Prepare your quarantine (self-isolation) plan

All travellers to Canada must quarantine upon arrival. UBC has a self-isolation program to help.

Your quarantine (self-isolation) plan

Anyone entering Canada must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, you will not be permitted to travel to or enter Canada. You will need to quarantine even if you have provided a negative COVID-19 molecular test result or have received a COVID-19 vaccine.

If you are flying to Canada on or after February 22, 2021, you must start your quarantine at a government approved hotel for 3 nights. It is critical that you pre-book your hotel in advance of travelling. You will then complete the remainder of the 14-day quarantine at your place of quarantine.

You are responsible for arranging your own quarantine plan, and you must satisfy the CBSA officer that you have made appropriate quarantine arrangements to enter Canada. You must submit your plan through the ArriveCAN app and bring documents relating to your quarantine plans and present them to the officer when you arrive.

You will also need to wear a non-medical mask or face covering on your flight and keep it on until you get to your place of isolation.

Your quarantine plan must consider:

  • The location of your 14-day quarantine
  • How you will travel to your quarantine location
  • Arrangements for your necessary support such as food, medication, child care, or cleaning supplies

If you are planning on bringing medication or health products with you, check that the quantity or type is not restricted. See tips on traveling with medication. 

If you require a prescription during self-isolation, you can request a phone appointment with a clinic, such as Student Health Service and University Village Medical and Dental Clinic (both accept iMED). Some pharmacies deliver prescriptions, such as University Pharmacy (accepts iMED), Pharmacy BC and London Drugs. 

Book your 3-night stay at a government-approved hotel

As of February 22, 2021, all air travellers will need to book a 3-night stay at a government-approved hotel in advance of departure to Canada to wait for your COVID-19 test results.  

You must book a government-approved hotel at your first place of arrival in Canada and will not be able to continue to your final destination until you have received a negative COVID-19 test result. If you get your negative test results before the 3-night booking is over, you can leave the hotel and proceed to your final place of quarantine sooner. 

Costs will vary and will include the costs associated with the room, food, clearning, infection prevention and control measures, security and transportation. Travellers will be responsible for covering these costs. 

Some travellers are exempt from the 3-night hotel stay, for example if you:

  • Have proof of a positive COVID-19 molecular test from 14 to 90 days prior to travel or 
  • Are under 18 years old and travelling alone.

See COVID-19 mandatory hotel stopover for details.

Register for your COVID-19 molecular test on arrival in Canada

Register for your COVID-19 molecular test at the airport or land border before you travel for faster processing.

If travelling by air, register at your first airport of arrival in Canada:

If arriving in Toronto, you will also be registered for your Day-8 COVID-19 test.

If travelling by land, register in advance of arriving at the border. The Douglas (Peace Arch) crossing has on-site testing. See arrival testing at the border for additional ports of entry with testing stations.

Create your quarantine plan for the remainder of the 14 days

When making your quarantine plan, carefully review and follow these guidelines:

See ordering food in self-isolation for helpful options and resources. 

Getting to your place of isolation from the hotel

You must go directly to your final place of quarantine without delay and wear a non-medical mask or face covering while you travel.  

For transportation options and guidelines, see YVR’s transportation information.

If you have questions about your quarantine plan

Contact Service BC for guidance—you can find their contact information on the right side of their page.

Submit your quarantine plan

After you’ve created your quarantine plan, you are required to submit your plan through the following forms:

  • ArriveCAN mobile app
    All travelers entering Canada must submit their quarantine plan through the ArriveCAN mobile app within 48 hours before arriving in Canada, including proof of reservation and payment for your 3-night booking in a government-approved hotel if flying to Canada. This can also give you faster processing at the airport upon arrival.

    After you have submitted your information be sure to save the receipt, such as a printout or screenshot of the app on your phone, as you might need to show this to airline staff before boarding a flight and will need to show this to a CBSA officer on arrival. If you will not have a working cell phone number, you should give the phone number of the government-approved hotel you’ve booked, then update your contact information.
  • British Columbia’s (BC) Self-Isolation form
    All travelers arriving in BC must submit their quarantine plan online before or after arriving in British Columbia.

UBC Self-isolation packages and resources

See tips and resources on how to self-isolate, access food, stay physically active and mentally healthy and more on UBC’s Self-Isolation Information website. 

If you need a place to live while you quarantine, UBC provides on-campus self-isolation packages that include accommodation, meals, as well as planning and self-care resources.  Off-campus options are also available.

You might be eligible for a subsidy for the UBC Self-Isolation Package.

See accommodation options

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