Travelling through YVR soon? Here are the top 5 things you need to know before travelling through YVR:
- Masks are mandatory in the terminal and on board flights.
Everyone in the terminal (and on your flight) must wear a mask at all times. However, if you are eating, drinking or taking oral medication, you may remove your mask.
- All travellers must be fully vaccinated in order to board a flight from YVR.
As of October 30, 2021, all travellers aged 12 and older flying within Canada, to the U.S. or another international destination from a Canadian airport must be fully vaccinated. As of November 30, 2021, a valid COVID-19 test will no longer be accepted as an alternative to vaccination for travel within Canada. In order to be considered a fully vaccinated traveller, you must be vaccinated with the full series of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine, or an acceptable combination of vaccines. You must also have received your last dose at least 14 full days prior to the day you travel.
Currently, Canada has seven approved vaccines to qualify for travel. The accepted COVID-19 vaccines in Canada are:
o Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2)
o Moderna (Spikevax, mRNA-1273)
o AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD (ChAdOx1-S, Vaxzevria, AZD1222)
o Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S)
o Sinopharm
o Sinovac
o COVAXIN
- Which proof of vaccination do I need to present?
If you have received your vaccination in Canada, you can use your Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination. If you have received your vaccination abroad, please present your country’s official proof of vaccination. If your proof of vaccination is not in English or French, you will need to carry a certified translation version and the original with you when travelling. If you have received your vaccination in B.C., the BC Vaccine card is valid for travel until November 30, 2021.
To get your Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination, please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-covid-19-proof-vaccination/get-proof.html
- The new vaccine mandate is not applicable to international travellers who are transferring through YVR to a country other than Canada.
If you’re transferring through YVR to another country and are not entering through a border entry point, the new vaccine mandate does not apply to you. However, we recommend all travellers check with their air carriers to ensure that you meet the requirements for the definition of transiting to another country by air.
- If you are in the process of getting vaccinated ,a negative COVID-19 molecular test will no longer be accepted as an alternative to vaccination for travel within Canada.
As of November 30, 2021, travellers need to be fully vaccinated to ravel within Canada, to the U.S. or another international destination, with very few exceptions. A valid COVID-19 test will no longer be accepted as an alternative to vaccination for travel within Canada. To find out more about limited exemptions, and how to apply, please reference Transport Canada’s exemptions for vaccine mandate.
Vaccine status is verified at random by CATSA and your airlines. It is required to have your proof of vaccination nearby and handy on departure out of all Canadian airports.
Have more questions about the new federal vaccine mandate? Visit our latest updates for more information.