Procedures for International Student Arrival

Pre-Arrival Requirements

Under new requirements for air travel that take effect February 22, 2021, in addition to providing a negative COVID-19 molecular test 72 hours before your scheduled flight at the airport, when the student arrives in Canada, they must take another COVID-19 test before leaving the airport and spend 3 days in quarantine at a federal government-authorized hotel.

With a clear test result, the student can proceed to the quarantine site identified in their quarantine plan.  Ten-days into their quarantine, the student will use a take-home test provided at their arrival in Canada. A further clear result is required before leaving quarantine at 14 days. For more information, see the flow-chart below:

See attachment HERE

The list of government-authorized hotels will be available to students on February 18, 2020 via this link.    

Details on these requirements, and the requirements for travellers arriving at land border crossings, are available on line: Government of Canada expands restrictions to international travel by land and air – Canada.ca

More information is available from the Government of Canada:

• Entering Canada by air during COVID-19

• Entering Canada by land during COVID-19

• Additional testing and more stringent quarantine requirements for travel to Canada

• ArriveCAN

• Travel restrictions in Canada – Visitors, foreign workers and students

Orders in Council related to the Quarantine Act  

COVID-19 testing required for people flying into Canada

Starting January 7, 2021, air travellers 5 years of age or older will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test result to the airline prior to boarding international flights bound for Canada. See the news release for air travellers.

Before travelling to Canada, all travellers must plan for their mandatory 14-day quarantine period, which starts on the date they arrive. Prior to arrival, international students and co-arriving family members must inform their arrival and quarantine plan to Story Institute, including arrangements for:

• Transportation from the airport to their housing (must wear a mask and avoid public transportation other than taxi)

• Housing

• Health insurance that covers COVID-19. International students must secure health insurance that covers COVID-19 and include the name of the company/policy in their pre-arrival plan. We have options available such as GuardMe insurance, but international students are welcome to choose the policy that best fits their needs.

• Students should travel directly from the airport to their place of stay. In addition, they may not have contact with vulnerable individuals or be living in a group or communal setting (except for family members) and the quarantine accommodation should enable individual physical distancing and infection-prevention control. 

• Although we provide third-party recommendations of the services above, students are responsible for securing their own arrangements.

Governmental Pre-Arrival Requirements (source here).

• As of November 21, 2020, air travellers whose final destination is Canada will be required to submit their information electronically through ArriveCAN before they board their flight. This includes travel and contact information, quarantine plan (unless exempted under conditions set out in the Mandatory Isolation Order), and COVID-19 symptom self-assessment. 
• Travellers must be ready to show their ArriveCAN receipt when seeking entry into Canada; a border services officer will verify that they have submitted their information digitally. Travellers who do not submit the required information digitally before boarding their flight could be subject to enforcement action, which can range from verbal warnings to $1,000 fine. Exceptions will be made for those unable to submit documents electronically due to personal circumstances, such as disability or inadequate infrastructure. 

• Download the ArriveCAN app here: iOS, Android or web format. 

• International students must adhere to the Quarantine Act.

14-day Quarantine Requirements

After you enter Canada:

• As of November 21, 2020, travellers who enter Canada by air, land or marine modes, unless exempted under conditions set out in the Mandatory Isolation Order, will also be required to submit information through ArriveCAN or by calling the 1-833-641-0343 toll-free number during their quarantine or isolation period. Within 48 hours of entering Canada, travellers must confirm they have arrived at their place of quarantine or isolation and those in quarantine must complete a daily COVID-19 symptom self-assessment during their quarantine period.  
• Travellers who don’t use ArriveCAN to submit their information before entering Canada will be required to call the 1-833-641-0343 toll-free number on a daily basis throughout their quarantine or isolation period to provide their post-border information. They will not be able to revert to using ArriveCAN.

  Travellers who do not submit the mandatory information required after they have crossed the border will be considered a high priority for follow-up by law enforcement.

• Government of Canada representatives will conduct health screenings at the time of entry to Canada and let you know if you need to quarantine or isolate.

• International students and co-arriving immediate family members are responsible for on-going self-monitoring and assessment of COVID-19 symptoms. 

• Story Institute will communicate regularly with international students during quarantine to maintain up-to-date on their health status and well-being, verify if they have been conducting the daily self-assessments, and provide them updated information about COVID-19.

• If you don’t have COVID-19 symptoms, you must quarantine for 14 days while you’re still at risk of developing symptoms and infecting others.

• Should you develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 during your 14 day quarantine, you must begin isolating for an additional 14 days from the date of your positive test result or onset of symptoms.

• During Quarantine, we will involve international students in our community via social media channels such as Facebook and Instagram, and regularly set up calls to help the student get familiarized with Vancouver and the local culture. International students will be supported with mental health and cultural/religious topics by having access to our health and safety resources here.

• Please read and follow the Quarantine instructions for travellers without symptoms of COVID-19 returning to Canada.