Canada Launches Official COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination

As originally announced in August, Canada has today launched the official nationwide proof of vaccination for Canadians to use when travelling domestically and abroad. 

This proof of vaccination standard was developed by individual provinces and territories with support from the Government of Canada, and serves as an internationally recognized document to facilitate fully vaccinated Canadians’ movement around the world.

What Does the Canadian COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination Look Like?

Canada’s official COVID-19 proof of vaccination displays the following information in both English and French:

• Issuing province or territory
• Name
• Date of birth
• SMART Health Card QR Code
• Vaccines administered, including the date, product, and lot number of each dose

A sample of the proof of vaccination document looks as follows:

How to Get the Canadian COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination

Canadians will request their official national proof of vaccination through their respective home provinces and territories. Currently, it is available to residents of the following provinces and territories:

• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Nunavut
• Ontario
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

Each province or territory has a simple online form for requesting your Canadian proof of vaccination document, which you can access via this page on the Government of Canada website. 

The remaining provinces and territories are in the process of making the Canadian proof of vaccination available to their residents in the near future. We’ll update this section continually as all of Canada gains access to the nationwide proof of vaccination. 

We’d recommend getting your Canadian proof of vaccination as soon as you’re eligible in order to facilitate smooth travel across international borders.

Using the Canadian COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination

Once downloaded, the Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination can be stored as a digital file or printed on a piece of paper. If you’re unable to download your proof of vaccination, you can also request a copy by mail.

As of October 30, 2021, travellers will be required to show their proof of vaccination upon boarding any flight departing Canada or travelling by rail or cruise ship. The Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination can be used for this purpose, although provincially-issued equivalents should also suffice.

Similarly, the Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination can be uploaded to the ArriveCAN app as your proof of vaccination upon returning to Canada, without which you’d have to quarantine at home for 14 days. Still, provincially-issued proof of vaccination can also be used here, and there don’t appear to be any plans to standardize this proof to the pan-Canadian one only. 

Where the Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination should absolutely come in handy is in facilitating international travel. Our provincial health cards come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s never a sure bet that another country might accept the proof when we’re crossing borders. 

Having a globally recognized national standard for proof of vaccination, with a fulsome list of information that aligns with most countries’ standards, helps Canadians travel across borders more seamlessly.

For example, the UK has taken the position that a traveller’s date of birth must be reflected on their proof of vaccination, a criterion that Canada’s proof fulfills. 

Similarly, Singapore upholds the SMART Health Card format to access their Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL), meaning that Canada’s official proof of vaccination can now be used to travel to Singapore. 

Conclusion

Canada has outperformed its global peers in terms of vaccination rates, and we’ve been rewarded by being among the first travellers to be able to enter many countries as they reopen their borders. 

Canada’s new nationwide proof of vaccination standard will smoothen our journeys as we embark on international trips, serving as a single universally recognized standard for boarding flights departing from Canada, entering other countries, and returning to Canada without quarantine.

I look forward to getting my Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination as a British Columbia resident and travelling abroad with one less thing to worry about.