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These Canadian colleges and universities can now welcome international students


Kareem El-Assal - 22 October, 2020

International students can enter Canada amid covid
International students can enter Canada amid covid

Canada has announced which colleges and universities have been approved to welcome international students amid the coronavirus pandemic.

As of October 20, Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) can accept students who have a study permit onto their campuses as long as the DLI has received government approval for their coronavirus readiness plan.

Prior to this change, only some international students could travel to Canada. Mainly, those who had a valid study permit as of March 18, 2020 could enter Canada as long as they were travelling for non-optional and non-discretionary reasons (e.g., to complete their studies in Canada).

Now, DLIs who got their coronavirus readiness plan approved by the provincial or territorial government of their jurisdiction can physically welcome students. The plans explain how the DLIs will ensure incoming students abide by Canada's mandatory 14 day quarantine period. DLIs also need to explain how they will support students during the quarantine period such as how they will help students gain access to food.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) website lists the approved DLIs. IRCC will continue to update the list as more DLIs obtain approval. In addition, IRCC will remove DLIs if they no longer meet government health guidelines. 

Students cannot travel to Canada if their DLI has not been approved. In addition, the family members of incoming students cannot travel to Canada before them.

Every post-secondary DLI in Quebec is approved.

Alberta and British Columbia have 39 DLIs approved. Saskatchewan has approved 7. Manitoba has 10 approved.  Ontario has 14 on the list.  New Brunswick has approved 13, Prince Edward Island has 5 approved, while Newfoundland and Labrador has 3. Yukon has 1 on its list.

No DLIs are approved in Nova Scotia, Nunavut, or the Northwest Territories.

IRCC advises students to check with their DLIs and IRCC's website before making travel plans to enter Canada.

Click here to learn more about how you can study in Canada

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