A COVID-19 proof of vaccination is mandatory when you want to travel in and within Canadian provinces. You must provide this certificate to a port officer before being allowed into the country. Each province provides a different set of rules for its citizens on what to do to obtain this document. Here’s what you should do to get yours.
What Is It, and Why Would You Need It?
A COVID-19 proof of vaccination is a document allowing you to prove you have received the necessary vaccination jabs for this disease. It contains all details of your vaccination history and is a safe way to keep this information private and instantly accessible. The document makes it easy for you to travel into, within, and out of Canada without facing any health restrictions at international ports and borders.
Who Can Get One?
Anyone can get a COVID-19 proof of vaccination whether they are in the country or not. You only have to visit the relevant portal, fill out the vaccination form and submit a request for its provision. Tourists and visitors planning to visit Canada must provide this form at the airport before boarding the plane.
Otherwise, you must take a mandatory covid test and stay in quarantine for 14 days before mingling with everyone else. However, the federal government exempts particular individuals from having this document. Nevertheless, you should find out if you fall under this category from each provincial government
Types Of Proof of Vaccination
There are two types of COVID-19 proof of vaccination available in Canada. These are:
Provincial or territorial vaccination certificate – Individual provinces have an option of issuing their proof of vaccination document. It may have a different name depending on the state, but it has the recommended format regarding the outline of information. Regions issuing the provincial COVID-19 proof of vaccination include British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Quebec.
Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination – Some provinces have changed to issuing the national COVID-19 proof of vaccination. This version has all the information about the jabs you’ve received, boosters, and dates you got vaccinated. Port officers only have to scan the QR code to unlock this information.
Requirements And Documentation Needed
When signing up for the COVID-19 proof of vaccination, you must offer vital information and documents to support your request. These include:
- Personal health number
- Date of birth
- Month and year of COVID-19 vaccination records
- Type of COVID-19 vaccination information
- Email address
- Government-issued ID card
Applications for this document are done online. You must find your province’s portal and fill in the required details and then submit your request. You can see more info here. If you are not too conversant with the internet, you can visit a port of entry, government health office, or the medical facility where you received your vaccination for help.
Once you apply for proof of vaccination, you can use it to gain entry into Canada and its provinces. However, it would help if you found out what other countries require you to have regarding this document before traveling outside Canada.
If traveling into the country, you should upload your document 72 hours or less before entering Canada.
Cost, Validity, And Processing Time
Applications for proof of vaccination are free and are available online. This pass is valid for a lifetime, but this is subject to change by the government, especially regarding boosters. How long it takes to process this document depends on the province, so you might want to check with the relevant individuals before you apply for one.
