International students must be fully vaccinated to enter Canada from Jan. 15

Travellers must be fully vaccinated to enter Canada from Jan. 15, 2022, announced the Canadian government. This ruling includes international students travelling to Canada and individuals who were previously allowed to enter the country without being fully vaccinated.

The government said there will also be changes to testing and quarantine exemptions for certain travellers, regardless of citizenship, entering Canada. Currently, unvaccinated or partially-vaccinated foreigners will only be allowed to travel to Canada if they meet an exemption. 

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Travelling to Canada: What international students should know

International students travelling to Canada should receive the full series of a vaccine or a combination of vaccines accepted by the Canadian government. The final dose must be administered at least 14 days before entering the country. Canada’s approved vaccines currently include:

• Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty
• Moderna Spikevax
• AstraZeneca Vaxzevria/COVISHIELD
• Janssen/Johnson & Johnson
• Bharat Biotech Covaxin
• Sinopharm BIBP
• Sinovac/CoronaVac/PiCoVacc

Fully vaccinated travellers must also meet all other entry criteria, including being asymptomatic upon arrival; having a paper or digital copy of their proof of vaccination in English or French (or certified translation); and having a suitable quarantine plan, in case it is required.

Previously, travelling to Canada was possible for international students who held a valid study permit or who had been approved for a study permit on or before March 18, 2020; and international students attending a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) that has obtained prior approval of its response plan to control the spread of COVID-19 from the provincial government.

Canada is among the leading study abroad destinations that have kept their borders open to international students. Research by IDP Connect last year showed that student sentiments on Canada as a study abroad destination remain strong. More than one-third of students (39%) reported that Canada was their first choice, followed by the US and UK (both 17%) and Australia at 16%.