Students looking to visit Canada in the near future will face restrictions due to Canadian COVID-19 requirements. Canada requires all visitors be fully vaccinated and present proof of a negative molecular COVID-19 test taken 72 hours before entering the country.
Visitors must use the ArriveCAN app or website to cross the border and document important details of the trip including reason for travel, vaccination status, molecular COVID-19 test results and arrival information. The information is required to be submitted up to 72 hours before planned travel.
Travelers must also submit a quarantine plan for testing positive or developing symptoms while in Canada. Even with all of the necessary documents, it is at the border agent’s discretion to allow entry or not. At the border, or upon arrival, visitors may be subjected to random COVID-19 testing. These restrictions are required for all foreigners looking to travel to Canada but, for those traveling from overseas, additional restrictions like visa requirements may apply.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting tested within three to five days of returning from international travel to prevent COVID-19 transmission. Those who have layovers in Canada or the U.S. are required to submit to pre-departure testing, regardless of which country is their destination, but requirements can vary by province. U.S. citizens do not have to obtain a test before re-entering the U.S.
Toronto, about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from North Campus, frequently attracts U.S. college students for its nightlife, museums and concerts. In recent years, Toronto venues have hosted acts like Tyler the Creator and Shawn Mendes. Niagara Falls, ON is another common stop for UB students looking for a better view of the falls.
Julie Frey is an assistant news/features editor and can be reached at julie.frey@ubspectrum.com
Julie Frey is a senior news/features editor at The Spectrum. She is a political science and environmental studies double major. She enjoys theorizing about Taylor Swift, the color yellow and reading books that make her cry. She can be found on Twitter @juliannefrey.
Photo: Courtesy of Tracey Drury
