International students will be able to travel to Canada from October 20 if their designated learning institution (DLI) has a government-approved COVID-19 readiness plan in place.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announcement, made Friday, applies to all international students, regardless of where they are travelling from and when they received approval for a Canadian study permit.
“As part of their plans, DLIs are expected to provide specifics to their provincial or territorial government on how they will provide information to international students on health and travel requirements before they arrive in Canada, help students with their quarantine plans and provide guidance or assistance in acquiring the necessities of life, such as food and medication, during their quarantine,” said the IRCC.
The IRCC will post a list of schools with approved COVID-19 readiness plans on its website. The list will be updated regularly as more schools are approved.
International students studying at a school with an approved readiness plan and with the appropriate documents to come to Canada will be considered non-discretionary and non-optional, unless there is evidence to the contrary that the student is entering Canada for a discretionary or optional purpose, like tourism.
Immediate family members, such as a spouse or common-law partner, a dependant, or parent or legal guardian (if the student is a minor) may be allowed to accompany the student to Canada, granted their reason for travel is non-optional or non-discretionary.
International students, along with any accompanying family members, will have to abide by the mandatory 14-day quarantine period on entering Canada, as well as all other public health measures.
The IRCC advises students not to make any travel arrangements before meeting all requirements and receiving necessary authorizations.
