensure minimal contact with other household members
- contact the appropriate public health authority, as specified below, and follow their instructions
- report it immediately to the Public Health Agency of Canada by calling 1-833-641-0343. A Public Health Agency of Canada official will provide you with additional details and instructions
- follow all local public health requirements
If the child receives an indeterminate or invalid test result, they are required to take another test. Please contact your testing provider within 24 hours of receiving your test result to make arrangements to complete another self-swab kit.
Common signs and symptoms of COVID-19
Youth aged 12 to 17 years of age Unvaccinated adult dependents
ArriveCAN: If your submission includes travellers who are not exempt from the requirement to quarantine (e.g., unvaccinated 12 to 17 year olds or unvaccinated dependent adults), you will receive ArriveCAN notifications and will be asked to complete daily reporting for the unvaccinated travellers.
Testing positive or possible exposure within 14 days of your entry to Canada
Monitor for symptoms for at least 14 days after your arrival. If you start having COVID-19 symptoms you must immediately:
- contact the local public health authority and follow their directions, including isolation
- report symptoms to PHAC by calling 1-833-641-0343
You must provide proof of your test results, if asked, to any federal, provincial, territorial or municipal government official or peace officer.