International students: New Canada vaccination rules for entering and travelling inside Canada

ENTERING CANADA - New Vaccination rules

Effective November 30, 2021, the Government of Canada has expanded its list of accepted vaccines for the purposes of entry into Canada and exemption from some testing and quarantine requirements.

The list will include Sinopharm, Sinovac and COVAXIN, matching the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL).

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2021/11/adjustments-to-canadas-border-and-travel-measures.html To be considered fully vaccinated, a traveller must have received the full series of a vaccine—or combination of vaccines—accepted by the Government of Canada at least 14 days prior to entering Canada.

Travellers can receive their vaccine in any country, and must upload their proof of vaccination in English or French into ArriveCAN when travelling to Canada.

If the proof of vaccination is not in English or French, travellers must provide a certified translation in English or French.

Travellers must bring proof with them when they travel that includes text with the vaccinations and dates received.

Travellers must also comply with all other measures including pre-entry testing (unless exempt) and a suitable quarantine plan.

Entry Requirements: Adjustments for certain travellers entering Canada As of January 15, 2022, certain groups of travellers, who are currently exempt from entry requirements, will only be allowed to enter the country if they are fully vaccinated with one of the vaccines approved for entry into Canada. These groups include:

• International students (18 years of age and over)

  • Fully vaccinated students will be allowed to attend any provincially or territorially designated learning institution in Canada.

  • Unvaccinated students under the age of 18 must attend a designated learning institution with a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by the province or territory where the school is located.

TRAVEL WITHIN CANADA - new vaccination requirements

As of November 30, 2021, travellers need to be fully vaccinated to travel within Canada with very few exceptions. There is a limited period, until January 14, 2022, during which individuals in specified exempt groups can continue to enter the country if unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, as well as take a connecting flight to their final destination that is scheduled to depart within 24 hours of the departure time of their flight to enter Canada. However, if they remain unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, they will not be allowed to take a plane or train beyond their original connection, except to depart Canada before February 28, 2022. As such, all travellers are strongly advised to make plans to get vaccinated as soon as they can, in order to travel freely in and outside the country. On January 15, 2022, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers will only be allowed to enter Canada if they meet one of the limited exceptions, including:

• children under the age of 18 who are currently exempt from the travel restrictions, including international students who are studying at a designated learning institution that has a COVID-19 readiness plan; those travelling with a parent, step-parent, tutor or guardian who is either fully vaccinated, or a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada or person registered under the Indian Act; and those travelling to reunite with immediate or extended Canadian family members in Canad

TRAVEL WITHIN CANADA

As of November 30, 2021, a valid COVID-19 test will no longer be accepted as an alternative to vaccination for travel within Canada. To take a flight or a train, travellers must be fully vaccinated with one of the expanded list of vaccinations unless they qualify for a limited exemption to this requirement.

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