“ArriveCan was originally created for the purposes of COVID-19 but it has technological capacity beyond that to really shrink the amount of time that is required when you’re getting screened at the border,” Mendicino said.
The federal government has hinted that ArriveCAN, originally intended to provide travel and public health information during the COVID-19 pandemic, may be kept beyond the pandemic.
The app was introduced during the pandemic to allow travelers to report their trips and vaccination status. Ottawa requires that travelers use the ArriveCan mobile app, or its desktop version, to submit their travel and COVID-19-related health information before arriving in Canada.
Canadian Public Health “They want the app. The government wants the app.”
An elderly 86 year old man who provided proof of his vaccination status is being detained by Canadian Public Health because he doesn't have a cell phone and is unable to use the ArriveCAN app. pic.twitter.com/j2pOXAQMI6
— Canadian Riley (@TiaRileyCanada) July 16, 2022
On June 30, the federal government announced that existing COVID-19 restrictions will be extended for travelers entering Canada until Sept. 30, including the use of the ArriveCAN app. Once travel and public health measures are no longer needed, ArriveCAN will continue to be available for those who choose digital interaction at the border.
A recent update to the app added the “optional” function to allow passengers arriving at Toronto Pearson and Vancouver International airports to submit their customs and immigration declaration prior to landing. This feature will be expanded to Montreal’s Trudeau International Airport later this summer and to other airports in the future.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said this feature was part of the government’s border modernization strategy that was already underway before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was added to ArriveCan because people are already familiar with this app.