Study in Canada: Travel Guide for International Students

Canada Travel Guide for International Students: Are you an Indian student who wished to pursue higher education in Canada? Look nowhere else! To assist you in navigating the exciting process of pursuing education in the Great White North, we have put together a thorough Canada travel guide for international students. 

Understanding the entry requirements for international students is crucial. Hence, this Canada travel guide for international students comes in handy for information regarding visa applications, permits, and documents you will need to enter Canada. Stay up-to-date with the latest regulations and make sure you have everything to avoid any entry complications.

This Canada travel guide for international students is packed with essential travel guidelines to ensure a smooth and hassle-free entry into the country. From entry requirements to fully vaccinated traveller protocols, we have got you covered.

Travel Guidelines in Canada for International Students

Keeping the current public health situation in mind and its immigration plans for the next two years, Canada has introduced a set of travel guidelines in Canada for international students, which many stakeholders have called inviting.

If you are an international student planning to travel to Canada for your higher studies, then listed below are some of the travel guidelines for international students entering Canada.

• International students must first qualify as fully-vaccinated individuals, with proof of vaccination from one of the accepted Covid-19 vaccinations.

  • Students under the age of 18 are not required to qualify as fully vaccinated travellers. However, if they are not fully vaccinated, they must be admitted to a DLI in a province or territory that accepts international students, with an approved Covid-19 readiness plan.

• Incoming international students present a valid study permit or a letter of introduction that confirms your approval for a Study Permit in Canada.

• All international students must be enrolled in a Designated Learning Institution to be allowed to study in Canada.

Note: The air travel rules for international students entering Canada are subject to change at the discretion of the federal and provincial governments. Therefore, when booking your flights to Canada, check the entry requirements for each province and territory in the country and abide by the same.

Study in Canada: Entry Requirements for International Students

Once you have booked your flight to Canada, there are several steps you need to take in order to enter the country without hassles. Currently, the Canadian immigration rules for Indian students dictate:

• Fully vaccinated travellers are exempt from presenting valid pre-entry tests when entering Canada.

• All travellers entering Canada by air, water or land are required to use the ArriveCAN 72 hours before entering the country.

• International students must ensure that they are studying at an approved designated learning institution in Canada.

• International students will be exempt from having to follow quarantine procedures if:

  • They qualify as fully vaccinated individuals.

  • Keep all the necessary documents and study permits ready at hand.

  • Those who do not qualify as fully vaccinated must either get their pre-entry test result, register in advance for the test or have a quarantine plan in place.

  • Those who use ArriveCAN to present their travel details will also be exempt from quarantine regulations.

Note: To ensure that the spread of the virus is under control, it is important to abide by all the regulations specified by Canada and the individual provinces and territories.

Canada Travel Guide: Designated Learning Institutions (DLI) Requirements

As stated above, one of the more important travel requirements in Canada for international students is to be enrolled in a Designated Learning Institution, i.e. DLI. While Canada is home to thousands of universities and institutions offering quality education, they are also required to have their Covid-19 readiness plans approved by the respective provinces and territories as well, in order to bring in international students to their campuses.

The travel requirements for international students, specifically regarding DLIs in Canada, are as follows:

• If you are 18 years old or above, you must first qualify as a vaccinated traveller. You have the right to study at any Designated Learning Institution in Canada.

• If you are under 18 years of age, you are not required to present proof of being fully vaccinated. However, in this case, if you are not fully vaccinated, you must either;

  • Be enrolled in a DLI with an approved Covid-19 readiness plan; or

  • Be enrolled in a DLI or territory that accepts international students

Note: If you are under 18 years of age and are fully vaccinated, then you are exempt from these restrictions and are allowed to study at any DLI.

Canada Travel Guide: Fully Vaccinated Travellers

Another key component to being allowed to enter Canada for higher studies or even for visiting purposes is to be fully vaccinated. There are certain criteria that determine whether an international traveller or student is considered a fully vaccinated traveller to Canada, which have been outlined below:

• All international students/travellers must have received at least 2 doses of one of the accepted vaccines (Find List Below.

  • One dose of the Janssen/Johnson and Johnson vaccine will also be considered valid.

• Travellers/students must have received their second dose at least 14 days before entering Canada. Those on their third or fourth doses or any additional doses are exempt from this restriction.

• Incoming students and travellers must ensure that they present no signs or symptoms of Covid-19.

• If your proof of vaccine is not presented in either the English or French language, you will be required to present a certified translation in either of the languages.

  • You should carry both the original certificate and certified translation of the proof of vaccine when you travel.

However, only by meeting these criteria will you be considered a fully vaccinated traveller. If you are partially vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 with only one dose of the vaccine, then you will not be considered a fully vaccinated traveller to Canada.

List of Accepted Vaccines in Canada

In order to be considered a fully-vaccinated traveller to Canada, it is necessary to receive either 2 doses of the accepted vaccines or 1 dose of the Janssen/Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Listed below are the accepted vaccines in Canada:

• Janssen/Johnson and Johnson

• Bharat Biotech (Covaxin)

• AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD

• Moderna

• Medicago Covifenz

• Pfizer-BioNTech

• Sinovac

• Sinopharm BIBP

• Novavax

Note: Candidates can also present proof of vaccination even if they have received two doses from two different acceptable vaccines.

Canada Travel Guide: Entry Checklist for International Students

If you have decided to travel to Canada for your higher studies and meet all the entry requirements to deboard in Canada, then you will need to ensure you maintain the following entry checklist for international students. You will be required to present the following documents to a government official at the border:

• Proof of Vaccination that was uploaded into ArriveCAN

• An ArriveCAN receipt with the letters A, I or V along with the name of the international traveller.

• Valid travel documents entered in ArriveCAN, for instance, your passport.

Note: For all fully-vaccinated individuals, using the ArrivaCAN application 72 hours before entering Canada is a must, since pre-entry tests are not mandatory anymore.

Study in Canada: Things You Should Keep in Mind on Entry

While the country has now opened its borders to anyone who wishes to travel to Canada for higher studies or even visitation, there are certain restrictions still in place to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

• If you wish to bring your family along with you, they must 18 years old or above to be able to join or visit you in Canada

  • Those under 18 years of age may be allowed to enter the country, however, the final say lays with the border authorities on arrival.

• However, it should be noted that any visiting or joining family members must be fully vaccinated with one of the different accepted vaccines.

• Testing and quarantine measures may be dictated by the port authorities for any travellers at random.

• All essential travel requirements such as contact info, travel details, and vaccination info including proof of vaccination must be entered into ArriveCAN.

Upon submitting the details to ArriveCAN, you will receive the appropriate receipt via email after being displayed to you. It should be noted that entering your details into the app will not determine your eligibility to enter Canada or be presented as proof of vaccination or essential services.

Finally, our study in Canada travel guide for international students equips you with the information and insights you need to successfully complete your academic adventure. We have covered all the important and necessary details, including entrance criteria, travel regulations, and processes for fully vaccinated travellers. You may confidently start your study abroad journey in Canada by being well-informed and organised. Take advantage of your chance to learn from top-notch instructors while expanding your horizons and experiencing a lively, global community. Start making plans for your studies in Canada right away to open up a world of opportunities!

If you are looking to study in Canada this year, register and connect with study abroad consultants to receive expert guidance to study in one of the top study abroad destinations or write to us at abroad@collegedekho.com.