Province of BC - Travel and COVID-19
Travel restrictions for non-essential travel in B.C. are in place until May 25 to stop the spread of COVID-19 and variants of concern. Fines can be given to people who leave their region for non-essential travel. Stay local and stay in your community. Do not travel for non-essential reasons.
Restrictions on travel between regions of the province
Under the EPA, an order restricting non-essential travel between certain regions of the province is in place until May 25 at midnight. This includes travel for:
- Vacations, weekend getaways and tourism activities
- Visiting family or friends for social reasons
- Recreation activities
Travel regions
The order combines B.C.'s five health authorities into three regions of the province. Travel into and out of the regions for non-essential reasons is not allowed and is now prohibited by law. The regions are:
- Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley (Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health)
- Northern/Interior (Northern Health and Interior Health, including Bella Coola Valley, the Central Coast and Hope)
- Residents from the Hope area can travel to Chilliwack for essential goods and supplies
- Residents from the Bella Coola Valley and Central Coast area can travel to Port Hardy for essential goods and supplies
- Vancouver Island (Vancouver Island Health)
Enforcement
The goal of the order is education and reminding people about travel restrictions.
If the restrictions need to be enforced, police can issue a fine. At the discretion of police, people not obeying the travel restrictions may be subject to a $575 fine.
Police will not be engaging in random checks. Periodic road checks may be set up at key travel corridors during times associated with leisure travel to remind travellers of the order.
People from outside the province who are travelling to B.C. for non-essential reasons can be subject to the same enforcement measures.
Reasons for essential travel
- Essential travel between regions is allowed. Essential reasons include:
- Returning to your principal residence, moving or helping someone move
- Work, both paid and unpaid (volunteer)
- Commercial transportation of goods
- Getting health care or social services or helping someone get those services
- Court appearance, complying with a court order or parole check-in
- Shared custody agreement
- Child care services
- Attending school at a post-secondary institution
- Responding to a critical incident, like search and rescue operations
- Providing care to a person because of a psychological, behavioural or health condition, or a physical, cognitive or mental impairment
- Providing care or assistance to a person who is seriously ill, disabled or has a physical or cognitive impairment
- Visiting a resident (as an essential visitor) at:
- A community care facility licensed under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act that provides long term care within the meaning of section 2 of the Residential Care Regulation
- A private hospital licensed under the Hospital Act
- A non-profit institution that has been designated as a hospital under the Hospital Act and is operated primarily for the reception and treatment of persons requiring extended care at a higher level than that generally provided in a private hospital licensed under the Hospital Act
- Attending a funeral
Do not go on long trips within your region. Now is not the time for overnight vacations away from your community. Stay close to home. Visit your local beach, hiking trail or park.
Additional measures
Additional measures are in place to support the restriction on non-essential travel, including:
- Increased signage on highways and at border crossings reminding travellers of current restrictions
- Hotels and resorts eliminating or cancelling bookings from out-of-area guests
BC Ferries
From April 23 to May 25, BC Ferries will:
- Ask travellers if their passage is essential. Recreational travellers will be asked not to board vessels
- If recreational travellers insist on boarding, they will be allowed to board and police will be notified
- Suspend adding extra sailings during weekends, holidays and peak travel periods
- Notify all travellers with reservations that the travel order is in place and allow cancellations free of charge
BC Ferries will continue to provide regular service to ensure commercial vehicle traffic and essential travel can be maintained.
Review essential travel information from BC Ferries
BC Parks reservations
If you have a camping reservation in another region, you can reschedule or cancel for free at any time and get a full refund.
