Step 1: Check if you're eligible
Step 2: Before you travel
Before you travel to Canada, make sure you prepare the right documents supporting essential travel, get a COVID-19 PCR or LAMP test within 72 hours before your flight’s scheduled departure time and have valid health insurance coverage for when you arrive.
Check if you’re eligible to travel before preparing documents.
As proof you are a current, enrolled UBC student, you will need a Letter of Enrollment which has been recently issued, ideally the same week that you travel. You can download this in your Student Services Centre (SSC) under "Grades and Records”. If you are not able to get a Letter of Enrollment from the SSC, contact an Academic Advisor or graduate program staff for a customized letter of enrollment.
Furthermore, you must show that you have sufficient proof of funds for yourself and any accompanying dependents. The amount you need to show proof for will depend on if you are a new or returning student and whether or not you have dependents.
See step 4 for a list of documents to bring when you travel.
As of January 7, 2021, all air passengers five years of age or older will be required to test negative for COVID-19 before travelling from another country to Canada. This requirement does not apply to your dependent children under 5 years old or if you are traveling by land from the US.
There are different types of COVID-19 tests. You must get a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or a Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) test. Antigen screening or other types of tests such as Diffractive Phase Interferometry are not acceptable.
The PCR or LAMP test must be performed at a reputable laboratory or testing facility, such as one recognized by local government or accredited by a third party, for example a professional organization, or International Standards Organization accreditation. Testing sites for some countries are listed on the Global Affairs Canada page - after selecting your current country of residence, select the ‘health’ tab, then see the COVID-19 Testing Facilities alert in the ‘Medical services and facilities’ section. If there are no testing sites listed, contact your local health authority to get information on testing locations. Confirm if an appointment is needed and schedule an appointment, if required.
You must take the test within 72 hours before your flight’s scheduled departure time, then receive and present your digital or printed negative test result to airline staff before you can board your flight.
Your test results must include:
Until January 21, 2021, travellers departing from Barbados, Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic can be tested up to 96 hours before departure.
Travellers departing from Haiti are are temporarily exempted from testing until January 21, 2021.
Costs and coverage for COVID-19 testing for travel purposes will depend on the country you are in and your local health insurance coverage. COVID-19 testing costs for travel will not be covered by the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan, the BC Medical Services Plan, or iMED.
Even if you have a negative test result, you will still need to complete the mandatory 14 day quarantine period.
See Transport Canada’s COVID-19 page, the FAQs, and the backgrounder for more information. We will continue to update this page as more details become available.
As a new student, you have temporary health insurance coverage for your first three months through iMED. Once you’ve arrived in Canada, you must apply for the BC Medical Service Plan (MSP) to cover your remaining time at UBC. Learn more about health insurance.
You will receive an email from David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS) with information related to your temporary iMED health insurance and instructions on how to confirm your arrival date in Canada. You must confirm your arrival date with DCIS.
We strongly recommend that starting 3 weeks before your travel date, you confirm your arrival date before travelling by providing your scanned flight tickets to DCIS.
You can also confirm your arrival with DCIS up to 3 weeks after you’ve arrived in Canada by providing your scanned flight tickets, boarding pass(es), study permit, passport stamp, or landing documents.
Once you confirm your arrival with DCIS, you will receive your iMED card by email. If you don’t receive your iMED card, please email DCIS at info@david-cummings.com.
Confirm the iMED coverage period on your iMED card is correct. iMED coverage should start from the month you arrive in BC plus two months to cover the BC MSP waiting period.
If your travel plans change, request an adjustment of your iMED coverage period. Once you know your new arrival date, submit an iMED date change request online through DCIS website before December 31, 2021. You will then receive a new iMED card with your new coverage period.
Before you travel, check whether you have valid BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage.
If you have been outside of Canada for less than six months and you did not cancel your MSP, ensure your MSP coverage has not expired. You should be able to be covered under MSP, however consider contacting BC MSP to confirm.
If you have been outside of Canada for more than six months, contact BC MSP to confirm your eligibility for coverage. If you can still be covered under MSP, no further action is required until your MSP expires.
Before you travel to Canada, you will need to get private health insurance, such as the Global Campus Health Plan, to cover the three-month MSP waiting period. Make sure the private health plan you choose has adequate coverage as some private health insurance companies are no longer covering COVID-19 testing and treatment.
As soon as you re-enter BC, apply for MSP online. See the Medical Service Plan Response to COVID-19 for the latest updates.
This information is accurate as of January 18, 2021, and is subject to change. Follow the latest updates on travel restrictions due to COVID-19. See also CBSA's updates on travel for non-Canadians.
