Need a COVID-19 Test Before Travelling Outside of Canada?

Many countries have testing requirements and only accept specific types of tests. It is important to plan and check for any health information, testing or other documentation required by your airline or travel destination. If you fail to follow your travel destination’s requirements, you may be denied entry and required to return home. Make sure that you receive your results before your flight departs and have documentation of your results to show the airline or border services officer.

The test must be performed using a COVID-19 molecular polymerase chain reaction (or PCR) test and must be taken within 72 hours prior to your scheduled departure to Canada. Keep a copy of your test results with you during travel in case you are asked for them. Do not travel if you test positive. Immediately self-isolate, contact your Primary Care Physician and follow public health recommendations.

For example, if a passenger’s flight is at 1pm on a Friday, the passenger could board with a negative test that was taken any time on the prior Tuesday or after.

As per the Government of Canada travel health and safety guidelines, all travellers who are entering Canada and 5 years or older, must provide a proof of a COVID-19 negative molecular test result or proof of a previous positive test result taken between 14 and 180 days. All travellers who are entering Canada can be eligible to enter as a fully vaccinated traveller, regardless of citizenship. Canadians must meet and follow the same entry requirements. Travellers who qualify as fully vaccinated will NOT have to go through an on-arrival testing process unless they are selected for a mandatory randomized test.
People who provide essential services or those who qualify for other exemptions from quarantine and Day-8 testing, do not need to be considered as fully vaccinated travellers to enter Canada. To check if you qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller, click here.

MedCare Diagnostics completes PCR Swab tests which tell you if you have COVID-19 within 24 to 72 hours of the specimen being tested.

Meira Cares charges $150.00 including tax per test. This will include the appointment for specimen collect and the test results emailed to you directly.

Contact us through the website or call us at 877-251-0077 and book to get tested by MedCare Diagnostics.

Meira Care aims to deliver your COVID-19 test results within 24 - 72 hours to the email address that you provided when you requested your appointment

The document you will receive within 24 to 72 hours from your test will include:

• Date of Appointment
• Date of Sample Collection
• Legal Name
• Date of Birth
• Nationality
• Gender
• Testing Methodology Performed
• Result
• Date and Time of Report
• Age
• Phone Number

If you have a positive test, you can schedule a consultation with a virtual doctor to review your results.

Appointments can be cancelled up until 24 hours before the patient’s appointment without a fee. Appointments cancelled within 24 hours will be charged a fee.

Isolate yourself from others if you have COVID-19 symptoms or may have been exposed to COVID-19. If you do not have symptoms and have not been exposed to COVID-19, continue to physical distance and monitor for symptoms while you wait for results.

• Stay home.
• Avoid contact with others. Keep a distance of at least 2 metres.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.
• If you cannot maintain a 2 metre distance from others wear a mask over your nose and mouth when around others.

If you feel sick during your flight or upon arrival:

• Seek medical attention.
• Look for messaging on airport screens to guide you.
• Inform the flight attendant or a border services officer.

14 days before you travel, it is recommended that you take everyday precautions such as wearing masks, social distancing, and handwashing/sanitizing.
Avoiding the following activities that put you at higher risk for COVID-19:

• Going to a large social gathering like a wedding, funeral, or party.
• Attending a mass gathering like a sporting event, concert, or parade.
• Being in crowds like in restaurants, bars, fitness centers, or movie theaters.
• Taking public transportation like planes, trains or buses or being in transportation hubs like airports.
• Traveling on a cruise ship or river boat.

All travellers who are entering Canada and 5 years or older, must provide a proof of a COVID-19 negative molecular test result or proof of a previous positive test result taken between 14 and 180 days. Currently, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), NAT (Nucleic Acid Test or NAATs (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test), RT-LAMP (Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification) are the accepted types of molecular tests. These tests use the nose swab, nasopharyngeal (NP), or saliva sample testing methods. Please be aware that Rapid Antigen Tests are currently NOT accepted.

If you have tested positive, then you must report your COVID-19 symptoms to PHAC by calling on 1-833-641-0343. Please contact your local public health authority and follow all isolation guidelines as informed by them. Sometimes you may also be asked to provide your proof of COVID-19 test results by any federal, provincial, territorial, or municipal government official or peace officer.