BIRS Covid-19 Travel Info
Entry elegibility
Please visit the following link to check if you are eligible to enter Canada and to learn about what entry requirements will apply to you during travel
Government of Canada entry information
International travellers may be subject to on arrival PCR testing. If you are selected for a test and are required to isolate you will need to check into a hotel near the Calgary airport. BIRS cannot accept travellers who are in a quarantine period following a positive test.
Participants entering Canada should download the Government of Canada’s ArriveCAN app before their departing flight for the most up-to-date travel information before and after entry to Canada:
ArriveCAN Quarentine Plan
Choose a hotel near the Calgary International Airport as a quarantine location for the purposes of your "Quarentine Plan" for entering Canada with the ArriveCAN app. You'll need to enter the hotel address in the ArriveCAN app as part of the screening process. It is not necessary to make a reservation at the hotel.
BIRS cannot provide quarantine accommodation in Banff for travellers who test positive for Covid-19 upon arrival in Calgary. If you test positive for Covid-19 at the airport, please follow the instructions of Canadian Border Services.
Precautions and travel insurance
The risk of contracting Covid-19 during travel remains high. For this reason, it is critical that participants are prepared for the possibility of contracting Covid-19 during their workshop. Participants should bring masks, rapid antigen tests and any supplies that might be useful to endure a case of Covid-19 away from home. Hotel and BIRS Staff will be able to assist in these instances, but there is no substitute for preparation.
BIRS is unable to pay for accommodation or meals outside of workshop dates. As a result, we HIGHLY RECCOMEND that travellers purchase additional insurance to pay for any out-of-pocket expenses related to an extended stay. Extended stays are often necessary for participants who contract Covid-19 during their workshop and require extra time to rest, recover and isolate prior to return travel.
Return travel
Some countries require air passengers to provide a negative Covid-19 test result before boarding their return flight from Canada. Please take time to look into your home country’s regulations before you arrange your return travel itinerary. Some countries require negative PCR or molecular tests, while others accept negative antigen tests.
Testing for return travellers can be done at the Calgary Airport international airport with Switch Health. There are currently no PCR travel testing locations in the town of Banff. Please visit the following link to book an appropriate test on your departure date:
Visiting BIRS/Banff Centre
For the most up to date information on the policies and procedures currently in place at BIRS on the grounds of Banff Centre, please visit Covid-19 Measures