Janice Lozano
As of 20 October 2020, Canada's borders officially reopened for international students enrolled at coronavirus-ready schools with a government-approved COVID-19 readiness plan in place. Students must still undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine period and provide a letter of explanation for any missing documents. While this decision was welcomed by Canada's international educators, it came after weeks of lobbying, planning, and preparation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Border status for international students | Not fully open, but students may enter if enrolled in a designated learning institution with a COVID-19 readiness plan |
| Date of reopening | 20 October 2020 |
| Requirements for entry | Valid study permit or approval for a study permit on or before March 18, 2020; inability to study online from home country; travel for an essential, non-discretionary purpose |
| Quarantine requirements | 14-day mandatory quarantine for all travellers, including international students |
| Visa processing time | 19 to 20 weeks |
| Application process | Complete applications with as many documents as possible are processed first |
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What You'll Learn
- International students must quarantine for 14 days when entering Canada
- Visa processing is taking longer than usual
- US citizens may be permitted to enter Canada if they're travelling for a non-discretionary reason
- International students must attend a designated learning institution (DLI) with a COVID-19 readiness plan
- Students must have all required documents and be asymptomatic when they arrive in Canada
International students must quarantine for 14 days when entering Canada
As of 21 February 2021, travellers entering Canada by land must use the ArriveCAN app to submit their quarantine plan. Those arriving by air must do the same before boarding their flight. International students must also submit a quarantine plan to their college to receive a supporting travel letter. This is mandatory, even if they have been fully vaccinated. Students must also have a valid study permit or a letter of introduction indicating that they have been granted a study permit in a designated learning institution with a COVID-19 readiness plan.
The quarantine period includes a 3-night stay at a government-approved hotel and an 11-day quarantine stay at a different location. Students must arrange their own quarantine accommodations before arriving in Canada, and all quarantine accommodations must be paid for by the student. Confirmation of reservations must be included in the quarantine plan submitted to the college.
During the quarantine period, students must adhere to public health measures, including monitoring for COVID-19 signs and symptoms, wearing a mask in public, and keeping a copy of their valid vaccination evidence. Students will also need to submit a daily health report.
Students who have received two doses of vaccines under four types of government rules, including AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna, will be exempt from the 14-day quarantine and day-8 testing requirements. However, students need to comply with all mandatory requirements under Canadian immigration law.
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Visa processing is taking longer than usual
As of 2020, Canada's borders were not fully open for international students. Visa processing was taking longer than usual due to the restrictions caused by the pandemic. The pandemic also made it impossible for students to commute to Canada from the US for classes.
Before the pandemic, visa processing used to take up to a month. However, the turnaround time increased to 19 to 20 weeks during the pandemic. Deena Wang, manager of international recruitment at the University of Windsor in Ontario, said that the government aims to process the majority of the applications before the program starts.
There are several reasons why visa processing is taking longer than usual. Firstly, the visa process for visitors can be complicated and messy. Secondly, if the information submitted as part of the immigration application is complicated to vet, such as financial information or data provided through foreign archives, then it may take a long time for officers to verify all the information. For instance, identification issued by offices outside of Canada may need to be double-checked by contacting the foreign office responsible for issuing the ID used for the application, which may add days or even weeks to the processing time. Thirdly, your processing time may be affected if more people apply to immigrate to Canada than the country can bring in each year. Lastly, if there is any improper paperwork, the immigration officer may believe that the applicant is trying to manipulate the process or falsify information, leading to lengthy delays.
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US citizens may be permitted to enter Canada if they're travelling for a non-discretionary reason
As of 1 October 2022, the Canadian border is open to all US citizens, including unvaccinated ones. However, before this date, US citizens were only permitted to enter Canada if they were travelling for a non-discretionary reason. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which Canada imposed tight border restrictions.
On 21 March 2020, the Canadian land border was closed to all non-essential travel. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) denied entry to tens of thousands of people because their reason for travel was deemed discretionary. However, the CBSA also pointed out that there were many legitimate reasons why Americans may have entered the country during this time. These included trade and other travel deemed essential. The majority of people entering by land were truck drivers, who were deemed essential workers.
US citizens travelling to Canada for non-discretionary reasons during the pandemic may have included those visiting family, doing business, or performing official duties. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), US citizens who showed up at the border and could prove they were travelling for a non-discretionary reason may have been permitted to enter Canada, even without a valid permit. However, international students from the US still risked being turned away if their physical presence in Canada was deemed non-essential.
On 20 October 2020, Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marco Mendicino announced that the country would reopen its borders to international students. Students could enter Canada if they were attending a designated learning institution (DLI) that had been identified by their provincial or territorial government as having a COVID-19 readiness plan in place. This marked a shift in Canada's border policy, allowing more US citizens to enter the country, including those travelling for educational purposes.
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International students must attend a designated learning institution (DLI) with a COVID-19 readiness plan
As of 20 October 2020, international students could enter Canada if they were attending a designated learning institution (DLI) with an approved COVID-19 readiness plan in place. This was announced by Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marco Mendicino.
A DLI is a school or institution approved by the Canadian government to admit international students. Provinces and territories determine the eligibility of an institution to become a DLI, working with Citizenship and Immigration Canada to ensure only qualified foreigners enter Canada for study purposes. The designated institutes are given a DLI number and are regulated by the federal department or office.
International students must obtain a letter of approval through a designated institution before acquiring a study permit. A study permit will only be granted if the student petitions and gains acceptance at a designated institution. Students must also certify their intention to vacate the country at the end of their permitted stay.
International students must enrol continuously at a DLI. If a student changes their program but the duration remains the same, their study permit will not be affected. However, if they change the level of study, for example from a bachelor's to a master's degree, they must notify the immigration authority, but they will not need a new study permit.
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Students must have all required documents and be asymptomatic when they arrive in Canada
As of 20 October 2020, Canada's borders reopened to international students enrolled at coronavirus-ready schools. However, students must meet several requirements before and upon arrival in Canada.
Firstly, students must apply for a study permit before arriving in Canada. US citizens and residents of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are exempt from this requirement. Students need to provide a port of entry letter of introduction showing approval for a study permit on or before 18 March 2020 if coming from another country. Immediate family members of students can accompany them, provided their travel reason is essential, such as having a work permit to support the student's program.
Secondly, students must possess all the required documents and be asymptomatic upon arrival in Canada. Border control ensures that only essential travellers are permitted entry, and international students must meet specific criteria. They must be attending a designated learning institution (DLI) with a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by the provincial or territorial government. Additionally, students must travel for an essential, non-discretionary purpose, such as having restrictions that prevent them from studying online from their home country.
It is important to note that visa and study permit processing times have increased significantly due to the pandemic. Students should expect longer wait times than the typical one-month pre-pandemic duration. Thus, it is advisable to start the application process early and have all the necessary documents ready.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, international students are required to supply as many documents as possible along with a letter of explanation for missing documents. They will also need to apply for a study permit before arriving in Canada, although there are exemptions for US citizens and residents of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.
All international students must be enrolled at a coronavirus-ready school with a government-approved COVID-19 readiness plan in place. They will also need to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine period.
Due to the pandemic, visa processing is taking longer than usual. It now takes between 19 to 20 weeks to process student visas online, whereas before the pandemic it took up to a month.
