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International students often wish to travel after completing their studies and before beginning work in Canada. Current COVID-19 travel restrictions require all travelers to have an essential reason to enter Canada. There are different criteria for students, workers, and visitors. If you leave Canada after finishing your program, you are not currently eligible for a travel exemption and you may not be able to return until you have a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
- Once you complete your program, the travel exemptions for students do not currently apply to you, even if you have a valid study permit. If you are not enrolled in the next school term, your travel to Canada is not deemed essential under the current COVID-19 restrictions.
- When you have a Post-Graduation Work Permit or approval for the work permit application, you may be able to enter Canada as a worker if you can also show that you normally live in Canada, or that you have a job offer.
Please refer to IRCC’s travel information for students and for workers.
For additional information we also encourage students to review our COVID-19 FAQ.