The New Rules In Place For International Students Studying In Canada

The new school year is coming soon. After a year of online learning and adjusting to life around COVID-19, students are ready to get back into the classroom and hopefully have a typical school year. Many of Canada’s universities are popular among international students.

Will these international students have to study abroad, or can they come and attend a regular semester?

The government of Canada currently states:

Fully vaccinated foreign nationals may be allowed to enter Canada for discretionary travel on the following dates if they meet specific criteria:

  • Effective August 9: American citizens and permanent residents of the United States, who currently reside in the United States, who meet specific criteria to qualify as fully vaccinated
  • As of September 7 (intended start date): All other foreign nationals who qualify as fully vaccinated

The three-night hotel stopover requirement will be eliminated for all travellers arriving by air after 12:01 A.M. EDT on August 9.

Fully vaccinated foreign nationals may be allowed to enter Canada. This means that richer countries that can buy and distribute vaccinations to their citizens can come to Canada, but the reality is that many international students don’t come from rich countries where vaccinations are available.

Many international students started with online learning but it was challenging to stay motivated, with a lack of interaction with the professors or peers to create the necessary connections. The ability of teachers to connect with pupils and recognize their needs has been identified as a fundamental obstacle. These students are frustrated with the limits that the pandemic has put on them and need to get back into the classroom. Many students are desperate to go back to in-person learning. Many domestic students will have no problem returning to the in-person university. But what about the international students?

At this point, there is next to no information about the government’s plan to help bring international students to Canada. Some of these students don’t come from countries where vaccines are readily accessible. Before countries donate vaccines to countries in need, they need to vaccinate their own citizens. Currently, on the Canadian government website, you may qualify for exemptions from some of the quarantine and testing requirements if you are fully vaccinated with an accepted vaccine and meet other conditions, including being eligible to travel to Canada at this time

For students who come from countries that don’t have vaccines available and want to apply for the study permit, the government should be doing the following:

  • Require students to come to Canada and do the 14-day quarantine requirement, with regular Covid testing;
  • Give international students access to vaccines once they arrive so they can protect themselves and protect society; and,
  • Facilitate in-person learning for students

Since the COVID–19 pandemic hit, the economy has been negatively impacted. In the process of opening Canada’s economy, we all hope to go back to normal and get out of the financial and emotional negative cycle. We need international students to be able to come to Canada. 642,000 students arrived in 2019, supplying $22 billion in revenue and 170,000 jobs. This will benefit Canada and of course help the recovery of our economy.