Travelling to Canada: step by step
Step 1: Check if you're eligible
Not all students can travel to Canada.
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Step 1: Check if you're eligible
Not all students can travel to Canada.
As of January 7, 2021, all travellers flying to Canada must take a COVID-19 PCR or LAMP test within 72 hours before your flight’s scheduled departure time and provide a negative test result to travel to Canada.
On October 2, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced amended travel restrictions for international students effective October 20, 2020.
Country specific travel restrictions may be announced. If you are travelling from the United Kingdom, be sure to check the latest updates.
The British Columbia (BC) government has approved UBC’s COVID-19 readiness plan and UBC is included in the list of Designated Learning Institutions able to reopen to international students outside Canada. As a result, as of October 20, 2020 most UBC students can travel to Canada if you meet the below requirements and have a self-quarantine plan.
If you are a US citizen or permanent resident, or a resident of Greenland or St. Pierre and Miquelon, you can now apply for a study permit on arrival in Canada – see below.
A study permit approval-in-principle is not acceptable for travel. Do not travel to Canada until you have received your Letter of Introduction.
As of September 25, you can apply for a study permit in person at the airport or border crossing on arrival in Canada. If you will travel, make sure you carry all original documents for a study permit application with you to be prepared to apply on arrival.
If you have already submitted an online study permit application which is still being processed, you will probably need to submit and pay for a new application on arrival in Canada. After you have entered Canada, send a webform to request that your online application is cancelled as well as request a refund. If processing has already begun on your application, such as you have received your study permit approval-in-principle, you likely will not be eligible for a refund.
As of October 20, 2020, your travel will be considered ‘essential’ so long as you are a current, enrolled UBC international student, even if all your courses have moved online. When you arrive in Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer will use their judgment to determine whether or not you can be admitted to Canada.
You can not travel for purposes other than studies, such as tourism, dealing with housing arrangements, or to gather your belongings, even if you have a valid study permit. In this case, your travel will be considered ‘non-essential’.
You must either have time to self-isolate for 14 days before your in-person component begins or be able to study online during your self-isolation period.
You can find the documents you need to prepare for your travel in the next step.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to get pre-approval on whether or not your travel is considered essential. However, based on the amended travel restrictions, all current, enrolled UBC international students are considered to meet the requirement of traveling for an essential purpose if traveling for studies.
To receive advice, you may email or call the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). If you are calling, please ask for and take note of the agent’s badge number, the date and time you speak with the agent, and record notes of your conversation in case you need to refer to this in the future.
You may also consider contacting your airline to confirm what documentation they will request to board your flight.
The CBSA officer you meet with when you arrive in Canada will make the final decision on whether you can enter Canada.
See IRCC’s travelling to Canada tool for guidance on travel restrictions.
There is no specific earliest date you can travel; however, an officer may have concerns if you are travelling several months before you begin your studies. Arriving the month before you begin studies would not be a concern.
Do not travel or purchase non-refundable flight tickets or make non-refundable accommodation deposits until you have received your Letter of Introduction (study permit approval).
This information is accurate as of January 7, 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.