Understanding how to travel is really not complicated for adults. For kids, it’s a little different since there are a few special rules in some countries, but it’s still not that complicated to learn if you take the time. Flytrippers is here to help you.
So here is a guide about travel rules for children specifically, by popular demand.
The basics of travel rules
Here is the infographic that summarizes how to travel (as explained in our ultimate guide to pandemic travel).
For any trip, no matter where you’re going, no matter if you’re going with kids or not, no matter ANYTHING…
… There are always just 2 simple steps:
- Follow the rules of entry for the places you are going to
- Follow the rules of entry for your return to Canada
So for the rules for children, I’m going to go one step at a time to keep it just as simple (and I’ve added the rules for adults as a reminder).
Step 1: Rules to enter other countries for children
Here are the specific details of these rules for children.
Overview of step 1 rules
Each country makes its own rules.
This is the most important thing to understand about travel rules, plain and simple.
Explanation
Travel rules are not harmonized in any country (not for children, not for anything):
- Some countries exempt all children from all requirements
- Some countries exempt children from testing requirements
- Some countries exempt children from quarantine requirements
- Some countries do not exempt children from any requirements at all
It depends on the country. Even the maximum age for exemptions, if any, also varies in each country.
And it will always be this way, since every country has always made its own rules (that has nothing to do with the pandemic at all).
You have no choice but to look at the entry rules of the countries to choose where you want to go anyway…
For the most popular country for Canadians, we have a detailed guide on how to travel to the United States that includes a section with the rules for children specifically (their rules for children are completely different from ours obviously).
For all other countries, you need to read the entry rules for Canadians on your own. Again, it is vital that you do this even for the rules for adults anyway.
Step 2: Rules to enter Canada for children
Here are the specific details of these rules for children.
Overview of step 2 rules
Children under the age of 5 traveling with someone who is vaccinated:
- No testing requirements
- No quarantine and no more special rules for school/daycare
- ArriveCAN app must be filled out
Children under the age of 5 NOT traveling with someone who is vaccinated:
- No testing requirements
- 14-day quarantine
- ArriveCAN app must be filled out
Children 5 to 12 years old who are vaccinated:
- No quarantine and no special rules for school
- ArriveCAN app must be filled out
- Random free arrival tests
- No isolation until results are received
Children 5 to 12 years old who are not vaccinated and traveling with someone who is vaccinated:
- No quarantine and no special rules for school
- ArriveCAN app must be filled out
- Random free arrival tests
- No isolation until results are received
Children 5 to 12 years old who are not vaccinated NOT traveling with someone who is vaccinated:
- Pre-entry test required
- Free tests upon arrival on Day 1 and Day 8
- 14-day quarantine
- ArriveCAN app must be filled out
Children over 12 years old who are vaccinated:
- ArriveCAN app must be filled out
- Random free arrival tests
- No isolation until results are received
Children over 12 years old who are NOT vaccinated:
- Pre-entry test required
- Free tests upon arrival on Day 1 and Day 8
- 14-day quarantine
- ArriveCAN app must be filled out
Adults who are vaccinated:
- ArriveCAN app must be filled out
- Random free arrival tests
- No isolation until results are received
Adults who are NOT vaccinated:
- Pre-entry test required
- Free tests upon arrival on Day 1 and Day 8
- 14-day quarantine
- ArriveCAN app must be filled out
Important distinction
Note that Canada’s entry rules do not include a special 4-month period to give kids some time to get vaccinated, unlike Canada’s now-lifted vaccination requirement to board a plane departing from the country that applied starting at the age of 12 years and 4 months.
Entry rules apply starting at 12 years old precisely, not starting at 12 years and 4 months.
Yes, both were rules by the government of Canada, but both had different definitions of what an exempt child is.
That’s why we keep telling you something very simple as a concept: ALL travel rules are completely separate and yet 90% of people mix everything up, unfortunately.
The rules to enter Canada had absolutely nothing to do with the rules to board a plane departing from Canada. Completely separate. And none of Canada’s rules have anything to do with other countries’ rules, obviously.
Special rules for school/daycare
No longer in effect.
Pre-entry test
This requirement is exactly the same for children or adults, except that those under 5 are exempt.
You can read our post about Canada’s pre-departure testing requirement and we’ll have many posts about COVID-19 tests for travel soon.
ArriveCAN application
It’s very simple, since answering a few questions is not very complicated. But it’s still mandatory. Parents can fill in just one form for the entire family.
I also shared an ultimate guide to Canada’s ArriveCAN app to give you every possible detail.
14-day quarantine
This is for those who are not vaccinated and it is exactly the same for the rare children who are not exempt.
You can read our section about Canada’s quarantine requirement, but it’s really not complicated to understand.
You cannot leave your home for 14 days. You cannot even use a shared hallway if you are in a shared building. Even if you test negative on both arrival tests.
In fact, in a way, you’d be better off testing positive on the Day 1 test: you’d only have 10 days of quarantine required instead of 14! That’s The Science™!
Arrival tests (vaccinated)
Arrival tests for vaccinated travelers are suspended until at least June 30th to try and alleviate the absolute mess Trudeau has created in Canadian airports.
The arrival test program is still ongoing, but your chances of being selected are very low.
You do not need to isolate yourself while awaiting the results.
The tests are free, or rather taxpayer-funded (like all COVID-19 tests in Canada that aren’t for travelers).
Arrival tests (unvaccinated)
The tests are free, or rather taxpayer-funded (like all COVID-19 tests in Canada that aren’t for travelers).
Children over the age of 5 who are unvaccinated do not have to do these tests, unless they are not traveling with a vaccinated parent.
You can read our section about Canada’s arrival test requirement, or you can watch my video showing how the Day 8 self-administered tests work.
Want to learn how to start traveling again?
Summary
Travel rules for children in Canada are very simple, as long as you just take the time to read them (like all other travel rules).
What would you like to know about travel rules for children? Tell us in the comments below.
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I”m trying to get clarification on 12 year olds. My child is 12yrs and 5 months at the time of travel and will be returning to Canada through a US land border. Do the 5-12 yr rules apply or the over 12? Will they need a pre-entry test and isolate upon return?
The rules for 5-12 are for *under 12*. As soon as a child hits 12, the over 12 rules apply. Pre-entry test and 14-day quarantine applies.
Hi Andrew:
This is very helpful. Thank you. Andrew, we are travelling to France in July, do you know of any restrictions to France? We are all tripled vaccinated. My daughter will be 12 and not yet 13 before returning to Canada, could I just add her to my ArriveCan app or should she get her own on her phone? Thanks again!
Hi, the entry rules for each country are here:
https://flytrippers.com/countries-canadians-can-travel-to/
For Canada yes you can all use the same ArriveCAN declaration if you live together 🙂
Hi, So unvaccinated child travelling with vaccinated parents from Canada to the US via land border crossing has no requirements, but coming back to Canada from the US (2 week trip) child & parents would have to take a molecular test 3 days prior to coming back into Canada and child would have to stay away from school for 14 days? Did I get that right? Do you know what the cost of a molecular test in the US would be or how easy they are to obtain? Thanks so much! this is so helpful! (travel isn’t until April so many things may change by then also)
Yes exactly, those are the current rules. As of now, in most states it’s easy to get a rapid molecular test for free at Walgreens (Rapid ID NOW test) and get results in a few hours. But in states where they only offer PCRs, it’s also free but it can be tight with the 72-hour deadline. Here are the details: https://flytrippers.com/getting-covid-19-test-usa-for-canadians/
If children ( I have girls who are 9 and 6) are fully vaccinated, do they still have to adhere to the rules like not attending school, camp or day care for 14 days after arrival back in Canada from the USA? If not what is required of them? We might go to the States at the end of March.
Hi, no thoses are only for unvaccinated children 🙂