IRCC wishes to remind international students of what they will need to do to return or study in Canada for the fall semester, as the changes announced today apply to all of IRCC’s clients.
International students bring tremendous social, cultural, and economic benefits to Canada, and the Government of Canada recognizes that students studying in Canada can also benefit beyond earning a degree or diploma.
For this reason, IRCC implemented temporary policy changes to accommodate international students during this pandemic period, including measures designed to facilitate online study from abroad for international students.
Who may enter Canada to study?
To be able to enter Canada as a student, you need to have a valid study permit or letter of introduction that shows you have been approved for a study permit by attending a designated learning institution with a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by its province or territory.
It is also important to check if restrictions are in place for your country that may affect your ability to travel. For example, the Government of Canada has suspended flights from India until August 21, 2021.
You must have a quarantine plan!
COVID-19 readiness plans for designated learning institutions are intended to protect the health and safety of all students and the surrounding community. Institutions are preparing plans for how they will manage the quarantine period for international students, including arrangements for transportation to the students’ quarantine sites and food and medication access.
An international student must have a 14-day quarantine plan in case it is determined at the border that they do not meet all of the conditions required to be exempt from quarantine. This is still the case even if they believe they meet the criteria for being considered a fully vaccinated traveler.
Students should be in contact with their designated learning institution for assistance in developing quarantine plans in advance of their arrival to Canada.
Information about the quarantine plan must be submitted in ArriveCAN before travel to Canada.
Who is considered a fully vaccinated traveller?
Vaccinated individuals may be exempt from some quarantine and testing requirements. A traveller must have received the full series of a COVID-19 vaccine-or combination of vaccines-accepted by the Government of Canada at least 14 days before entering Canada to be considered fully vaccinated. Currently, those vaccines are made by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson).
Canada does not consider you fully vaccinated if you received a different vaccine. Travelers must provide proof of vaccination in English or French (or a certified translation). Travellers can receive their vaccine in any country, but it must be one of the four vaccines accepted by Health Canada.
Upcoming changes to public health measures!
As of August 9, 2021, new measures will be put in place for travellers to Canada, including international students.
This includes the following:
1. Eliminating the 3-night government-authorized hotel stay requirement for all air travellers arriving after 12:01 a.m. EDT on August 9, 2021. Until that time, non-vaccinated travellers flying to Canada must complete their 3-night hotel stay while they wait for their on-arrival test results.
2. Implementing a surveillance randomized testing regime for fully vaccinated travellers who qualify for entry to Canada at select airports and land border crossings across Canada. Unvaccinated travellers will continue to be subject to mandatory on-arrival and day 8 testing.
3. Allowing individuals who have recovered from COVID-19, but who continue to test positive, to present a positive COVID-19 molecular test result on a specimen taken 14 to 180 days before arrival in Canada as part of the pre-entry test requirements.
