Starting August 9, fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents living in and coming directly from the U.S will be allowed to enter Canada. As of September 7, fully vaccinated travellers from any country will be allowed.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been enhancing existing measures and implementing new initiatives and processes that will ensure you will remain safe and healthy while travelling through the airport.
As the number of travellers begins to increase, you may experience delays related to passenger processing, as a result of an increased need for physical distancing, as well as new and longer requirements for processing due to additional questions and scans.
On departure, this may lead to longer wait times to check-in or pass through security screening. On arrival, passengers may experience longer than normal waits after deplaning, caused by reduced customs hall capacity to maintain distancing and more detailed examination of documents. We appreciate your patience during this time, as these new processes are in place to allow the airport community to continue working safely.
Policies in effect
Starting July 5, 2021, there are exemptions for fully vaccinated travellers to Canada who meet specific conditions. You may qualify for certain exemptions to federal quarantine and testing requirements if you:
Are eligible to enter Canada
Are asymptomatic
Meet the Government of Canada requirements of fully vaccinated travellers
Meet all other entry requirements, including entering your information in the ArriveCAN mobile app before arrival
Those who meet the requirements may be exempt from:
The following airport policies are currently in place for all travellers and employees, regardless of vaccination status:
To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, all passengers and airport employees must wear a mask at all times. This includes the pre- and post-security screening areas of the terminals, parking facilities, inter-terminal train, sidewalks/curbs outside the terminals and other outdoor public areas.
Terminal access is restricted to passengers who are travelling on the same day, passengers on layover for more than a day and airport employees on duty. Meeters and greeters or those dropping friends and loved ones off at the airport are not permitted to enter the terminals.
When arriving at Toronto Pearson, please exit the terminal buildings immediately upon collecting your bags from the baggage carousel.
As always, follow in-terminal signage and maintain a safe physical distance whenever possible.
There are exceptions to these airport policies. You will not be required to wear a mask if:
You are under the age of two
You are unable to remove a mask without assistance
You have a medical condition that prevents you from wearing a mask. In this case, you are exempt from the rule provided you have a note from a licensed medical professional that certifies that you are unable to wear a mask for medical reasons. If asked by GTAA Public Safety Officer, Peel Regional Police or a CATSA screening officer, we suggest letting them know that you have a medical condition.
You are dining at food and beverage locations
If you are not travelling, you may still enter the public areas of the terminal buildings if:
You are a friend or family member of someone who requires mobility assistance
You are accompanying a minor who is travelling alone
If you’re waiting to pick up a friend or family member, our convenient cell phone waiting areas are a great option. You can also book a free Express Pass, which allows up to 18 minutes of free parking in the Terminal 1 and 3 covered garages for picking up or dropping off passengers. If you choose the Express Pass option, please ensure you communicate your parking level and parking space to your arriving party.
What’s your travel journey?
If you’re planning on travelling through Pearson in the near future, here’s what you can expect along each of the major touchpoints of your airport journey:
For your safety, masks are mandatory for all passengers and airport employees in all terminal spaces.
Hand sanitizer stations are located throughout the check-in lobby. Please sanitize or wash your hands regularly.
Terminal access is restricted to passengers with a boarding pass or itinerary for same day travel and airport employees only.
Baggage carts are sanitized before every use using disinfecting spray and a commercial UV-C light-based cleaning device.
Kiosks, check-in counters and baggage drops are cleaned throughout the day and disinfected regularly.
To make your experience easier, touchless self-serve check-in kiosks and automated baggage drops are available in both terminals, which allow you to move quickly and seamlessly from the curb to security.
You can check-in online from home to speed the process, then use one of our touchless kiosks in the check-in lobby if you have bags to drop-off.
We’ve extended our check-in queues with floor decals in place. Please maintain a safe distance from others whenever possible.
Hand sanitizer stations are located throughout the check-in lobby. Please sanitize or wash your hands regularly.
Plexiglass barriers are being installed for a safer check-in experience.
Touchless Priority lines will be available in July, enabling Priority passengers to quickly scan their documents and proceed through check-in without meeting with an airline representative for document verification.
At the time of check-in, passengers should be prepared for extra questions and document requirements from their airline. Be sure to confirm with your airline what the specific requirements are for your destination.
Health declaration, which is dependent on your end-destination’s requirements.
Proof of negative COVID-19 test result. Many countries require a negative test result to enter. You can schedule a test on-site at the airport or find a provider closer to home. Confirm what kind of test you need, as PCR and antigen test results are not interchangeable, and tests must be taken with a set period of time.
Your travel destination may have requirements that are specific to the local government. Be sure to research this in advance of getting to the airport and come prepared, as some documentation may take time to collect.
Masks are mandatory for all passengers moving through the security process.
We’ve extended our queues to allow for physical distancing. Please maintain a safe distance from others whenever possible.
Before entering the queue for security screening, your temperature will be taken using a thermal imaging camera. To complete the reading, a CATSA screening officer will direct you to stand in front of the camera station momentarily, before directing you to the security screening queue.
Bins are wiped down and disinfected by CATSA staff after being used and before being put back into circulation.
Hand sanitizer stations are located immediately after the screening process. Please sanitize your hands regularly.
For your safety, masks are mandatory for all passengers and airport employees in all terminal spaces, with the exception of those dining at food and beverage locations.
Please maintain a safe physical distance from others whenever possible.
Hand sanitizer stations are located throughout the airport. Please sanitize or wash your hands regularly.
To comply with public health guidelines on physical distancing, tables and chairs have been removed or appropriately spaced at food and beverage locations, with only take-out being offered at the majority of locations.
You can shop the airport’s retail and dining options using various touchless alternatives, including Uber Eats food ordering from in-terminal restaurants and Reserve & Collect shopping from duty free and other retail outlets.
To make your experience easier, you can order and pay from your own device where available, using QR code menus and mobile phone payments.
We perform continuous and enhanced cleaning in the terminals, including bathrooms, escalators, moving sidewalks and other high-contact areas.
At all restaurants and retail locations, payment pin-pads are wiped after each customer transaction.
Download the Canada Border Service Agency’s ArriveCAN app before departing to make your return trip easier. Passengers arriving in Canada must use ArriveCAN to submit a quarantine plan, proof of vaccination, COVID-19 test information (if applicable), as well as contact information and travel history.
Canadian citizens, permanent residents and others already eligible to enter Canada and who are fully vaccinated with a Health Canada-approved vaccine won’t have to go to a mandatory hotel, quarantine or complete a Day 8 test, but will still need COVID-19 tests before they leave for Canada and once they arrive.
In your ArriveCAN proof of vaccine submission, you must provide the following information. Also bring a paper or digital copy of your proof of vaccination.
Details of your first dose (date, country and vaccine you received)
Details of your second dose if one was required (i.e., for Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines)
Photo(s) or PDF file(s) of the record of your vaccination(s), such as receipts or confirmations from the vaccinating organization. These must be in English, French, or a certified translation into English or French.
Note: These are requirements set out by the Government of Canada. This webpage is updated based on changes to regulations by the government. We suggest you confirm this on travel.gc.ca for the latest information.
Unvaccinated or partially-vaccinated travellers eligible to enter Canada will still be required to quarantine in a Government Authorized Accommodation (GAA) after landing, until receiving the results of their arrivals test. GAA reservations can be made on the federal government’s website and must be booked before or upon arrival into Canada
Kiosks are cleaned regularly throughout the day. Baggage carts are sanitized before every use and plexiglass barriers are being installed for a safer airport experience.
Touchless NEXUS kiosks help to make your travel journey faster, by allowing you to scan documents and verify your identity automatically before proceeding onward.
Baggage carousels have floor decals in place. Please maintain a safe distance from others whenever possible.
Arrivals COVID-19 testing is mandatory for all travellers entering Canada regardless of vaccination status. You can register for your test in advance of travelling. At Toronto Pearson, mandatory arrivals testing is available at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, administered by Switch Health.
Hand sanitizer stations are located throughout the baggage reclaim area. For your safety, please sanitize or wash your hands regularly.
For your safety, masks are mandatory for all passengers and airport employees in all terminal spaces, as well as in taxis, limousines and ride app cars.
Protective plexiglass barriers have been installed in over 600 airport taxis and limos to enhance the safety of passenger and drivers.
Terminal access is restricted to passengers and airport employees only. If you’re waiting to pick up a friend or family member, we ask that you remain outside of the terminal.
To help you understand the rules in your destination country and do your part to stop the spread of COVID-19, you can use a third-party service, such as the interactive maps from Destination Canada (domestic travel) or Sherpa (international travel). These websites are not maintained by Toronto Pearson, so we recommend confirming these requirements with official resources, as well.
