As of October 20, schools, colleges, and other designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada with approved coronavirus-readiness plans can now begin accepting new international students. 

Earlier this month, the ministers involved in both immigration and public health announced their intention to work closely with provincial and territorial governments to ensure that DLIs were equipped with coronavirus-readiness plans that would allow them to resume classes on campus and begin accepting new study permit holders. 

Who can travel to Canada?

Prior to the announcement on October 20, only international students whose study permits were approved before March 18, 2020 (the date that travel restrictions and coronavirus protocols were enforced in Canada) were allowed to travel to the country.

With this latest update, international students who were approved during the first stage of Canada’s new two-step study permit process may now move forward to complete the second step. Completing the first step allowed students to enroll for online classes during the fall semester. Upon completing step two, however, students may then receive a full study permit, which will allow them to travel to Canada. 

Students who wish to travel to Canada in order to attend classes must comply with the following conditions:

• The student must have a valid study permit or a letter of introduction that indicates they were approved for a study permit.
• The student must be attending a designated learning institution (DLI) with a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by its province or territory.

Once these conditions have been met, the student is then considered an essential traveler, and will be allowed to enter Canada’s borders. If the student’s study program has been cancelled or suspended, or if they wish to travel to Canada for reasons outside of study, they will not be permitted to enter.

International students are still required to observe the mandatory 14-day quarantine period upon arrival. 

Which DLIs can accept international students?

Only designated learning institutions (DLIs) whose COVID-19 readiness plans have met the approval of their provincial or territorial government may begin accepting new international students.

These plans must include how the DLIs intend to manage the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for their international students, including arrangements for transportation where the students will be spending quarantine. The DLIs must also provide the students with sufficient support and information regarding how to acquire food, medicine, and health insurance during their quarantine period.

International students must also be able to contact their DLI for more information or any concerns regarding COVID-19 readiness plans.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has published the full list of DLIs who are ready to accept international students on their webpage, and will continue to update the page as more DLIs meet their approval. Any DLI that is unable to maintain provincial or territorial health standards regarding the coronavirus will immediately be removed from the list.

As of this announcement, the province Quebec has declared that all post-secondary institutions have received approval for their COVID-19 readiness plans. However, they do still encourage students to check their website for the complete list. 

As for the other provinces, 39 post-secondary DLIs have been approved in both Alberta and British Columbia. Manitoba has approved 10 schools, New Brunswick has approved 13 DLIs, and three have been approved in Newfoundland and Labrador. Ontario has approved 14 institutions, while Prince Edward Island has approved only five in Prince Edward Island so far. Saskatchewan has approved seven DLIs, and Yukon has approved only one school so far. 

As of this list, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, and the Northwestern Territories have yet to approve any institution.

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