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The International Student Services Office (ISSO) would like to take the opportunity to provide you with key COVID-19 vaccination and travel information, including: information related to vaccination requirements for students in Canada, vaccination considerations when planning your arrival, and access to campus. We trust the information below will assist in your preparation for the weeks and months ahead.
COVID-19 Vaccination Information for Students in Canada
Accessing Carleton Campus
As of October 15, 2021, all individuals who are coming to campus, living in residence and/or participating in an in-person Carleton class or activity, must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination to Carleton University.
An individual is fully vaccinated at Carleton if they have received the full series of a vaccine or a combination of vaccines approved by Health Canada and they received their last dose at least 14 days before attending in person and providing proof of vaccination. For individuals who have received a complete one or two-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine that is not authorized for use by Health Canada, the individual will be considered fully vaccinated once they have received:
- one additional dose of an mRNA vaccine; or
- a third dose of non-Health Canada vaccine.
Please note that individuals are only considered fully vaccinated if they received their last dose at least 14 days before the date of their attestation.
Given the changing nature of the pandemic, if the applicable public health authorities announce a different meaning of fully vaccinated, that definition will take precedence. Please note the federal and provincial governments may use different vaccination requirements and students must check and comply with those requirements as well.
Travelling and Socializing within Ontario
As of September 22, 2021, individuals must provide proof of full vaccination and personal identification to access certain indoor settings, activities and outdoor areas in Ontario.
As of October 30, 2021, passengers departing from Canadian airports, VIA Rail and Rock Mountaineer trains will be required to be fully vaccinated in order to travel. Until November 30, 2021, travellers can provide a negative COVID-19 test completed within 72 hours of their planned travel instead of vaccination documentation. Please note that details on how this requirement will affect connecting flights for those arriving from an international location are still emerging.
Students vaccinated outside of Ontario or Canada must register their vaccine dose(s) with Ottawa Public Health directly here.
To learn more about Ontario and Carleton University’s vaccination requirements, including understanding if you are considered fully vaccinated, review the previous ISSO’s news post.
Getting Vaccinated in Ontario
If you are not fully vaccinated and wish to access campus or other specified settings in Ontario, you must make arrangements to complete your vaccine series prior to participating in these activities. Learn more here.
Planning Your Future Arrival in Canada
Travellers who have been fully vaccinated may qualify for certain quarantine and testing exemptions. To be considered fully vaccinated, individuals must have received the full series of a Government of Canada approved vaccine at least 14 full days before entering Canada. Students who have received a vaccine that is not currently approved in Canada will need to quarantine for 14 days once they arrive. Please note you will still be subject to any applicable provincial and University vaccination requirements as outlined by the Government of Canada.
The ISSO has developed a Quarantine Planning Support website to help guide international students with planning their arrival to Canada, including the testing and quarantine process. We strongly recommend that students review both before and after arrival information to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities as they plan ahead for their travel to Canada.
Failure to comply with Government of Canada protocols may lead to students being denied entry into the country. Fines or other penalties can be imposed for non-compliance.
Failure to comply with provincial or university vaccination requirements for in-person activities may also be subject to consequences.
The ISSO maintains an up-to-date COVID-19 FAQ website. The ISSO will also be hosting online Q&A sessions throughout the Fall & Winter Terms to provide updates and answer questions about travel, quarantine, health insurance, vaccination, and immigration issues. You can register online on our events listing page.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at isso@carleton.ca with any questions or concerns. We are here to support you during these challenging times.