Effective October 30, Canada will require all passengers on interprovincial trains and air travellers to provide full vaccination proof against COVID-19. The new requirement applies to all travellers age 12 and older. A transition period through November 30 will allow some travellers who are in the process of getting fully vaccinated to board federally vaccinated public transportation if they can show a molecular test within 72 hours of travel.
If you haven't gotten your shots yet but want to travel this winter, let's be clear. There will only be a few extremely narrow exceptions like a valid medical condition. For the vast vast majority of people, the rules are very simple to travel: You've got to be vaccinated.
The U.S. border will remain closed to Canadian tourists through at least October 21. Over 72% of Canadians are fully vaccinated, according to data from Johns Hopkins University and Medicine.
Canada's new vaccination proof requirement applies to passengers on:
- domestic, transborder or international flights departing from Canadian airports
- VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains
- nonessential passenger vessels, such as cruise ships, on voyages at least 24 hours long
Traveller Vaccination Proof Requirement Enforcement
Transport Canada will enforce the new vaccination requirements and failure to comply will result in heavy fines between $5,000 and $250,000 per violation. According to the Canadian government, they are developing a pan-Canadian proof of vaccination for international travel. The document will be available in a digital format and should make showing proof of vaccination "easy and quick" for travellers.
Do You Have Questions About Travel to Canada?
If you have questions about your eligibility to travel to Canada or need an essential traveller exemption, contact Ackah Law for assistance.
