Mandatory proof of vaccination for transportation in Canada

This measure will apply to all travellers aged 12 years and over who are :

• air passengers on domestic, transborder or international flights departing from a Canadian airport
• passengers on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains
• also for passengers on non-essential marine transportation (e.g., cruises) where the duration is 24 hours or more. Ferry passengers are not included.

In addition, the two doses of vaccine must be received 14 days before the day of travel.

This mandatory vaccination measure will also apply to employees in the above-mentioned sectors.

For travellers who are in the process of being vaccinated, there will be a one-month transition period.

Until November 30, they will still be able to travel. You’ll have to provide a negative molecular test proof upon boarding. As usual, it should be done within 72 hours before the trip.

From 1 December, all passengers must be fully vaccinated.

For those who have the bad idea to counterfeit a proof of vaccination, fines are to be expected.

Exemptions will be rare and difficult to obtain, according to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

In order to standardize the vaccine certificates from all provinces and territories, a platform is being developed.

This app will eventually be available to travellers, but the launch date is not yet known.

In the meantime, transportation companies will accept the vaccination passport for each province.

So, if you plan to travel by air, rail or sea this holiday season, you will need to have proof of vaccination.

This is not a surprise, as Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government made the announcement last August.