News Canada Sets Vaccine Requirement Date for Travelers All people ages 12 and over traveling by train or rail must show proof of vaccination against COVID-19. By Meena Thiruvengadam Meena Thiruvengadam Facebook Instagram Twitter Website Meena Thiruvengadam is a lifelong traveler with nearly two decades of experience in journalism. She has visited more than 50 countries, 47 U.S. states, and six continents. Meena has road-tripped across the U.S., taken trains through Europe, traveled India by train, plane, and automobile, and gone off the grid in Alaska via helicopter. She has lived in New York City, Chicago, London, and Washington, D.C. * Nearly 20 years of experience in journalism with brands including Hearst, Bloomberg, Business Insider, and Yahoo * Received a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University * Bylines in The Wall Street Journal, Departures, TripSavvy, and more * On-air contributor for KENS-5 TV and Wsj.com * Wrote inaugural Skift research report on the future of in-room entertainment Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on October 7, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Following Canada's initial August announcement of a vaccine mandate, the country set the date of Oct. 30 for the requirement to go into effect. All people ages 12 and over traveling by air or rail in Canada must show proof of vaccination against COVID-19. Currently, travelers who have only been partially vaccinated will be required to show proof of partial vaccination and test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of their trip. That policy, however, is set to expire Nov. 30. "To depart from Canadian airports or travel on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains, travelers will need to qualify as a fully vaccinated traveler," read a government announcement Wednesday. "The Government of Canada strongly advises any Canadians planning to travel by plane or train this holiday season to get vaccinated as soon as possible or they will be unable to travel." Canadian officials will accept proof of vaccination with vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Covishield, and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson. "We're taking these steps to finish the fight against COVID-19, and we're using the most effective tool - vaccines - to get the job done," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a Twitter thread discussing the mandate. Zou Zheng/Getty Images So far, more than 82% of eligible Canadians have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine while more than 71% of Canadians have been fully vaccinated. The U.S. has yet to require vaccination for travel, but several U.S.-based cruise lines have implemented a vaccine requirement. Several popular cities, including San Francisco, New York, New Orleans, and Los Angeles are requiring proof of COVID vaccination for dining indoors, drinking inside bars, and at places like movie theaters, museums, and other indoor venues. Meena Thiruvengadam is a Travel + Leisure contributor who has visited 50 countries on six continents and 47 U.S. states. She loves historic plaques, wandering new streets and walking on beaches. Find her on Facebook and Instagram. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit