Atlantic travel

When will the Atlantic bubble reopen? Effective June 23, ’s borders are open to other Atlantic provinces. There are no requirements for people traveling from PEI or from Newfoundland and Labrador. People coming from have isolation requirements base on their vaccination status and testing until June 30.

Are Nova Scotians allowed into other Atlantic Canadian provinces? Why don’t all four provinces have the same rules? All four provinces are in regular contact about border policies and we’re all taking similar steps but ultimately each province needs to make its own decisions. You should check with other provinces about their border policies.

What do you need to do if you’re coming from PEI or from Newfoundland and Labrador? Effective June 23, people traveling from PEI or from Newfoundland and Labrador can enter Nova Scotia for any reason. They no longer have to self-isolate or complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in form. This includes Nova Scotians who go to these provinces and return. Vaccination and testing are encouraged but not required.

People who came from these provinces and are currently isolating in Nova Scotia can stop on June 23. They can unsubscribe from the daily check-in emails using the unsubscribe link in the email.

Adults (and children/youth traveling on their own) should be prepared to show border officials one or more of the following to prove that they live in PEI or Newfoundland or Labrador: • government-issued identification card • driver's license • passport • utility bill or bank statement that shows your permanent home address • Secure Certificate of Indian Status

What do you need to do if you’re coming from New Brunswick? People can now travel from New Brunswick for any reason. That includes Nova Scotians returning from New Brunswick. Starting June 30, they don’t have to isolate at all and don’t have to complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in – just like PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Up until June 30, people coming from New Brunswick who got two doses of an approved vaccine at least 14 days before arriving in Nova Scotia do not have to self-isolate at all but testing is still recommended. If they have one dose, they must isolate and get tested at least once before ending isolation on June 30. People with no doses also need to isolate until June 30 and testing is recommended for them.

Vaccines must be approved by the World Health Organization. Testing must be done in Nova Scotia, not in advance of arrival. Tests should be done on day 1-2, and again on day 5-6 if you have just one dose. It must be a standard PCR lab test which usually takes up to 72 hours to get results. Standard PCR lab tests are available to people who arrive by air at the Halifax airport as well as by appointment at testing sites

UPDATED: June 24, 2021 around the province. People cannot get a rapid test (the type that gives results in minutes) for the purposes of ending isolation earlier than 14 days.

Until June 30, people coming from New Brunswick need to complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in form. They should choose the New Brunswick option in the regular travel category – this includes post- secondary students, people moving to Nova Scotia, and people coming to their seasonal residence in Nova Scotia. Children need to be included on the form of the least vaccinated adult who they are traveling with and they follow the same isolation requirements as that adult.

They can upload their proof of vaccination into their Nova Scotia Safe Check-in form. They will receive automatic approval but it is conditional upon being able to show their proof of vaccination to border officials if asked.

Starting on their second day in Nova Scotia, people will start receiving daily check-in emails. On June 30, they can unsubscribe from the daily emails via the URL in the email.

What happens if you’ve done seven days of isolation but you haven’t received your second negative test result yet? This will not be an issue because people from New Brunswick can stop isolating on June 30, which is less than 7 days away. The second test is still recommended but not mandatory to leave isolation on June 30.

What if you got vaccinated less than 14 days before arriving in Nova Scotia or after you arrived? Can you still finish isolating early? No. People who receive a first or second dose of vaccine less than 14 days before they arrive in Nova Scotia cannot include that dose in their vaccination status. For example, a person who gets one dose less than 14 days before they arrive is considered to have no vaccination. A person who gets a second dose less than 14 days before they arrive is considered to have one dose.

If you came back from New Brunswick before June 23, can you switch to isolation based on vaccination status and testing? No. If you came from New Brunswick to Nova Scotia before June 23, you must self-isolate regardless of vaccination status or testing. However, you can stop isolating on June 30.

If you’re coming from New Brunswick, which option do you choose in the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in? People should choose the New Brunswick option (the first option in the essential travel category) if they are: • moving to Nova Scotia (including military families…see more below) • coming to stay at a seasonal residence • coming to study as a post-secondary student (for the summer or fall term) • coming to visit or other personal reasons • coming for work (see specialized worker and fish harvester circumstances below) • Nova Scotia resident returning home

If you are moving from New Brunswick to Nova Scotia, what documentation do you need? Effective June 23, anyone can travel from New Brunswick to Nova Scotia for any reason. You no longer need documentation for your reason for travel. You still need to complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in

UPDATED: June 24, 2021 to move to Nova Scotia (choose the New Brunswick option in the regular travel category). Unless you are fully vaccinated 14 days before you arrive, you must isolate until June 30 based on your vaccination status and testing.

If you are coming from New Brunswick to stay at your seasonal residence, what documentation do you need? Does it still have to be a property you own? Effective June 23, anyone can travel from New Brunswick to Nova Scotia for any reason. You no longer need documentation for your reason for travel and your seasonal residence can be owned or leased. You still need to complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in to come to your seasonal residence in Nova Scotia (choose the New Brunswick option in the regular travel category). Unless you are fully vaccinated 14 days before you arrive, you must isolate until June 30 based on your vaccination status and testing.

If you are coming from New Brunswick for a medical appointment, what do you do? People traveling for essential medical services are exempt from the self-isolation requirement but must follow the exempt traveler protocol. You must apply to enter the province via the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in, in the exempt traveler category. Approval is automatic. You will not receive a daily check-in email because you are exempt from self-isolation, but you must meet the conditions in the protocol.

If you’re a healthcare worker, what do you do? Essential healthcare workers who travel between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for work continue to follow the exempt traveler protocol. Usually they cross the land border between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick on a very frequent basis (such as daily or almost every day) and they do not need to complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in.

Essential healthcare workers can go to and from Nova Scotia to provide short-term support or locum work without having to self-isolat. They must follow protocols set by their occupational health units. They do not complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in.

Effective June 23, anyone coming from New Brunswick for any reason can enter Nova Scotia and must apply via the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in. This includes healthcare workers moving from New Brunswick to Nova Scotia for a new job. You choose the New Brunswick option in the regular travel category and upload your proof of vaccination. Under the public health order, Unless you are fully vaccinated 14 days before you arrive, you must isolate until June 30 based on your vaccination status and testing. However, you should check with your employer about whether they have different requirements.

What does a specialized worker from New Brunswick do? Effective June 30, they will no longer have to apply and will not have to isolate when the come to Nova Scotia. Until then, workers coming from New Brunswick have three options. They can choose the one that is most advantageous for their situation: • Follow NS-NB travel protocol for work related travel. They do not complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in and they do not self-isolate as long as they meet the conditions in the protocol.

• Complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in to enter as New Brunswick resident (see above).

• Complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in to apply to enter as a specialized worker. If approved, they have the same isolation requirements based on vaccination and testing as New Brunswick residents, except that they only isolate when they are not working. The specialized worker protocol is being updated with more details.

UPDATED: June 24, 2021

What does a fish harvester from New Brunswick do? Effective June 30, they will no longer have to apply and will not have to isolate when the come to Nova Scotia. Until then, fish harvesters coming from New Brunswick have two options. They can choose the one that is most advantageous for their situation:

• Complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in to enter as New Brunswick resident (see above).

• Complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in to apply to enter as a fish harvester. If approved, they have the same isolation requirements based on vaccination and testing as New Brunswick residents, except that they only isolate when they are not working. The fish harvester protocol is being updated with more details.

Fish harvesters with one dose of vaccine may not be able to get their second test on day 5-6 as recommended. They should aim to get the test as close to that timeframe as possible.

Fish harvesters cannot use the NS-NB travel protocol because they typically work in close contact with others. Therefore, their isolation when not working is an important protective measure.

What is required for child custody visits between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick? Effective June 30, they will no longer have to complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in and will not have to isolate when the come to Nova Scotia. Until then, people traveling between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for one-time or occasional child custody visits will continue to complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in form to enter Nova Scotia. They have the same isolation requirements based on vaccination and testing as New Brunswick residents (see above), except that they have a modified form of isolation outlined in the child custody protocol. The protocol is being update with more details.

People traveling between these two provinces for frequent, routine child custody visits still follow the child custody protocol but they no longer need to complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in form.

Can people still follow the NS-NB travel protocol? The NS-NB travel protocol continues to apply to people who live in these two provinces and need to travel between them for work (including people who work on rotational schedules), school, child care and veterinary services. People following this protocol do not complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in and do not have to self-isolate when they enter or return to Nova Scotia.

If you self-isolate for 14 days in PEI or Newfoundland and Labrador, can you enter Nova Scotia without isolating? Yes. If you complete 14 days of self-isolation in PEI or Newfoundland and Labrador, then you can enter Nova Scotia without isolating. You will need some form of proof that you completed your isolation, such as hotel bill or gas/food receipts. Starting June 30, the same will be true for people who isolate for 14 days in New Brunswick.

Can you drive from PEI through New Brunswick to Nova Scotia or from Labrador (ie through and New Brunswick) to Nova Scotia and still not have to self-isolate? People can drive from PEI through New Brunswick or from Labrador and through Quebec and New Brunswick without completing the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in and without isolating in Nova Scotia, as long as you drive directly through with as few stops as possible. If you need to take a ferry, you must

UPDATED: June 24, 2021 stay distanced from other travelers and wear a mask while onboard. This will continue to be the case for driving through Quebec effective June 30.

What do you do if you’re from PEI or Newfoundland and you spend time in New Brunswick (not just driving through) before you arrive in Nova Scotia? Until June 30, you must follow the same rules as New Brunswick residents coming into Nova Scotia, so your isolation is based on your vaccination status and testing. After June 30, from Nova Scotia’s perspective, you can travel anywhere within the Atlantic provinces and enter Nova Scotia without isolating.

What do you do if you’re from outside and you spend time in New Brunswick (not just driving through) before you arrive in Nova Scotia? Until June 30, you cannot enter Nova Scotia unless you are among the types of travelers permitted to enter Nova Scotia from outside Atlantic Canada at this time. After June 30, once you self-isolate for 14 days in New Brunswick, you are free to enter Nova Scotia without isolating again. You will need some form of proof that you completed your isolation, such as hotel bill or gas/food receipts.

Are there any changes for exempt travelers? People listed as exempt in the exempt traveler protocol do not need to follow this protocol anymore if they coming from PEI or Newfoundland and Labrador – they have no requirements to enter Nova Scotia. Families of military members, RCMP and some other federal agencies should follow the New Brunswick option when they are moving to Nova Scotia. For anyone else, there is no change in the requirements.

Can military members, RCMP etc from Atlantic Canada house hunt and move to Nova Scotia when they are posted there? Effective June 23, members of these agencies coming from PEI or from Newfoundland and Labrador have no requirements. They do not complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in and they no longer have to follow the exempt traveler protocol. They can come to Nova Scotia to work, house hunt, move here or any personal reason. The same will be true for members from New Brunswick effective June 30.

Until June 30, members of these agencies from New Brunswick are permitted to enter Nova Scotia for house hunting. They can bring their spouse or partner for house hunting but not children. They must apply via the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in, choose the exempt traveler category, and include their spouse or partner on their form. Approval is automatic. They must self-isolate completely except while they are viewing properties. If they are fully vaccinated, they are better off entering as New Brunswick residents (in the regular traveler section of the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in) because no isolation is required.

When members of these agencies are moving from New Brunswick for a new posting in Nova Scotia, effective June 23, 2021, their families should apply to enter as New Brunswick residents. This option is in the regular traveler category of the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in. Their isolation requirements will be based on vaccination status and testing instead. (See details above.)

Members remain exempt from self-isolation if they are beginning their work duties immediately. They choose the 'military, defence, police or other federal group' option in the exempt traveler category and must follow the exempt traveler protocol. However, if the member is taking time off before beginning their work duties, they should enter as New Brunswick residents as outlined for families above.

UPDATED: June 24, 2021 Will all points of entry continue to be staffed by enforcement personnel? Are they screening people? We will continue to have a presence at all entrances to the province – airports, ferries, and the land border with New Brunswick. At the land border, officials will do spot checks (the frequency will depend on traffic volume) in order to avoid tying up traffic. At the airport and ferries, officials will continue checking documentation for most, if not all travelers. At all points of entry, travelers should expect some delays.

Do truck drivers and other workers get priority or do they have to wait like any other visitor? Yes, we have a chit system in place so that they will continue to pass through without stopping for questions.

UPDATED: June 24, 2021