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VaxCheckNS App and Canadian Proof of Vaccination

Friday, October 22, 2021

Starting October 22 VaxCheckNS, a free QR (quick read) code scanner app for smartphones and other devices, is available through the App Store and Google Play. VaxCheckNS scans a paper or digital version the Nova Scotia COVID-19 proof of vaccination and produces a green “confirmed” or a red “sorry” response instead of showing the person’s entire proof of vaccination. 

No special equipment is required. You can use this app on your smartphone and other devices like a tablet. Conventional non-QR proof of vaccination continues to be acceptable. 

The federal and provincial governments have agreed to adopt a standard proof of vaccination for domestic and international travel, which includes the QR code and can be acquired through the province. Nova Scotia has already rolled out the proof of vaccination document.

It’s important to note that VaxCheckNS will only give a green/red response for the Canadian or Nova Scotian standard format. When used with other proof that has a QR code, it will give all the details on the proof of vaccination record. People from other jurisdictions will have proof of vaccination in many different formats, with and without QR codes. They are acceptable as long as they show:

  • the person’s name
  • the brand(s) of vaccine received (such as Moderna, Pfizer, etc)
  • an indication that all required doses for that brand of vaccine were received
  • the date when the final dose was received

Keep an eye out for updates via Nova Scotia COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination.
 
Effective October 30, 2021, all travellers 12 years of age and older departing from Canadian airports, travellers on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains, and marine passengers on non-essential passenger vessels, such as cruise ships, on voyages of 24 hours or more will be required to be fully vaccinated to travel. To allow travellers time to become fully vaccinated, there will be a short transition period where they will be able to travel if they show a valid COVID-19 molecular test within 72 hours of travel as an alternative to providing proof of full vaccination. If travellers have not already started the vaccination process, or do not start soon, they risk not qualifying for travel as of November 30, 2021.

Visit Boarding flights to and within Canada for more information.