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Fully vaccinated international students are exempt from Canada’s quarantine requirement

Languages Canada is pleased to confirm that, as of July 5, 2021, fully vaccinated international students with a valid study permit are exempt from Canada’s quarantine requirement upon entry. This development greatly reduces cost and complication of entry into Canada for a growing segment of the international student population.

There are no changes to existing entry and quarantine requirements for unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers. These students must hold a valid study permit, have a negative COVID-19 test result from a test taken not more than 72 hours before arrival, quarantine for three days at a designated government hotel, quarantine the remaining 11 days, and be tested on day one and 8 (tests provided).

Understanding the new rules

The new rules, which include quarantine exemption, apply only to those travellers who meet specific conditions. To be exempt from quarantine, students must:

  • Be eligible to enter Canada;
  • Have no COVID-19 symptoms (be asymptomatic);
  • Have received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine or combination of accepted vaccines at least 14 days prior to entering Canada (see list of accepted vaccines below);
  • Have proof of vaccination (in English or French, or a certified translation into English or French);
  • Take a COVID-19 molecular test within 72 hours before arrival in Canada and obtain confirmation of a negative result;
  • Have a suitable back-up quarantine plan in place prior to departure in case border officials deny quarantine exemption upon arrival; and
  • Meet all other entry requirements including entering all necessary information into the ArriveCAN app prior to departure.
Accepted vaccines in Canada
  • Pfizer (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2) – two doses

  • Moderna (mRNA-1273) – two doses
  • AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria, AZD1222, Covishield) – two doses
  • Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) - single dose
Vaccines not currently accepted for fully vaccinated status in Canada
  • Bharat Biotech (Covaxin, BBV152 A, B, C)
  • Cansino (Convidecia, Ad5-nCoV)
  • Gamalaya (Sputnik V, Gam-Covid-Vac)
  • Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV, Sinopharm-Wuhan)
  • Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc)
  • Vector Institute (EpiVacCorona)
  • Other

Pre-entry test requirements

All travellers 5 years of age or older, regardless of citizenship, must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result. You don't require a test to fly within Canada. If you're flying to Canada, you must take a test within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time of your flight to Canada. Airlines will refuse boarding to travellers who are unable to provide a valid molecular test result.

There are no exemptions to pre-entry testing for fully vaccinated travellers.

Arrival testing

Fully vaccinated travellers must still take a COVID-19 test upon arrival. Tests are administered free of charge at the airport of arrival. You can then travel on to your destination. You don’t need to wait for your arrival test results.

If your arrival test is negative:

  • Follow local public health measures;
  • Maintain a list of all close contacts for your first 14 days in Canada;
  • Keep copies of your proof of vaccination for 14 days.

If your arrival test is positive:

  • Isolate yourself from others right away;
  • You will be contacted by your local public health authority;
  • Follow their instructions;
  • Keep copies of your proof of vaccination for 14 days.

Sources: Fully vaccinated travellers entering Canada during COVID-19COVID-19 testing for travellers.

See also: COVID-19 Travel Tool Kit, for more detailed guidance and additional resources.

IMPORTANT: Languages Canada strongly recommends that schools do not accept a fully vaccinated student into their campus until they have proof of the student’s negative COVID-19 test administered upon arrival. This will protect students and schools and ensure schools’ continued compliance with their provincially approved Institutional Readiness Plan.

Fully vaccinated students must have a back-up quarantine plan

Fully vaccinated travellers must have a suitable quarantine plan in place and enter the address of their intended place of quarantine in the ArriveCAN app BEFORE travelling to Canada in the event CBSA officers determine they do not meet requirements for quarantine exemption.

Obtaining a suitable back-up quarantine plan through the Study Safe Corridor

In an effort to help them come prepared, Study Safe Corridor (SSC) operator The Student Travels can provide fully vaccinated students with a suitable back-up quarantine plan, at no cost, allowing them to enter a quarantine hotel address into the ArriveCAN app prior to departure. Student may activate their plan if they are denied quarantine exemption upon arrival.

To obtain a free back-up quarantine plan through the Study Safe Corridor, fully vaccinated students should:

Further information and instructions will then be provided.

How the SSC back-up quarantine plan works

The free back-up quarantine plan obtained through the Study Safe Corridor is provided in the form of a letter containing all relevant information and instructions, along with the address of a Study Safe Corridor quarantine hotel, which the student can enter into the ArriveCAN app prior to departure.

Upon arrival, in the event the student does not meet requirements for quarantine exemption, CBSA officers will provide them with instructions for booking a 3-night stay at a government-authorized hotel.

As soon as possible, the student will need to activate their SSC back-up quarantine plan by following the instructions provided in their letter and emailing contactus@thestudenttravels.com.

The team at the The Student Travels will guide the student through the online process of booking and paying for their Study Safe Corridor quarantine package to fulfill the 11 remaining days of their 14-day quarantine, following their 3 night government-authorized hotel stay. 

View details and pricing for quarantine packages in 19 cities across Canada >

Please note: Not having a suitable quarantine plan may result in students being denied entry into Canada and returned to their country of origin. We recommend that students who choose to prepare their own quarantine plan use the Canadian government's quarantine plan assessment tool to determine whether or not their plan is acceptable.

Should you have any questions about the SSC back-up quarantine plan, The Student Travels team will be happy to help at contactus@thestudenttravels.com.