Travelling to Canada and self-isolation

Studying abroad is a very exciting opportunity, but it’s important to be organized and prepared. Make sure you review travel requirements and have all appropriate documentation before arriving in Canada.

Updated July 27, 2022

Government of Canada to remove COVID-19 border and travel measures effective October 1

Effective October 1, 2022, all COVID-19 border requirements, including vaccination, mandatory use of ArriveCAN, and any testing and quarantine/isolation requirements will end for all travellers entering Canada.

This website will soon be updated to reflect the removal of border and travel measures. In the meantime, please refer to the information below if you will travel to Canada prior to October 1, 2022. You may also visit the Government of Canada’s COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders website for information on planning your travel.

For more details on the removal of entry restrictions, review the News release from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Current requirements to enter Canada (until October 1, 2022)

As of January 15, 2022, international students (18 years or older) can only enter Canada if they qualify as fully vaccinated travellers.

As of April 25, 2022, fully vaccinated travellers are no longer required to provide a quarantine plan upon entry. Furthermore, fully vaccinated travellers arriving to Canada are no longer federally required to do the following for 14 days after arriving:

  • mask while in public spaces;
  • monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms;
  • quarantine if another traveller in the same travel group exhibits signs or symptoms or tests positive; and
  • maintain a list of close contacts and locations visited.

All travellers are still required to use ArriveCAN (free mobile app or website) to provide mandatory travel information within 72 hours of their arrival to Canada and/or before boarding a plane or cruise ship destined for Canada, including:

  • contact and travel information, and
  • vaccination information and proof of vaccination (if applicable).

For more details review: International students: Travel restrictions and exemptions and COVID-19 vaccinated travellers entering Canada

Before you travel, if you have questions about the timing of your arrival, you should contact your airline and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for more information. 

Currently, international students must meet all of the following requirements to enter Canada:

  1. You must qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller if you are 18 years of age or older.
  2. You must have a valid study permit or a letter of introduction that shows you were approved for a study permit, unless you are exempt (for example, if your program of study is six months or less).
  3. You must be attending a designated learning institution (DLI).
    • If you are under 18 and do not qualify as fully vaccinated, your DLI must have an approved COVID-19 readiness plan. The University of Victoria is a DLI, and has an approved plan in place.

Please check with your airline and Canada Border Services Agency if you have questions about the timing of your travel to Canada. A Border Services Officer will make a final decision on your eligibility to enter Canada when you arrive.

If you have any concerns before you travel, you can email uvcsimmigration@uvic.ca or you can contact the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) for more information.

You must carry supporting documents to demonstrate you meet the requirements for entry to Canada.

Please ensure you have the following documents with you for travel:
  • Valid passport, or other accepted travel document
  • Valid temporary resident visa or electronic travel authorization (if required)
  • Valid study permit or letter of introduction that shows you have been approved for a study permit.
  • Valid letter of acceptance (If you need a copy of your letter, please email the program area.) 
  • Registration receipts showing your current or upcoming course registration and tuition payment (if you need a copy of your receipts, please email the Registration Office at uvcsreg@uvic.ca) 
  • If you are a returning student (have studies previous terms inside or outside Canada) you may also wish to include a copy of your transcript showing your completed study terms. Your transcript can be obtained by visiting your Continuing Studies account. 
  • Valid enrollment letter (An enrollment letter is only issued during a current study term for students actively participating in courses.)
  • Proof of a valid immigration medical examination (if required)
  • Proof that you have enough money to support yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada
  • Proof of vaccination, if you qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller
  • ArriveCAN receipt

If you have any questions about your travel documents, please email uvcsimmigration@uvic.ca.

You should also:

  1. Arrange for appropriate travel insurance, as circumstances and restrictions may change.
  2. Ensure you have appropriate health insurance in place. For questions about health insurance, please email the Registration Office at uvcsreg@uvic.ca

Students whose study permit application is still being processed will need to wait to travel to Canada until they receive confirmation that their study permit application has been approved, and they receive the letter of introduction. Students should wait to make any travel arrangements until they have received their letter of introduction showing study permit approval and can meet any travel requirments or exemptions.

IMPORTANT: Travel requirements will change over time. The changes may be big or small, sudden or expected. You must continue to check for updates as you plan your trip. If you have any questions about quarantining, vaccinations, proof of vaccination documents, immigration or study visa, contact our Continuing Studies International Student Adviser at uvcsimmigration@uvic.ca.

For updates and more information please visit the Government of Canada website: COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders

Travellers arriving to Canada who are fully vaccinated with a Health Canada approved vaccine

 

Currently, international students 18 years and older are only allowed to enter Canada if they are fully vaccinated. Only minor students (under 18 years old) can enter as unvaccinated travellers. For the definition of “fully vaccinated,” check if you qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller.

If you plan to enter Canada as an unvaccinated minor student, please let us know so we can provide you with further information and support.

To enter Canada as a fully vaccinated international student, you will need to consider or prepare the following:

  1. Effective April 25, 2022, eligible fully vaccinated travellers are no longer required to prepare a suitable 14-day quarantine plan and upload it into ArriveCAN. In the unlikely event that your arrival to Canada test is positive and you are instructed to quarantine, you can find resources and information at Self-isolation (quarantine) plan resources and support. If you are eligible to enter Canada as an unvaccinated traveller (for example, you are under the age of 18) and do not have a valid medical contraindication, you will be required to quarantine for 14 days after arrival, and you must prepare a suitable 14-day self-isolation (quarantine) plan prior to travel. This means that you must identify a place where you could:
    1. stay for at least 14 days
    2. avoid contact with others
    3. access food, water, and medicine without leaving​

      You will submit your quarantine plan using the ArriveCAN app (see details below) and should also be prepared to answer questions about your plan when you arrive in Canada.

       

  2. Take a pre-entry COVID-19 test if required, and pre-register for arrival testing. Starting April 1, 2022, pre-entry tests are no longer required for fully vaccinated travellers entering Canada by land, air or water.
     

    If you are eligible to enter Canada as an unvaccinated traveller (for example, you are under the age of 18), you must provide proof of a valid pre-entry test result to enter Canada. You must input information about your pre-entry test result in ArriveCAN. For detailed information on pre-entry testing for travellers who do not qualify as fully vaccinated, visit the Government of Canada website.

    Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children under the age of 12 accompanied by an adult who qualifies as fully vaccinated don’t require a pre-entry test. See pre-entry testing (accepted types, timing).


    Children who are less than 5 years old are not required to test, regardless of their vaccination status.

     

    You may also be asked to test for COVID-19 upon entry to Canada. Travellers who do not qualify as fully vaccinated must complete an arrival test, as well as a test on day 8 of the mandatory 14-day quarantine period. Fully vaccinated travellers may also be randomly selected for arrival testing.

     

    To speed up the arrival testing process, we recommend registering in advance with the testing provider for your first point of arrival in Canada. For example, if you fly [country of departure] > Vancouver > Victoria, you should book your arrival test in Vancouver. Make sure to use the same email address you used for your ArriveCAN account.

     

  3. Submit travel information via ArriveCAN ArriveCAN is the federal government app which you must use to submit travel information such as your self-isolation (quarantine) plan (if required) and proof of vaccination documentation.
    • Download the ArriveCAN app and prepare to fill it out shortly before your trip. After you complete ArriveCAN with your travel details and documents, you will receive a receipt to show the border agent.
    • Using ArriveCAN is mandatory and it is also free! Do not engage with any websites or apps that demand payment for using ArriveCAN. For more information, see use ArriveCAN to enter Canada.
       
  4.  For an overview of all requirements, see COVID-19 vaccinated travellers entering Canada.

At the port of entry – immigration documents

When you arrive at the port of entry to Canada, a border agent will assess your eligibility to enter Canada under the current travel restrictions and make a final decision on whether to allow entry. If you were approved for a new study permit from outside Canada, your study permit will also be issued (printed) at this time.

Make sure to check your study permit when it is issued to you, to ensure all the details are correct and the appropriate conditions have been imposed.

  • Check that all details in the client information section are correct.
  • If you are a full-time student at UVic, make sure your study permit includes a statement that you “may work” or “may accept employment”. If it does not, this can significantly delay your ability to begin working in Canada.

If you notice any errors on your documents, request changes before you leave Immigration. Be prepared to demonstrate your eligibility to work (for example, by showing the officer an enrollment letter and/or course registration receipts from UVic confirming your full-time student status), if needed.

IMPORTANT:

  • Currently, most international students 18 years and older are only allowed to enter Canada if they are fully vaccinated. 
  • Only minor students (under 18 years old) or those who qualify for other limited exemptions can enter as unvaccinated travellers.
  • If you plan to enter Canada as an unvaccinated student, please contact us at uvcsimmigration@uvic.ca.so we can provide you with further information and support.

Arrival testing requirements

Fully vaccinated travellers (check if you qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller) may be randomly selected for an arrival test. To speed up the arrival testing process, we recommend registering in advance with the testing provider for the airport you will arrive at. For example, if you fly [country of departure] > Vancouver > Victoria, you should book your arrival test in Vancouver. Make sure to use the same email address you used for your ArriveCAN account.

If you are allowed entry to Canada as an unvaccinated or partially vaccinated traveller (for example, you are under 18 or qualify for other limited exemptions to the vaccination requirement), you will be required to take an arrival (Day 1) COVID-19 test and a Day 8 test. To speed up the arrival testing process, register in advance with the testing provider for the airport you will arrive at. For example, if you fly [country of departure] > Vancouver > Victoria, you should book your arrival test in Vancouver. Make sure to use the same email address you used for your ArriveCAN account.

Self-isolation (quarantine) requirements on arrival

If you qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller, you likely will not have to self-isolate (quarantine) upon arrival to Canada. Check if you qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller and make sure that your vaccine, timing of your second dose, and proof of vaccination document all meet the requirements. The final decision about whether or not you must quarantine will be made by the border agent when you enter Canada. Please follow all instructions from government officials when you arrive.

If you are allowed to enter Canada as an unvaccinated traveller, you will be required to quarantine for 14 days. See above sections for more information. 

Daily check-ins via ArriveCAN if required

If you are allowed to enter Canada as an unvaccinated traveller, you will be required to confirm your arrival at your place of quarantine as well as complete daily COVID-19 symptom self-assessments using the ArriveCAN app. Always follow the instructions you are given at the border.

Other requirements on arrival

Although many of Canada’s border measures have been eased for fully vaccinated travellers, there are still a few federal requirements that you must follow after entry to Canada. For details, see Travel to Canada: Requirements for COVID-19 vaccinated travellers.

Children or dependents

If you are travelling with children and/or unvaccinated adult dependents, please visit the Government of Canada website for specific guidance on requirements after entry.

If students or family members travelling with them develop COVID-19 symptoms during their self-isolation, please call 8-1-1 to talk to a nurse at HealthLinkBC. 8-1-1 has translation services in 130 languages. You can also find more information at HealthLinkBC.

Getting vaccinated in BC

International students are eligible to be vaccinated in BC!

If you are unvaccinated, see how to get vaccinated for COVID-19. If you don’t have a Personal Health Number (PHN) yet, you will need to register by phone. A PHN will be created for you when you register. (*Important: This temporary PHN is not medical insurance. You still need to apply for the BC Medical Services Plan [MSP] as soon as possible).

If you are partially vaccinated or were vaccinated outside BC, see do I need another vaccine in BC?

  • If it is recommended that you get another dose, follow the instructions to submit your current vaccination record and register for your vaccination.
  • If you do not need another dose, follow the instructions to submit your current vaccination record, register in BC’s immunization registry, and download your BC Vaccine Card or Canadian Proof of Vaccination document.

Proof of vaccination for boarding a plane or train in Canada

As of June 20, 2022, vaccination is no longer required to board an airplane or train in Canada. You must still wear a mask throughout your journey as well as comply with any other health requirements that may be in place for passengers. For more information, see COVID-19 Boarding flights and trains in Canada.

You do not need a COVID-19 test to board a plane or train in Canada unless you are flying to a country that requires it. Make sure to research the entry requirements of your destination before you travel.

If you are entering Canada from another country, you must continue to follow all entry requirements such as vaccination and testing (if applicable).

Proof of vaccination documents

Canadian Proof of Vaccination document
  • The Canadian (federal) proof of vaccination can be used when travelling within and outside of Canada.
  • To get your document, go to and use your Personal Health Number (PHN) to download your document. Save a digital copy to your phone and/or print a paper copy.
  • If you plan to use this document for travel to other countries, be sure to research whether or not it will be accepted in your destination.
  • See About the Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination for current information.
BC Vaccine Card (proof of vaccination) 
  • As of April 8, 2022, there is no requirement for events, services or businesses to check proof of vaccination. Individual businesses and event organizers may opt to continue to require proof of vaccination for entry to their premises. For information about this program, see Proof of vaccination.

UVic self-declaration (vaccination status)

UVic students, staff and faculty coming to campus are no longer required to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status.

We know that the impact of this global pandemic has made starting, and continuing, student studies more complex. Please know that we are here to support students and look forward to welcoming them to the the Division of Continuing Studies at UVic.

Isolating in a new and different country may present challenges and raise questions. If students have questions, or need assistance, please email uvcsimmigration@uvic.ca.