Flying to Canada between September 15, 2021 and November 21, 2021: Rules for International Students

New travel restrictions were released on September 15, 2021 and they will remain in force until November 21, 2021. This article summarizes how international students who are outside of the United States can fly to Canada to study.   

Who can travel to Canada? 

International students and their immediate family members can travel to Canada if an international student:

1. will attend a listed institution that has an approved COVID-19 readiness plan and
2. has a valid study permit or
3. holds a letter confirming that their study permit application was approved, but the actual study permit needs to be issued at the airport or
4. is a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States and can apply for a study permit at the airport or
5. is a resident of Greenland and can apply for a study permit at the airport or
6. is a resident of St. Pierre and Miquelon and can apply for a study permit at the airport or
7. is a student in a health field and is permitted to work in Canada for training purposes.

International students can bring the following family members:

• legally married spouse;
• common-law partner;
• dependent children, including step-children;
• dependent grandchildren;
• parents and step-parents, including in-laws and
• guardian or tutor.

Who cannot travel to Canada?

International students will generally not be allowed to fly to Canada if they:

1. have COVID-19;
2. have reasonable reasons to suspect that they have COVID-19;
3. if they show COVID-19 signs and symptoms or
4. cannot quarantine.

What to prepare for boarding a plane to Canada?

1. A negative COVID-19 molecular test that was taken 72 hours prior to the initially scheduled departure time or a positive COVID-19 molecular test that was taken 14 to 180 days prior to the initially scheduled departure time.
2. Proof of vaccination that entails:
3. the entity that administered the vaccine;
   1. the name of the person who received the vaccine;
   1. the brand name of the vaccine;
   1. the dates on which the vaccine was administered, and
   1. the number of doses received.

If the proof of vaccination is in a language other than English or French, it must be translated into English or French by a certified translator.  Only the following vaccines are accepted:

• Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2);
• Moderna (mRNA-1273);
• AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD (ChAdOx1-S, Vaxzevria, AZD1222) and
• Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S).
• A quarantine plan.
• Submit all relevant information and documents before boarding a plane to Canada:
  • through ArriveCAN app or
  • online (in Internet browser).

Flight bans?

Direct flights from Morocco have been suspended until October 29, 2021, while direct flights from India resumed on September 27, 2021.