Two travelers face fines nearing $20,000 for attempting to enter Canada with fraudulent COVID-19 documentation

Authorities have imposed hefty fines on two individuals who misrepresented their COVID-19 vaccination status while trying to enter Toronto from the U.S.

Each traveler is required to pay CAD 19,720 (approximately USD 16,000) after officials determined they provided falsified vaccination proof and COVID-19 test results before departing during the week of July 18.

In addition to providing fake vaccination records, they failed to comply with the requirement to stay at a government-approved hotel and undergo testing upon arrival, as stated in a press release. Ignoring quarantine rules can result in fines of $5,000 for each day of non-compliance. The two individuals could have faced even harsher penalties, as submitting false vaccination information could lead to fines of up to $750,000 and potential imprisonment for up to six months.

Canada has maintained stringent entry requirements since the pandemic began to control the spread of the coronavirus. However, some rules were eased last month. Canadian citizens, permanent residents, individuals registered under the Indian Act, and protected persons can enter the country but must present a negative coronavirus test result. Most travelers are required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, although those who are fully vaccinated are exempt. Dual citizens can enter with either a valid passport or special authorization.

In a statement, the Canadian government remarked, "The Government of Canada will keep investigating reported incidents and will not hesitate to enforce measures to safeguard the health of Canadians against the further spread of COVID-19 and its variants of concern."

Travel restrictions for fully vaccinated Americans heading north are set to be relaxed in just a few days.

Starting August 9, Canada will welcome fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents back across its border. Travelers must still fulfill pre-entry coronavirus testing requirements and provide a quarantine plan for entry.

Traveling from Canada into the U.S. will continue to be heavily restricted for several more weeks, as the U.S. has just extended its border closure with Canada until at least August 21.

Numerous U.S. states and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have had to step in to curb the sale and use of counterfeit vaccine cards, yet this incident is among the first publicly reported cases of individuals forging documents to cross international borders.