HI-AM 2022
JUNE 21 - 22
MONTREAL, QC
Travel and COVID-19 | May 21, 2022
Note: The following information is current as of the notice date (May 21, 2022) and major changes will be updated.
- As of April 1, 2022, pre-entry tests are no longer required for fully vaccinated travellers entering Canada by land, air or water. You must still use ArriveCAN within 72 hours before your arrival to Canada. Visit this page for more information.
- As of May 14, 2022, face covering in most enclosed or partially enclosed public spaces in Quebec, including the Palais des congrès, is no longer mandatory. The obligation is maintained on public transit (buses, the subway, ferries, taxis, car services, etc.) and at healthcare facilities. Even though the face covering is optional at the conference venue, it is strongly recommended.
- As of March 12, 2022, presenting a proof of vaccination (or exemption) during the check-in at the Palais des congrès is no longer required.
- Physical distancing is not required at the Palais des congrès but recommended where possible.
- We ask that anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to please refrain from attending the conference. Registrants are encouraged to screen for COVID-19 symptoms and exposure using the Government of Quebec's COVID-19 Self-assessment Tool before attending the conference.
Travel and COVID-19 | March 18, 2022
Note: The following information is current as of the notice date (March 18, 2022) and major changes will be updated.
The Government of Quebec has lifted most of the COVID-19 public health measures. Visit this page for more details. As of March 12, 2022, presenting a proof of vaccination (or exemption) during the check-in at the Palais des congrès is no longer required, however, it still remains mandatory for travel to and within Canada by train or plane.
Starting April 1, 2022 at 12 AM EDT, fully vaccinated travelers will no longer need to provide a pre-entry COVID-19 test result to enter Canada by air, land or water. Travelers may still need to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival if selected for mandatory random testing. Visit this page on the Government of Canada website for more information.
Travel and COVID-19 | March 1, 2022
Note: The following information is current as of the notice date (March 1, 2022) and major changes will be updated.
The Government of Canada has lifted its travel advisory against all non-essential international travel and announced eased COVID-19 restrictions at the border. Previously, all travelers had to demonstrate proof of a negative molecular test result taken within 72 hours of their scheduled flight or entry to Canada. Starting Feb 28, proof of a negative antigen test taken outside of Canada no more than 1 day before the scheduled flight or entry to Canada by land is also accepted from fully vaccinated travelers. The antigen test must be administered or observed by a pharmacy, laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth service. Visit this page for more information.
The Government of Quebec has announced plan to lift some of the COVID-19 restrictions including the vaccine passport requirement to enter public spaces by mid-March.
Travel and COVID-19 | January 5, 2022
We are aware of the current concerns about the changes in restrictions due to the spread of the Omicron variant and whether it might affect the conference plans. As of January 5, HI-AM 2022 is still expected to take place as planned on June 21-22, 2022 in Montreal. We are monitoring the evolving situation closely, and will inform our speakers and participants of any changes to the conference plans.
All travelers 5 years of age or older must now provide proof of a COVID-19 negative molecular test result to enter Canada OR proof of a previous positive test result taken between 14 and 180 days ago (starting January 15, 2022, between 10 and 180 days ago). The molecular test must be taken within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time of your flight to Canada. For more information, visit COVID-19 vaccinated travellers entering Canada on the Government of Canada website.
Travel and COVID-19 | Nov 30, 2021
HI-AM 2022 is scheduled for June 21-22, 2022 in Montreal and will be open to participants who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved exemption. This decision was reached by the Organizing Committee of the conference after careful consideration of the challenges and advantages of available options, and based on the high rates of vaccination in Canada and the maintenance of level 1 (Green) COVID-19 alert status in Montreal since June 2021 which has allowed a safe resuming of conferences and trade shows. Before registering for the conference and planning your trip, please read the following important information:
Note: The following information is current as of the notice date (Nov 30, 2021) and major changes will be updated.
Requirements for admission to the conference venue
- Palais des congrès de montréal (Montreal Convention Centre) is the venue for the 2022 HI-AM Conference. All delegates and participants attending HI-AM 2022 at Palais des congrès should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved exemption.
- Individuals who are medically exempt from vaccination, recovered from COVID-19, or participated in Medicago Inc. clinical trial are advised to consult Requirements to be considered “adequately protected” in Québec for the steps that should be followed to obtain the "adequately protected" status.
- Delegates will be required to show a proof of vaccination and a government-issued photo ID at the building entrances. Participants residing in Canada must show a Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination with QR code. The residents of Quebec can use the VaxiCode application to show their proof of vaccination. International participants must show the photo ID and proof of vaccination (along with a certified translation if the original document is not in English or French) issued by their country showing they are fully vaccinated as defined by Health Canada.
Requirements for travelling within Canada
- There are no preventive isolation measures for people arriving in Quebec from other Canadian provinces. For updates and more information, please consult Instructions for travel within Canada or internationally on the Government of Quebec website.
- Starting November 30, 2021, if you are 12 years and 4 months of age or older, you will need to be fully vaccinated in order to board domestic or international flights departing from most airports in Canada and VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains. For updates and more information about the mandatory vaccination to board, exemptions to the vaccine requirements, and the proof of vaccination, please consult Boarding flights and trains in Canada on the Government of Canada website.
- To qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller, you should have received at least 2 doses of an accepted vaccine or a mix of 2 accepted vaccines, or at least 1 dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine, at least 14 days prior to the day you travel.
- Accepted vaccines:
- Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2)
- Moderna (Spikevax, mRNA-1273)
- AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria, COVISHIELD, ChAdOx1-S, AZD1222)
- Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S)
- *NEW - Starting Nov 30, 2021* Bharat Biotech (Covaxin, BBV152 A, B, C)
- *NEW - Starting Nov 30, 2021* Sinopharm (Beijing) BBIBP-CorV (Vero Cells)
- *NEW - Starting Nov 30, 2021* Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc)
- You should be ready at any point in your journey to show your official proof of vaccination.
- If you qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller, a COVID-19 test is not needed to board a flight or train in Canada.
Requirements for entering Canada from another country
- All travellers entering Canada must follow the federal rules under the Quarantine Act to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Canada. As these rules are constantly changing, the international travellers can use this online tool provided by the Government of Canada to find out if they are eligible to enter Canada. Please note that the information in this tool is subject to change according to effective dates. Final determination on entry and quarantine is made by a government representative at the port of entry.
- Fully vaccinated foreign nationals may be allowed to enter Canada. Please note that, as of Nov 30, 2021, some restrictions for travellers arriving from Africa are in force. For more information and updates, please consult COVID-19:Travel, testing and borders on the Government of Canada website.
- To qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller:
- You should have received at least 2 doses of an accepted vaccine or a mix of 2 accepted vaccines, or at least 1 dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine, at least 14 days prior to the day you travel. If your proof of vaccination is not in English or French, you need a certified translation in English or French and should keep both the original proof of vaccination and the certified translation with you while you travel.
- Upload your proof of vaccination in ArriveCAN application.
- Provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test result taken within 72 hours of your scheduled flight or arrival at a land border crossing. A rapid antigen test will not be accepted.
- You should have no signs or symptoms of COVID-19.
- For more information, updates and exemptions, consult Vaccinated travellers entering Canada on the Government of Canada website.
- Accepted vaccines:
- Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2)
- Moderna (Spikevax, mRNA-1273)
- AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria, COVISHIELD, ChAdOx1-S, AZD1222)
- Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S)
- *NEW - Starting Nov 30, 2021* Bharat Biotech (Covaxin, BBV152 A, B, C)
- *NEW - Starting Nov 30, 2021* Sinopharm (Beijing) BBIBP-CorV (Vero Cells)
- *NEW - Starting Nov 30, 2021* Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc)
Visas and Invitation Letters
- International attendees of HI-AM 2022 might need to obtain a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) prior to travelling to Canada. Click here to find out if you need a visa to visit Canada.
- If you require an invitation letter from HI-AM for your visa application, please contact us after March 1, 2022 at fliravi@uwaterloo.ca and provide the following information:
- Complete name
- Mailing address
- Email address
- Nationality and passport number
- Proof of registration
- Invitation letters will only be issued once you have registered for the conference.
- The Conference cannot contact or intervene with any Embassy or Consulate office abroad on your behalf.
Health and safety protocols during the conference
- Access to HI-AM 2022 meeting and exhibition spaces will be limited to visitors who have demonstrated proof of vaccination (or exemption) and checked in.
- Wearing a mask is mandatory during the conference except while eating and drinking.
- A social distancing of at least 1 meter must be maintained between people.
- Buffets have been suspended. Meal boxes or adapted plated service will be offered during the meal breaks.
- The venue staff will ensure the protocols are implemented during the conference and will remind the participants of health and safety rules.
- Handwashing stations and hand sanitizer dispensers will be available at room entrances and high-traffic areas.
- For more information about the safety measures at Palais des congrès de montréal, please visit this page.
Stay informed
The Government of Quebec has lifted most of the COVID-19 public health measures. Visit this page for more details. As of March 12, 2022, presenting a proof of vaccination (or exemption) during the check-in at the Palais des congrès is no longer required, however, it still remains mandatory for travel to and within Canada by train or plane.
The Government of Canada has lifted its travel advisory against all non-essential international travel and announced eased COVID-19 restrictions at the border. Previously, all travelers had to demonstrate proof of a negative molecular test result taken within 72 hours of their scheduled flight or entry to Canada. Starting Feb 28, proof of a negative antigen test taken outside of Canada no more than 1 day before the scheduled flight or entry to Canada by land is also accepted from fully vaccinated travelers. The antigen test must be administered or observed by a pharmacy, laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth service. Visit this page for more information.
Requirements for admission to the conference venue
- Palais des congrès de montréal (Montreal Convention Centre) is the venue for the 2022 HI-AM Conference. All delegates and participants attending HI-AM 2022 at Palais des congrès should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved exemption.
- Individuals who are medically exempt from vaccination, recovered from COVID-19, or participated in Medicago Inc. clinical trial are advised to consult Requirements to be considered “adequately protected” in Québec for the steps that should be followed to obtain the "adequately protected" status.
- Delegates will be required to show a proof of vaccination and a government-issued photo ID at the building entrances. Participants residing in Canada must show a Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination with QR code. The residents of Quebec can use the VaxiCode application to show their proof of vaccination. International participants must show the photo ID and proof of vaccination (along with a certified translation if the original document is not in English or French) issued by their country showing they are fully vaccinated as defined by Health Canada.
Requirements for travelling within Canada
- There are no preventive isolation measures for people arriving in Quebec from other Canadian provinces. For updates and more information, please consult Instructions for travel within Canada or internationally on the Government of Quebec website.
- Starting November 30, 2021, if you are 12 years and 4 months of age or older, you will need to be fully vaccinated in order to board domestic or international flights departing from most airports in Canada and VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains. For updates and more information about the mandatory vaccination to board, exemptions to the vaccine requirements, and the proof of vaccination, please consult Boarding flights and trains in Canada on the Government of Canada website.
- To qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller, you should have received at least 2 doses of an accepted vaccine or a mix of 2 accepted vaccines, or at least 1 dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine, at least 14 days prior to the day you travel.
- Accepted vaccines:
- Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2)
- Moderna (Spikevax, mRNA-1273)
- AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria, COVISHIELD, ChAdOx1-S, AZD1222)
- Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S)
- *NEW - Starting Nov 30, 2021* Bharat Biotech (Covaxin, BBV152 A, B, C)
- *NEW - Starting Nov 30, 2021* Sinopharm (Beijing) BBIBP-CorV (Vero Cells)
- *NEW - Starting Nov 30, 2021* Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc)
- You should be ready at any point in your journey to show your official proof of vaccination.
- If you qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller, a COVID-19 test is not needed to board a flight or train in Canada.
Requirements for entering Canada from another country
- All travellers entering Canada must follow the federal rules under the Quarantine Act to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Canada. As these rules are constantly changing, the international travellers can use this online tool provided by the Government of Canada to find out if they are eligible to enter Canada. Please note that the information in this tool is subject to change according to effective dates. Final determination on entry and quarantine is made by a government representative at the port of entry.
- Fully vaccinated foreign nationals may be allowed to enter Canada. Please note that, as of Nov 30, 2021, some restrictions for travellers arriving from Africa are in force. For more information and updates, please consult COVID-19:Travel, testing and borders on the Government of Canada website.
- To qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller:
- You should have received at least 2 doses of an accepted vaccine or a mix of 2 accepted vaccines, or at least 1 dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine, at least 14 days prior to the day you travel. If your proof of vaccination is not in English or French, you need a certified translation in English or French and should keep both the original proof of vaccination and the certified translation with you while you travel.
- Upload your proof of vaccination in ArriveCAN application.
- Provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test result taken within 72 hours of your scheduled flight or arrival at a land border crossing. A rapid antigen test will not be accepted.
- You should have no signs or symptoms of COVID-19.
- For more information, updates and exemptions, consult Vaccinated travellers entering Canada on the Government of Canada website.
- Accepted vaccines:
- Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2)
- Moderna (Spikevax, mRNA-1273)
- AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria, COVISHIELD, ChAdOx1-S, AZD1222)
- Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S)
- *NEW - Starting Nov 30, 2021* Bharat Biotech (Covaxin, BBV152 A, B, C)
- *NEW - Starting Nov 30, 2021* Sinopharm (Beijing) BBIBP-CorV (Vero Cells)
- *NEW - Starting Nov 30, 2021* Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc)
Visas and Invitation Letters
- International attendees of HI-AM 2022 might need to obtain a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) prior to travelling to Canada. Click here to find out if you need a visa to visit Canada.
- If you require an invitation letter from HI-AM for your visa application, please contact us after March 1, 2022 at fliravi@uwaterloo.ca and provide the following information:
- Complete name
- Mailing address
- Email address
- Nationality and passport number
- Proof of registration
- Invitation letters will only be issued once you have registered for the conference.
- The Conference cannot contact or intervene with any Embassy or Consulate office abroad on your behalf.
Health and safety protocols during the conference
- Access to HI-AM 2022 meeting and exhibition spaces will be limited to visitors who have demonstrated proof of vaccination (or exemption) and checked in.
- Wearing a mask is mandatory during the conference except while eating and drinking.
- A social distancing of at least 1 meter must be maintained between people.
- Buffets have been suspended. Meal boxes or adapted plated service will be offered during the meal breaks.
- The venue staff will ensure the protocols are implemented during the conference and will remind the participants of health and safety rules.
- Handwashing stations and hand sanitizer dispensers will be available at room entrances and high-traffic areas.
- For more information about the safety measures at Palais des congrès de montréal, please visit this page.
Stay informed