Student Life

Travel Updates

At Niagara College - Toronto (NCT), we are committed to supporting our students and ensuring their journey to Canada is seamless. Here is where you’ll find the most updated information regarding COVID protocols and travel arrangements. When you start planning your trip to Canada, please make sure to thoroughly read this section first.

For any travel update inquiries please email us at torontotravelsupport@niagaracollegetoronto.ca

A woman listening to music with earphones on the plane

RECENT TRAVEL UPDATES

OCTOBER 1, 2022 - (GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TO REMOVE COVID-19 BORDER AND TRAVEL MEASURES EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, 2022)

**Please note that the information in this bulletin is subject to change at any time and NCT accepts no liabilities for any discrepancies. Please consult the Government of Canada website for the most up to date information. As the email address provided in this communication (torontoquarantine@niagaracollegetoronto.ca) is no longer in operation, general student inquiries can be directed to info@niagaracollegetoronto.ca.

Starting on October 1st the Government of Canada will lift all the restrictions/requirements for international travellers.

Effective October 1, 2022, all travellers, regardless of citizenship, will no longer have to:

submit public health information through the ArriveCAN app or website;
provide proof of vaccination;
undergo pre- or on-arrival testing;
carry out COVID-19-related quarantine or isolation; monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19 upon arriving to Canada

Transport Canada is also removing existing travel requirements. As of October 1, 2022, travellers will no longer be required to:

undergo health checks for travel on air and rail; or
wear masks on planes and trains.

For further information, please follow the link: Government of Canada to remove COVID-19 border and travel measures effective October 1 - Canada.ca

JUNE 2, 2022 - (CANADA IS EXTENDING CURRENT BORDER MEASURES)

As of May 31st, 2022, the Government of Canada is extending current border measures for travellers entering Canada until at least June 30, 2022. Learn more: COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders - Travel.gc.ca

*Please note that the information in this bulletin is subject to change at any time and NCT accepts no liabilities for any discrepancies. Please consult the Government of Canada website for the most up to date information.

APRIL 1, 2022 (COVID-19 – CURRENT BORDER MEASURE AND REQUIREMENTS)

Starting April 1, 2022, pre-entry tests will no longer be required for fully vaccinated travellers entering Canada by land, air, or water. Until then, follow the pre-entry test requirements. For more information, please read the official announcement by clicking here.

Please consult Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Government of Canada websites for information regarding entry to Canada, at this time. Non-discretionary travellers to Canada are expected to be aware and prepared to enter Canada fully apprised of the Government of Canada’s current or newly announced quarantine requirements, and understand how they may relate to them. Information provided on this page is subject to change at any time and Niagara College-Toronto accepts no liability for any discrepancies.

MARCH 8, 2022 (GOVERNMENT OF CANADA EXPANDS LIST OF AUTHORIZED VACCINES)

The Government of Canada has recently expanded the list of authorized COVID-19 Vaccines for entry into Canada.

NUVAXOVID was approved as of February 17, 2022: NUVAXOVID | COVID-19 vaccines and treatments portal (canada.ca)

Covifenz was approved as of February 24, 2022: Covifenz (virus-like particles (VLP) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein) | COVID-19 vaccines and treatments portal (canada.ca)

If you have taken the recommended dosage of either of these vaccines (2 doses minimum), you are eligible to enter Canada. To view a full list of vaccines accepted by the Government of Canada for the purposes of travel to Canada and to check if you qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller to Canada, please consult the Government of Canada website by clicking here.

PLEASE NOTE that although NUVAXOVID and Covifenz will allow you to enter Canada, these vaccines do not allow you to enter campus premises. To enter campus premises, you will have to be fully vaccinated with one of Public Health Canada’s Approved vaccines. For information on how you can receive a Public Health Canada Approved vaccine, please click HERE.

FEBRUARY 18, 2022 (GOVERNMENT OF CANADA LIGHTENS BORDER MEASURES)

The Government of Canada recently announced the easing of border measures. To read the full release, click here. As of February 28^th 2022 at 12:01AM (Eastern Standard Time), the following updates for all international travellers will take effect:

The Government of Canada will be easing the on-arrival testing for fully-vaccinated travelers. However, travelers will be randomly selected for arrival testing. Travelers will no longer be required to quarantine while waiting for test results.
There is no longer a requirement to quarantine if you are fully vaccinated.
Unvaccinated foreign travelers will not be permitted to enter Canada unless they meet one of the few exemptions. To understand if you can enter Canada, if you are not vaccinated, please use the Canadian government travel wizard.
Travelers will now have the option of using a COVID-19 rapid antigen test result (taken the day before their scheduled flight or arrival via a marine or land border). Alternatively, travelers can still take a molecular test no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight or arrival at a land or marine border). For the full list of acceptable COVID tests that you can take, please click here. Please note at the time of this announcement, the list of accepted COVID tests have not been updated, please check again after February 28^th, 2022.

Please note:

Students will still need valid immigration documents to travel to Canada. Additionally, they will still need to use the ArriveCAN application to submit their travel details. For more information and a checklist of items needed please click here.
Students will still need to email torontoquarantine@niagaracollegetoronto.ca two (2) weeks before they travel so that our team can review their immigration/vaccination documents. Our team will also issue students travel support letters for travel.
If you are planning on taking Air Canada, please email torontoquarantine@niagaracollegetoronto.ca to obtain a 15% off discount code for flights. Restrictions and conditions apply.

If at any time you would like to reach out to us regarding travel plans, please email torontoquarantine@niagaracollegetoronto.ca and a member of our team would be happy to help you.

Happy travels and we hope to see you soon!

Niagara College-Toronto
Student Services Team

DECEMBER 17, 2021 (LIFTING ENTRY PROHIBITIONS)

The Government of Canada decides to lift the extraordinary measures for travellers returning from the ten specific countries initially listed in light of the overwhelming evidence of community transmission of Omicron in most countries around the world, including Canada. This went into effect as of December 18 at 11:59pm.

For more information, please review the latest announcements from the Government of Canada here: Government of Canada announces additional measures to contain the spread of the Omicron variant - Canada.ca

NOVEMBER 30, 2021 (TESTING REQUIREMENT)

Fully vaccinated travellers who have been in any country other than Canada and the United States in the 14 days prior to entry to Canada may be selected for arrival testing.

The Government of Canada is increasing the number of fully vaccinated travellers being selected for testing to reach 100% of vaccinated travellers in the coming weeks.

The Government of Canada is also announcing that 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.

For more information please review the latest News Release from the Government of Canada and review the most recent requirements for entering Canada on the Canadian government website: COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders - Travel.gc.ca

The link below will guide you in developing and or assessing your quarantine plan:

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/isolation/quarantine-start

NOVEMBER 26, 2021 (OMICRON VARIANT BANNED COUNTRIES)

As of November 30^th, 2021 If you are travelling directly from one of the countries listed by the Government of Canada there are additional requirements and restrictions, please click here for more information.

NOVEMBER 21, 2021 (EXPANDED APPROVED VACCINES)

Effective November 30^th, 2021 Canada expanded the list of COVID-19 vaccines that travelers can receive to be considered fully vaccinated for the purpose of travel to Canada to match the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing. The list will include the following vaccines:

Bharat Biotech (Covaxin, BBV152 A, B, C)
Sinopharm (Beijing) BBIBP-CorV (Vero Cells)
Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc)

Please refer to the full list of the approved vaccines here.

Please refer to this link for more information about Canada’s approved vaccines and right of entry for fully vaccinated individuals: COVID-19 vaccinated travelers entering Canada - Travel restrictions in Canada – Travel.gc.ca

NOVEMBER 19 , 2021 (ENTRY REQUIREMENTS)

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.

For more information, please refer to the Government of Canada website here.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 (MANDATORY PCR TEST FROM INDIA)

If you are travelling directly from India, there are additional requirements and restrictions for the mandatory Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, including a limited applicable window to have your PCR test performed as well as from a specific location in the Delhi Airport. For additional information, please click here.

If you had already booked your hotel quarantine with the NCT Quarantine team and are travelling to Canada after November 30, 2021 and are fully vaccinated with any of the three types of WHO approved vaccines ( Sinopharm (Beijing) BBIBP-CorV (Vero Cells) , Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc), or Bharat Biotech (Covaxin, BBV152 A, B, C) , please reach out to COVID-19 Support at torontoquarantine@niagaracollegetoronto.ca for further instructions.

You are also required to upload your Proof of Vaccination for each dose received via your student portal. (Please combine all Proof of Vaccination receipts into one PDF file before uploading).

If necessary, please get an additional shot (or two) of their approved vaccines to be considered fully vaccinated and thus eligible to receive your Campus Entry Certificate (CEC). Contact your medical practitioner for further advice and guidance.

Please note the three types of WHO approved vaccines (Sinopharm, Sinovac and COVAXIN) will allow you to enter Canada but do not allow you to enter campus premises. To enter campus premises, you will have to be fully vaccinated with one of Public Health Canada’s Approved vaccines.

FULLY VACCINATED STUDENTS

If you are considered Fully Vaccinated upon arrival at the border and test negative on your COVID-19 PCR test, you will also be subject to arrival testing. We will reach out to you within 1 business day of arriving in Canada to ensure you have made it to your location safely and are doing well.

If you are considered Not Fully Vaccinated by the border officer or test positive on your COVID-19 PCR test, you must contact our NCT Quarantine Team immediately (details will be provided) and quarantine for 14-days as per your arranged plan.

Important: if you are considered to be Not Fully Vaccinated as per the border official at the border and you do not comply with the Government of Canada’s mandated Quarantine, you will be subjected to the legal penalties and fines as per the Quarantine Act.

As a reminder, to be considered Fully Vaccinated, you must:

be eligible to enter Canada
have received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine or a combination of accepted vaccines as noted by the Public Health Agency of Canada
have received your last dose at least 14 days prior to the day you enter Canada
Example: if your last dose was on Thursday, July 1st, then Friday, July 16th would be the first day you could arrive in Canada.
upload your proof of vaccination in the ArriveCAN app
have no signs or symptoms of COVID-19
have completed all other entry requirements

As of January 15^th, 2022, you will not be allowed to enter the country if are not fully vaccinated with one of Canada’s approved vaccines and do not fulfil all the conditions above.

If you have received one of the following vaccines and are arriving in Canada please note they are NOT ACCEPTED for fully vaccinated status in Canada, and you will not be allowed to enter in the country from January 15 2022 on:

Cansino (Convidecia, Ad5-nCoV)
Gamalaya (Sputnik V, Gam-Covid-Vac)
Vector Institute (EpiVacCorona)
Other

Fully Vaccinated Students are able to pre-arrange their own quarantine while waiting for their negative COVID-19 test results at a permissible quarantine location but must submit their arranged quarantine plan to the NCT Quarantine Team for tracking purposes at torontoquarantine@niagaracollegetoronto.ca.

Please note: Providing proof that you have received the full series of an accepted vaccination will be mandatory when uploading your quarantine plan details to the ArriveCAN app. This will also be reviewed by a Canadian Border Services Agent for accuracy to ensure you qualify for the eased travel restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers, if applicable. Failure to meet the requirements or provide adequate proof as outlined by the Government of Canada will result in a full 14-day quarantine period.

As mandated by the Government of Canada, all international travelers arriving in Canada who are five years of age or older are required to test negative for COVID-19 before travelling from another country to Canada.

If you require support with your quarantine plan and are unable to self-arrange your quarantine, our NCT Quarantine Team can arrange a quarantine package for you (no pre-payment needed).

*Our NCT Team highly recommends not booking any flight before receiving approval from the Quarantine team.

RETURNING TO CAMPUS

To enter campus premises, you will have to be fully vaccinated with one of Public Health Canada’s Approved vaccines. If necessary, please get an additional shot (or two) of their approved vaccines to be considered fully vaccinated and thus eligible to receive your Campus Entry Certificate (CEC). Contact your medical practitioner for further advice and guidance.

Please note the three types of WHO approved vaccines (Sinopharm, Sinovac and COVAXIN) will allow you to enter Canada but do not allow you to enter campus premises.

Uploading Proof of Vaccination in the Student Portal

Please log into your NCT portal and click on COVID-19 Vaccination Status. After filling in all the required information and uploading your Proof of Vaccination documents for each dose (combined as one PDF file), our Health and Safety team will issue a Campus Entry Certificate (CEC) which can be downloaded from your NCT portal, this document is required to enter our NCT campus. Please refer to our step by step guide on how to upload your proof of vaccination for more details.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

1. Can I travel to Canada if I qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller?

Yes. However, the Government of Canada will only accept the vaccines approved by health Canada when considering a person fully vaccinated (and it has been at least 14 days from the final dose).

Refer to this link to find more details about Canada’s approved vaccines

2. Can I enter Canada if I do not qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller?

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.

For more information, please refer to the Government Website here

If you have received one of the following vaccines, please note they are NOT ACCEPTED for fully vaccinated status in Canada, and you will be required to complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine period if you arrive before January 14, 2022, after which you will not be allowed to enter the country.

Cansino (Convidecia, Ad5-nCoV)
Gamalaya (Sputnik V, Gam-Covid-Vac)
Vector Institute (EpiVacCorona)
Other

3. Does NCT provide travel support for students? What does the travel support package include?

Yes, NCT provides travel support to students who are travelling to Canada. Please contact our Quarantine Team at torontoquarantine@niagaracollegetoronto.ca for more details.

For travellers who are considered fully vaccinated by the Canadian Government, the travel support package includes the following:

Instructions for Downloading the Required ArriveCan App (you will not be allowed in the country unless you have uploaded all the necessary information to this app).
Travel Support Letter
Transportation Information after arriving at the Airport
Insurance Policy Information
COVID 19 Testing Requirements
Important Information when Arriving at the Canadian Border
Travelling During the Pandemic
Suggested Packing List

You will not be able to travel to Canada after January 14, 2022 if you are deemed partially vaccinated or not fully vaccinated.

4. Do I have to take a COVID-19 test before I arrive?

Yes. You will need to take a pre-entry molecular test before your flight. If you are considered a fully vaccinated traveller who has been in any country other than Canada and the United States in the 14 days prior to entry to Canada you may also be selected for arrival testing. You must quarantine in a suitable place until you receive a negative test result. You may take public transportation (for example, connecting flights) to your place of quarantine.

The Government of Canada is increasing the number of fully vaccinated travellers being selected for testing to reach 100% of vaccinated travellers in the coming weeks.

For more information, please click in the following link: COVID-19 testing for travellers - Travel restrictions in Canada – Travel.gc.ca

IMPORTANT: As mentioned above, if you are travelling directly from India, there are additional requirements and restrictions for the mandatory PCR test, including a limited applicable window to have your PCR test performed and from a specific location in the Delhi Airport. For additional information, please click here.

5. Do I need to quarantine after arriving in Canada?

Quarantine depends on your vaccination status. If you qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller as per Canada Public Health Guidelines and meet the conditions below, you will not have to quarantine for 14 days.*

Have received at least 2 doses of a vaccine accepted for travel to Canada, or a mix of 2 accepted vaccines
Or at least 1 dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine
Have received your second dose at least 14 full days before you enter Canada (i.e.: If your second dose was on Thursday July 1, then Friday July 16 would be the first day that you meet the 14-day condition)
Have no signs or symptoms of COVID-19
Follow pre-entry testing and entry requirements
Upload proof of vaccination in ArriveCAN
Have ArriveCAN receipt with letter I, V, or A beside your name
Test negative for COVID-19 on an arrival test

*If you are selected to take a COVID-19 test on arrival you will be required to quarantine in a suitable place until you receive a negative test result.

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.

For more information, please refer to the Government Website here.

6. Do I need to be fully vaccinated to enter campus? What if I have one of the WHO approved vaccines (Sinopharm, Sinovac and COVAXIN)?

Yes, you need to be fully vaccinated to enter campus. However, even If you are considered as a fully vaccinated traveller when entering Canada, that does not necessarily mean that you qualify to enter campus premises. You may still need to get additional vaccines that have been approved by Public Health Canada to enter campus. These include the following:

Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine
Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine
AstraZeneca Vaxzevria COVID-19 vaccine
Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine

Please note the three types of WHO approved vaccines (Sinopharm, Sinovac and COVAXIN) will allow you to enter Canada but do not allow you to enter campus premises.

To enter campus premises, you will have to be fully vaccinated with one of Public Health Canada’s Approved vaccines listed above. Please get an additional shot (or two) of their approved vaccines to be considered fully vaccinated and thus eligible to receive your Campus Entry Certificate (CEC). Contact your medical practitioner for further advice and guidance.

7. How do I get vaccinated with one of Public Health Canada’s approved vaccines?

The Government of Canada provides guidance for people who wish to get vaccinated once they arrive in Canada: How to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment (ontario.ca)

8. Are there any additional Travel Support Documents that I need to submit to the NCT Quarantine Team?

YES. The additional travel support documents that must be submitted to the NCT Quarantine Team are as follows:

A signed Self-Attestation Form, provided by and emailed to: torontoquarantine@niagaracollegetoronto.ca
Your official Proof of Vaccination, which must be uploaded to the NCT Student Portal (instructions will be provided by the NCT Quarantine Team)
Your official flight details, which must also be emailed to: torontoquarantine@niagaracollegetoronto.ca

9. Do I need to contact NCT’s Quarantine Team before I book my flight?

YES. You must contact our Quarantine team before you book your flight. Also, after you book the flight, you will need to inform our Quarantine team of your official flight and travel details.

All students traveling to Canada are required to arrange their quarantine plan through the NCT Quarantine Team, regardless of vaccination status. Whether or not exempt from quarantine on account of being fully vaccinated, is a determination which can only be made by the CBSA officer at point of entry. Please contact torontoquarantine@niagaracollegetoronto.ca to learn more and arrange your quarantine plan.

10. Isn’t requiring a vaccination a violation of human rights?

The Ontario Human Rights Code has developed answers for the questions regarding the human rights and obligations during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Please refer to this link to learn more.

**Please consult Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the most up-to-date information on entry to Canada by clicking here. Information provided on this webpage is subject to change at any time and Niagara College - Toronto accepts no liability for any discrepancies.

Questions about your Quarantine Plan?

Please email torontoquarantine@niagaracollegetoronto.ca. Always include your name and student number in the subject of every email. Please allow up to 48 - 72 hours for a reply.

NCT looks forward to supporting international students travelling to Canada and ensuring that they have the best possible experience.

Please consult Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for information on entry to Canada. Information provided on this webpage is subject to change at any time and Niagara College - Toronto accepts no liability for any discrepancies. Please consult the IRCC website for the most up-to-date information by clicking here.

Information to keep on NCT’s Quarantine Page on the Website:

Please note: All students traveling to Canada are required to arrange their quarantine plan through the NCT Quarantine Team, regardless of vaccination status. Whether or not exempt from quarantine on account of being fully vaccinated, is a determination which can only be made by the CBSA officer at point of entry. Please contact torontoquarantine@niagaracollegetoronto.ca to learn more and arrange your quarantine plan.