Canada's Global Travel Advisory Has Changed & Here's What It Means For Your 2022 Vacation

The federal government recently updated Canada's travel restrictions and it's good news for those who have a vacation planned during the upcoming spring season.

On Monday, February 28, the feds lifted Canada's non-essential global travel advisory that had been in place since December 2021.

It means Canadians will now be asked to "exercise a high degree of caution" while on vacation overseas, rather than being urged to avoid travelling abroad altogether. They'll also be urged to "monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities."

Previously the government recommended against any non-essential trips abroad due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19. While it was advice rather than a set rule, the level 3 advisory warned that "your safety and security could be at risk."

Canadian travellers are now likely to face less obstacles when taking vacations abroad, particularly when it comes to travel insurance and appropriate coverage.

Thanks to the changes to testing, the cost of going overseas could also become cheaper as newly-accepted rapid antigen tests often cost less than PCR tests.

While officials did announce a shift down to level 2, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos asked Canadians to be cautious when planning a holiday.

"I want to underscore that Canadians should still exercise caution when travelling abroad. There is still the real risk of becoming sick or stranded while abroad," he said during a press conference in mid-February.

He added that people may still "find themselves in need of medical assistance should they test positive for COVID-19 while travelling abroad."

Duclos went on to say that there is a "continued risk" that border rules could change at any time, noting that the updates are "transitory" rather than "permanent" and will be reassessed in the coming weeks and months.

Ultimately, Canadians and residents have always been permitted to leave Canada if they wanted to — regardless of their reason for doing so. However, this update will certainly make international travel easier.

Unvaccinated people will still be required to get tested upon arrival into the country and must quarantine for two weeks.

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.