On Monday, the Canadian government announced that, thanks to the strong vaccination rollout and effective pandemic control, it will open its border to the United States on August 9. Fully vaccinated US citizens and permanent residents will be allowed to enter Canada without the 14-day mandatory quarantine.
Additionally, five more airports will be opened to international flights. International students arriving after 12:00 a.m. on August 9 will no longer be required to do the 3-night government-authorized hotel quarantine. This is great news for students returning to Canada!
From September 7, Canada plans to fully relax entry restrictions, allowing fully vaccinated travelers from all other countries to enter Canada without quarantine.
Today, CheersYou（清柚教育） will provide a detailed interpretation of Canada’s latest entry policies and a back-to-school guide for international students.
Canada’s Latest Entry Policy Explained
Gradual Easing of Travel Restrictions
Starting August 9, eligible US citizens and permanent residents will be able to travel to Canada for non-essential purposes and be exempt from the 14-day quarantine. This is the first step in Canada’s plan to fully relax entry rules by September 7.
Prime Minister Trudeau noted that Canada leads other G20 countries in vaccination rates, with about 80% of Canadians having received their first dose and over 50% fully vaccinated. COVID-19 cases and severe illness continue to decline. Therefore, the government is confident it can welcome fully vaccinated travelers from all countries by early September.
From August 9, US citizens and permanent residents who meet the following conditions can enter Canada without quarantine:
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Fully vaccinated with one of the four vaccines approved by Canada (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, or Johnson & Johnson)
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Completed the full vaccination at least 14 days before entry
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Unvaccinated children under 12, or dependent children who cannot be vaccinated due to physical/mental conditions, may also enter with a fully vaccinated guardian and are exempt from quarantine
If the pandemic situation remains well-controlled in early September, Canada will further ease entry restrictions for international travelers.
From September 7, international travelers meeting these criteria can enter Canada without quarantine:
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Fully vaccinated with one of the four vaccines approved by Canada (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, or Johnson & Johnson)
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Completed the full vaccination at least 14 days before entry
In addition, fully vaccinated travelers must also meet these requirements:
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Before traveling to Canada, provide COVID-19 vaccination proof and other information via ArriveCAN (app or website)
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Provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours before the flight departure/arrival at the land border
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Be asymptomatic upon arrival
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Travelers can be vaccinated in any country, but must provide proof of vaccination in English or French, or a certified translation
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Submit a quarantine plan as a precaution
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Follow public health rules, including wearing masks in public spaces like airports and on planes
Travelers who do not meet the requirements may be denied entry and face penalties. It is essential to fully understand the entry policies before traveling.
Number of Airports for International Flights Expanded to 9
Additionally, from August 9, Transport Canada plans to add five more airports for international flights, including:
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Halifax International Airport
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Quebec City International Airport
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Ottawa International Airport
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Winnipeg International Airport
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Edmonton International Airport
Together with the four airports already open to international flights:
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Montréal International Airport
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Toronto International Airport
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Calgary International Airport
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Vancouver International Airport
This makes a total of nine airports available for international arrivals. This means international students will have more flight options, which could help ease the shortage of overpriced tickets.
Relaxed Testing and Quarantine Rules
Starting August 9, Canada will implement a new border testing program at airports and land crossings:
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Fully vaccinated travelers will not be required to take a test upon arrival, unless randomly selected for a Day 1 COVID-19 molecular test
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Travelers who do not meet the fully vaccinated criteria must still undergo mandatory testing
Quarantine rules will also be further relaxed, including:
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The 3-night government-authorized hotel stay requirement is removed for all travelers
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Travelers who do not meet the fully vaccinated criteria must still undergo Day 1 and Day 8 COVID-19 molecular tests and complete a 14-day quarantine
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Children under 12, or dependent children who cannot be vaccinated due to physical/mental reasons, may be exempt from the 14-day quarantine if their guardian meets the fully vaccinated criteria, but must strictly follow public health rules
Therefore, international students arriving after 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time on August 9 will no longer need to do the 3-night hotel quarantine!
Which Vaccines Are Recognized by Canada?
Currently, only four vaccines are recognized by Canada:
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Pfizer-BioNTech
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Moderna
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AstraZeneca
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Johnson & Johnson
Chinese vaccines are not yet on the list. However, the Canadian government has indicated that the approved vaccine list may be expanded in the future, so there is some reason for hope.
Preparation for International Students Returning to Canada
What do students returning after August 9 need to prepare? CheersYou（清柚教育） will walk you through it.
Before You Leave
1. Check Your Entry Eligibility
Visit the official Canadian website to complete the questionnaire and determine whether you can enter Canada and what documents you will need.
For Chinese students departing from China, you must also meet these conditions:
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Your school must be a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) with a COVID-19 readiness plan
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Valid passport, Canadian study permit or relevant authorization
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Ensure your medical exam is still valid
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Hold a letter of acceptance from the school
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Provide proof of funds
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Meet COVID-19 testing and quarantine requirements
2. Register on ArriveCAN
All travelers must submit their travel information via ArriveCAN (app or web) before boarding, including a detailed scanned copy of vaccination proof, travel details, quarantine plan, etc., and then obtain a receipt with a QR code.
Note: Upon entry, you must present the original vaccination proof.
3. COVID-19 Test
All travelers must take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours before departure and present a negative result.
4. Book Your Arrival Tests
If you do not meet the fully vaccinated criteria, you need to book Day 1 and Day 8 COVID-19 molecular tests.
5. Submit a Quarantine Plan
Regardless of vaccination status, you must submit a quarantine plan as a precaution. The plan should include: a place where you can quarantine for 14 days or more, sufficient daily supplies during quarantine, no contact with others, no visitors, etc. Students can refer to templates available on Xiaohongshu.
Additionally, it is advisable to plan your flight so that you arrive in Canada no earlier than 28 days before the start of classes to avoid being denied entry.
Arriving in Canada
If you meet the fully vaccinated requirements, you need to present the following upon arrival:
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ArriveCAN receipt (digital or paper)
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Vaccination proof (original or certified translation)
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Negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours before entry
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Other supplementary documents
For travelers who do not meet the fully vaccinated criteria, you will also need to take tests on Day 1 and Day 8 after arrival and undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine.
The new semester is approaching, and Canadian universities are generally planning to reopen campuses and resume most in-person classes in Fall 2021, including U of T, UBC, University of Waterloo, McMaster University, and others.
However, each university may have its own specific requirements for returning to campus. For example, the University of Toronto (UT) requires dormitory residents to have received at least one vaccine dose:
The University of Waterloo requires international students to undergo a 14-day quarantine and COVID-19 testing.
Therefore, in addition to understanding the Canadian government’s latest entry policies, we recommend that you also closely monitor your own school’s requirements regarding vaccination, quarantine, testing, etc. Wishing everyone a smooth return to school in Canada!
