Canada Vaccine Passport Guide for Travelers
A vaccine passport is a document (electronic or paper) that proves that someone is fully vaccinated against Covid 19. Vaccine passports in Canada are issued in your province or territory.
To contain Covid 19 in the country, the Canadian government has mandated that every person in Canada should get vaccinated.
The Canadian Government has announced that by October 30th, 2021 every traveler must be fully vaccinated. This includes everyone traveling by air, train or sea. This includes immigrants and returning citizens who traveled abroad.
The way the government will check for vaccination is through the covid vaccine passport which every vaccinated person must have.
Each person’s vaccine passport will be scanned by the vaccine passport app, for example, the ArriveCAN.
There are a number of covid vaccines available and the government provides them for free. Immediately you get vaccinated, your vaccine passport will be created and given to you.
Who should get the Vaccine passport in Canada?
Canadian health experts recommend that everyone should get a covid vaccine. There are a few covid vaccines available to choose from. Anyone who gets a vaccine shot will also get their vaccine passport.
That includes citizens and non-citizens who are at least:
- 12 years old for the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine,
- 12 years old for the Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine,
- 18 years old for the AstraZeneca Vaxzevria COVID-19 vaccine,
- 18 years old for the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine.
After you get your shot in any province in Canada, you will be issued a vaccine passport by your province.
What is the Canada vaccine passport used for?
The vaccine passport is used to prove that the owner is fully vaccinated against Covid 19. That way you get to help the government limit the spread of the deadly disease.
Different provincial governments have created different rules concerning the vaccine passport. Let us look at some of the places where you will need a covid vaccine passport in Canada.
Provinces and Vaccine Passport Laws
Some provinces in Canada have made the vaccine passport mandatory.
Vaccine passport in BC (British Columbia)
The government of British Columbia has mandated that persons 12 and older will be required to show their proof of vaccination in almost all social events.
Where you will need a vaccine passport British Columbia
- Restaurants and cafes that offer table service (indoor dining),
- Pubs, bars, and lounges (indoor dining),
- Nightclubs, casinos and movie theatres,
- Gyms/exercise/dance facilities,
- Indoor events with more than 50 people,
- Businesses offering indoor fitness/exercise classes.
Where you won’t need a vaccine passport in British Columbia
- Retail and clothing stores,
- Grocery stores, liquor stores and pharmacies,
- Unlicensed restaurants that don’t offer table service (Fast food, coffee shops, food courts, food trucks and takeout).
Vaccine passport in Ontario
Proof of vaccination (a covid vaccine passport) is required for adults attending almost all social events in Ontario.
Where you will need a vaccine passport in Ontario
- Restaurants and bars (excluding outdoor patios, as well as delivery and takeout),
- Nightclubs (including outdoor areas of the establishment),
- Meeting and event spaces,
- Sports and fitness facilities,
- Concerts, music festivals, theatres and cinemas.
Where you won’t need a vaccine passport in Ontario
- Retail shops,
- Medical services,
- Essential Retail (Grocery stores, pharmacies),
- Places of worship,
- Hair salons and personal care services,
- Outdoor settings, including patios, with the exception of outdoor nightclub spaces,
- Takeaway and delivery services from restaurants and bars,
- Banks.
Vaccine passport in Alberta
Proof of vaccination is now required for adults attending social and recreational events in Alberta.
Where you will need a vaccine passport in Alberta
- Restaurants and nightclubs,
- Casinos,
- Entertainment and recreation centres,
- Museums, art galleries,
- Movie theatres,
- Conferences and meeting spaces.
Where you won’t need a vaccine passport in Alberta
- Retail and shopping malls,
- Events in private dwellings,
- Food courts,
- Libraries,
- Workers and employees in/on a worksite for the purposes of their employment.
Vaccine passport in Manitoba
The Government of Manitoba requires a covid vaccine passport for certain recreational and social events.
Where you will need a vaccine passport in Manitoba
- Indoor theatre and dance events,
- Indoor restaurants,
Nightclubs and all other licensed premises, - Casinos, bingo halls and VLT lounges,
- Movie theatres,
- Fitness centres (excluding youth recreational sport), and
- Organized indoor group recreational classes and activities, as well as indoor recreational businesses.
Where you won’t need a vaccine passport in Alberta
- Retail, markets, garden centres, and malls,
- Takeaway and delivery services from restaurants and bars,
- Personal services.
Vaccine passport in Saskatchewan
The government of Saskatchewan from October 1 2021 now requires proof of vaccination from people attending certain social events.
Where you will need a vaccine passport in Saskatchewan
- Indoor dining at restaurants,
- Nightclubs, bars, and other licensed establishments,
- Event and entertainment venues(conference centres, casinos, movie theatres, concert venues, live-music venues, museums, and indoor facilities hosting ticketed sporting events),
- Indoor fitness centres, and gyms.
Where you won’t need a vaccine passport in Saskatchewan
- Retail businesses,
- Fast food restaurants offering takeout and delivery,
- Health care, professional and personal services,
- Private gatherings held at an indoor public residence.
Vaccine passport in Quebec
A vaccine passport is now required for people in Quebec to attend certain social and recreational events.
Where you will need a vaccine passport in Quebec
- Sports and physical activities,
- Outdoor events and festivals,
- Performance venues, cinemas, sports venues,
- Bars and restaurants,
- Recreation centres, and water parks,
- Casinos and gambling halls,
- Tourist and recreational cruises, excluding ferry services,
- Conventions and conferences.
Where you won’t need a vaccine passport in Quebec
- Grocery stores, pharmacies, and retail,
- Private gatherings,
- Places of worship,
- Spas and saunas,
- Businesses offering personal and beauty care,
- Massage therapy,
- Accommodations,
- Meetings and general assemblies (unless they are taking place at a convention).
Takeaway and delivery services from restaurants and bars
Vaccine passport in Nova Scotia
Full vaccination is now required for Nova Scotians to participate in certain recreational and social activities. There are no exceptions at this time.
Where you will need a vaccine passport in Nova Scotia
- Dining at restaurants, pubs and bars,
- Gyms, pools and recreation facilities,
- Movie theatres, concerts, and sporting events,
- Other recreational or non-essential activities may be added as further details are released.
Vaccine passport in New Brunswick
Proof of vaccination is now required for people in New Brunswick to attend certain social and recreational events. And from September 22, 2021, any person entering New Brunswick must pre-register online. Only commercial truck drivers are exempt at this time.
Where you will need a covid vaccine passport in New Brunswick
- Indoor festivals, performing arts and sporting events,
- Indoor and outdoor dining and drinking at restaurants,
- Movie theatres, nightclubs, amusement centres, pool halls, bowling alleys and casinos,
- Gyms, indoor pools and indoor recreation facilities,
- Indoor group exercise facilities,
- Organized gatherings (excluding parties in a private dwelling),
- Indoor organized group recreational sports, classes and activities, and
- Visiting a long-term care facility.
Where you won’t need a vaccine passport in New Brunswick
- Retail
- Takeout and drive-thru services
- Personal care services. eg: salons, spas
Vaccine passport in Newfoundland and Labrador
The Newfoundland and Labrador government announced that it is planning to institute a proof vaccination system. More information will be updated in the coming weeks, but at the time the people of Newfoundland and Labrador can always check their vaccination records.
Vaccine passport in Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island announced it will require proof of vaccination from Oct 4th, 2021. Only retail stores will be exempt.
Vaccine passport in Yukon
Premier Sandy Silver announced on September 7, 2021, that a vaccine passport will be required for Yukoners looking to travel outside of the territory.
The vaccination passport is not required for any service within the territory.
How to get a covid vaccine passport in Canada?
Different provinces have different routes their residents will go through to get their proof of vaccination cards. Let’s look at some of them.
How to get your covid vaccine card in Alberta?
Getting your vaccine card in Alberta is easy. Simply go to the Alberta province website and follow the easy prompts provided.
How to apply for a vaccine card in British Columbia?
The BC government made it easy to get a vaccine card. Simply go to the British Columbia government website and log in. You’ll need your:
- Date of birth,
- Personal Health Number (PHN), and
- The date you got dose 1 or dose 2.
Don’t forget to save the digital copy of your card when it is automatically generated.
How to apply for your covid immunization card in Manitoba?
If you’re fully immunized in Manitoba, you can easily get your immunization card. Go to the Manitoba province website and click on the big “Request Your Immunization Card” button. It’ll take you to a page where you can log in and place your request.
You will immediately get your digital immunization card. The physical card will be shipped to your home if you wish.
How to get your covid vaccine card in New Brunswick?
To access your covid vaccination history and also request your vaccination card, you’ll need your MyHealthNB account.
Remember that it may take up to five business days after you’re vaxed for immunization records to be processed and appear in MyHealthNB. For more information, please visit the New Brunswick government’s website.
How to get your covid vaccine card in Newfoundland and Labrador?
On the province’s website, click on the “view your vaccine record” button. It’ll take you to a page where you can enter your details and retrieve your vaccination records.
How to get your covid vaccine card in Northwest Territories?
To get your proof of vaccination, you have to put in a request through this form. Your proof of vaccination will be available for you to download.
How to get your covid vaccine card in Nova Scotia?
You can easily access your proof of vaccination by logging in on the Nova Scotia portal.
How to get your covid vaccine card in Ontario?
If you live in Ontario, you can retrieve your covid vaccination history by logging on to the Ontario province portal.
How to get your covid vaccine card in Prince Edward Island?
To get your proof of immunization record in this province, you must fill your Covid immunization record first before you can request your card.
How to get your covid vaccine card in Saskatchewan?
To get your proof of covid vaccination in Saskatchewan you’ll need a MySaskHealthRecord account at eHealth Saskatchewan. You can get more information here.
How to get your covid vaccine card in Quebec?
In Quebec, you can get your proof of vaccination card on paper, in PDF (on your mobile device), or on the VaxiCode application.
How to get your covid vaccine card in Yukon?
You can request for your covid 19 credential in Yukon in two ways: online or by phone.
To apply online, simply fill in this application.
To apply by phone, call the COVID-19 InfoLine at 1-877-374-0425.
Operators are available 7 days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Yukon Standard Time.
The government of Yukon can send your vaccine card in three ways.
- electronically,
- by email, or
- by mail.
What if I don’t want to get a vaccine card?
If you don’t want to get the vaccine (and also the card), what you can do and where you can go will be severely limited. If you’re vaccinated, simply request your card through your province as outlined above.
Who checks the vaccine passport and how?
Government officials and businesses are now required to have all their employees vaccinated. If you’re traveling into, within, or out of Canada, your vaccine status can easily be checked through the various ArriveCAN.
The operators will simply need to scan our vaccine card’s QR code. It doesn’t matter if your card is electronic or on paper.
