The restriction on direct flights to India will be lifted in Canada next week.

According to a press release, Indian air travelers will be able to return to Canada starting at midnight on September 27. Travelers will still be subject to public health obligations, such as testing and perhaps quarantine.

Additional safeguards will be in place for those arriving in India directly:

• Travelers must show documentation of a negative COVID-19 molecular test obtained from the certified Genestrings Laboratory at the Delhi airport within 18 hours of their direct flight to Canada’s planned departure.

• Prior to boarding, flight operators will verify that passengers have passed all required tests and that fully vaccinated passengers have uploaded their details to the ArriveCAN mobile app or website. Passengers who do not match these criteria will be denied boarding.

Three direct flights from India will arrive in Canada on September 22. To ensure that the new procedures are working, all passengers on these flights will be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival.

Travelers from India who take an intermediate route will still need a negative COVID-19 molecular test within 72 hours of departure before completing their journey to Canada once direct flights restart.

In April, Canada banned direct passenger and commercial flights between India and the United States due to high coronavirus levels in both nations. Only cargo, medical transfers, and military planes have been allowed to fly directly between the two countries since then.

Things to keep in mind before traveling to Canada during this period

On September 7, Canada opened its border to fully vaccinated tourists from all countries. Travelers must provide border authorities with a negative COVID-19 test and proof of vaccination with a vaccine that has been approved in Canada in order to qualify for the exemption from quarantine. Travelers should also have a 14-day quarantine plan in case of an emergency.

To input their personal and travel information, all visitors to Canada must utilize the ArriveCAN mobile or web application. They may not show any symptoms of the virus when they arrive at the border and give a negative COVID-19 test.

They must show that they are completely vaccinated with a Canada-approved vaccine such as Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, or Janssen if they want to be excused from quarantine or travel to Canada for a non-essential purpose (Johnston & Johnson).

Even if fully vaccinated, new arrivals must have a negative pre-arrival COVID-19 molecular test result, regardless of their country of origin. Upon arrival, travelers may be randomly selected to take a COVID-19 test.

Those who are not fully vaccinated will be permitted to enter Canada only for important reasons, such as work, family reunion, school, compassionate reasons, or immigration. Non-vaccinated Canadian citizens and permanent residents, as well as their families, will be allowed to enter; however, they may be required to quarantine at home.

Unvaccinated children under the age of 12 will be able to enter Canada without having to go through quarantine if accompanied by a parent or guardian who is fully vaccinated.

Non-vaccinated foreign nationals are not permitted to enter Canada. Temporary workers, international students, diplomats, and those who are going for a vital reason are among those who are permitted to enter Canada. If they are not fully vaccinated, these people must be quarantined for 14 days when they arrive.