Immigration/Covid and connecting flights

[helloitismep]

Hi everyone!

My study permit application just got approved yesterday and I got my Correspondence Letter.
I am now getting a bit stressed out because my journey will will be from the Paris airport to Calgary and from Calgary to Vancouver.
I heard that I will need to present my Correspondence Letter, passport and documents to the immigration officer, but I have no idea if this will be in Calgary or only at Vancouver as it is my final destination. Does anyone know if I have to go through immigration in-between my connecting flights or is this only in Vancouver? I also heard that some people need to get their passport stamped before entering Canada. I am a Belgian citizen and I have not been asked by the IRCC to send my passport to them to stamp it. Is this a problem or do I not need to worry about this?

Another question I have is about the Covid-19 testing. I have been fully vaccinated for 14+ days already with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and will be arriving in Canada in the beginning of September. This means that I can skip the 14-day quarantine and that I also do not need a test on day 8. I need to do a pre-arrival test, but I also have to do a Covid-19 test once I arrive in Canada. Because I have a connecting flight, would this be in Calgary or only in Vancouver as it is my final destination? I have around 2 hours between my connected flights so would this be enough if I had to go through both immigration to get my study permit and the Covid-19 test if these were both in Calgary?

You can probably imagine that I am getting very nervous about this, so I hope someone knows the answer to my questions.

Thank you very much for your time!

 

[Laguna55]

I can answer some questions, you should get your study permit issued at Calgary. Your covid test will be at the same location and your 1st few days of quarantine (non-government quarantine hotel) will be Calgary while you wait for the covid test result. This means you cannot take your connecting flight to Vancouver on same day.

 

[helloitismep]

Hi, thanks for clearing that up. On this government website, I can find that if I'm fully vaccinated (which I am), I do not need to stay in a quarantine hotel and I can just travel to my final destination after doing the test, without knowing the result yet. This is to be found under 'Arrival testing', so I think I might be okay then? (link below)
It'll probably still be a bit tight in terms of timing, but technically I think I should be able to get the study permit and the test figured out in-between my connection flight.

COVID-19 vaccinated travellers entering Canada - Travel restrictions in Canada – Travel.gc.ca

 

[wonderbly]

Hi, thanks for clearing that up. On this government website, I can find that if I'm fully vaccinated (which I am), I do not need to stay in a quarantine hotel and I can just travel to my final destination after doing the test, without knowing the result yet. This is to be found under 'Arrival testing', so I think I might be okay then? (link below)
It'll probably still be a bit tight in terms of timing, but technically I think I should be able to get the study permit and the test figured out in-between my connection flight.

COVID-19 vaccinated travellers entering Canada - Travel restrictions in Canada – Travel.gc.ca

You are right - you don't have to quarantine in Calgary. You will quarantine in VC until your result comes out. If negative, you can stop isolation.
The 2 hour layover might not be enough but that should not be a problem. Contact the airline that is responsible for your onward leg to VC, they will accommodate your trip and reschedule you if possible.

 

[helloitismep]

Alright, thank you for the answer!
Now I can finally stop worrying that much

 

[wonderbly]

Alright, thank you for the answer!
Now I can finally stop worrying that much

It's crazy stressful I know! I'm planning my trip next month with my entire family - I swear I have sprouted a whole new crop of grey hair in the last week .