When will the CANADIAN BORDER OPEN for International Students? My Journey to Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic
When the world shut down in March 2020, it felt as if time itself had paused. Borders closed, flights were grounded, and the word “normal” suddenly felt like a distant memory. For international students like me, who had dreamed of studying in Canada for years, it was heartbreaking to watch those plans fade into uncertainty.
But this story isn’t just about the lockdowns or the travel bans. It’s about what it meant to hold onto hope, to prepare, to plan, and to finally board a plane in the middle of a global pandemic.
This is my story of traveling from Jamaica to Canada in May 2021, during the third wave of COVID-19, when the border was still mostly closed, except for those who met strict requirements. It’s a story about fear, resilience, faith, and that unforgettable moment when I realized that life often comes full circle.
The World Stopped, But Dreams Didn’t
In early 2020, Canada (like most countries) closed its borders to non-essential travel. On March 18, 2020, the Government of Canada announced sweeping restrictions that would only allow citizens, permanent residents, and certain exempt travelers to enter the country. For months, international students were left in limbo.
Universities shifted online. Study permits were delayed. Some students deferred their programs entirely, unsure when (or if) they’d ever be able to enter Canada. The once-bustling arrival halls at Toronto Pearson International Airport fell silent.
By the time October 2020 arrived, a glimmer of hope appeared. Canada began allowing international students with approved Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) that had a government-approved COVID-19 readiness plan to enter the country. But it wasn’t simple, there were dozens of new rules, forms, and quarantine requirements to follow.
That announcement changed everything for me. I knew my journey wasn’t going to be easy, but I was determined to start my studies in person.
Preparing to Travel in the Middle of a Pandemic
When I finally received the go-ahead to travel, it was May 2021, the height of the third wave. Canada was experiencing some of its toughest COVID-19 numbers yet. Ontario was in lockdown. Travel restrictions were still tight.
For international students, the rules were complex. To enter, you needed:
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A valid study permit (or approval letter)
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Enrollment at a DLI with a COVID-19 readiness plan
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A negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure
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A 14-day quarantine plan
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And starting February 22, 2021, a mandatory 3-day hotel quarantine at a government-approved facility upon arrival in Canada
On top of that, the government required travelers to upload all their documents and quarantine plans into the ArriveCAN app before departure.
And then there was my husband. He had been approved for an open work permit, the only way a spouse could accompany a student during that time. Without it, he wouldn’t have been able to travel with me.
We double-checked everything: passports, travel authorization letters, proof of enrollment, financial documents, our marriage certificate, and detailed quarantine plans for both Toronto and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (PEI). It was a mountain of paperwork, far more than anyone had to show before the pandemic, but we were determined to do everything right.
The Flight That Changed Everything
On the morning of our departure, Jamaica was humid and bright, but there was a quiet nervousness in the air. We both knew what was at stake. After months of preparation, any small mistake, a missing document, a border agent’s misunderstanding, could send us back home.
At the airport, everyone wore masks and gloves. Plexiglass barriers separated passengers and check-in agents. Every announcement over the speaker seemed to echo through an unusually quiet terminal. Even boarding the plane felt surreal.
As we buckled in, I remember whispering to myself, “We’re really doing this.”
The flight itself was peaceful but tense. Every cough or sniffle made passengers glance nervously. Flight attendants handed out disinfectant wipes instead of hot towels. I prayed silently through most of it, that our documents were in order, that we’d be allowed to stay, and that we’d remain healthy.
When we landed in Toronto Pearson International Airport, the first thing that struck me was how empty it was. Entire sections of the airport were closed. There were dozens of signs about health screenings, mandatory testing, and quarantine enforcement.
After clearing immigration, a process that took nearly two hours, we were directed to take an on-arrival COVID-19 test and then head to our government-approved hotel for the mandatory three-day quarantine.
The 3-Day Hotel Quarantine in Toronto
Our hotel room became our world for those three days. Meals were left at our door, and we weren’t allowed to leave for any reason. Each day, we received calls from public health officials checking that we were complying.
It was strange to be in a new country but unable to explore it — to be so close to a dream yet confined to four walls. But in that quiet space, I also felt gratitude. We were safe. We were together. We had made it this far.
When our test results came back negative, we were free to continue our journey to Prince Edward Island, where I’d begin my studies.
The Unexpected Detour
We boarded our connecting flight from Toronto to Charlottetown, full of relief. But fate had one more surprise in store.
As we approached PEI, the pilot’s voice came over the intercom: “Due to fog and extreme weather conditions, we’re unable to land in Charlottetown. We’ll be turning back to Montreal.”
Montreal? I remember looking out the window in disbelief. My first thought was — “After all this, we’re turning back?”
We landed safely in Montreal and were given gift cards for a hotel stay and a meal allowance for the night. It was completely unplanned, and yet, there was something oddly peaceful about it.
That night, as I looked out over the city lights, I thought, “This is my first time in Montreal.” Little did I know, three years later, I’d call this very city my home. Life has a funny way of planting seeds for the future when you least expect it.
Finally Arriving in Prince Edward Island
The next day, we finally made it to Charlottetown. My heart swelled with relief as we touched down. But our journey wasn’t over yet.
PEI had its own 14-day isolation requirement, on top of the federal quarantine. We went straight into our second round of quarantine, following every protocol — daily health checks, no visitors, and absolutely no leaving the premises.
By that point, we had spent 17 days in total quarantine between Toronto and Charlottetown. It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary.
When the final day ended and we were cleared to go out, I remember stepping outside and feeling the cool Atlantic air on my face. It felt like freedom.
Life as an International Student During COVID-19
Classes that year were a strange mix of in-person and online. Masks were mandatory. Social distancing was strict. Orientation events were virtual. For international students, it often felt isolating — studying in a new country without being able to fully experience it.
But there was also a deep sense of community among students. We shared quarantine stories, grocery tips, and even jokes about how creative we got with indoor workouts. Everyone had been through something.
Some students arrived months after us, their flights delayed or their study permits approved late. Others were still waiting overseas. It made me realize how lucky we were — not just to have made it to Canada, but to have stayed healthy through it all.
Canada’s Gradual Reopening (2022–2023)
By mid-2022, things started to shift. Canada lifted the pre-arrival testing requirements, and the hotel quarantine program officially ended. International students could once again enter the country more freely, as long as they were vaccinated.
In October 2022, the government dropped all remaining COVID-19 entry restrictions. Masks were no longer required on planes, and the ArriveCAN app became optional.
It felt like the world was finally breathing again.
Universities reopened their campuses fully, and students from all over the world flooded back into classrooms, libraries, and cafeterias. The excitement was electric. After two years of Zoom classes and uncertainty, international education was alive again.
Looking Back: Lessons and Reflections
When I think back to that trip from Jamaica to Canada in 2021, it still feels surreal. Traveling in the middle of a global pandemic taught me more than any textbook ever could.
It taught me resilience — that sometimes you have to walk into uncertainty with faith. It taught me patience — because every delay, every document, and every quarantine day had a purpose. And it taught me gratitude — for safety, for opportunity, and for the chance to chase a dream even when the world was standing still.
The irony still makes me smile. My first unexpected stop in Montreal — that foggy detour that forced us to turn back — became the city I’d eventually move to three years later. Sometimes life writes its own stories; we just have to live them.
A Message to Future International Students
If you’re an international student dreaming of coming to Canada, know this: your journey may not be perfect, but it will be worth it.
There will be forms to fill, challenges to face, and moments when you wonder if it’s all too much. But every test, every border officer, every delay — it’s shaping you into someone stronger, wiser, and more adaptable.
My story may have started in uncertainty, but it ended in gratitude. Canada didn’t just become the place where I studied — it became the place where I grew, loved, and learned to trust the process.
Epilogue: The Border Reopens, But the Lessons Remain
By the time Canada fully reopened in 2023, life looked very different. Airports were busy again, students laughed in cafeterias, and people no longer flinched at a stranger’s cough.
But for those of us who traveled during the hardest times — who boarded planes with trembling hands and faith in our hearts — we’ll never forget what it took to get here.
When people ask me, “When did the Canadian border open for international students?” I smile and think, “It never really closed for those who refused to give up.”
Because even in the darkest times, dreams — much like planes through fog — find their way to land.
When will the CANADIAN BORDER Open for international students? Can international students travel to Canada now? When will Canada reopen its borders for international students? Are international students allowed to enter Canada? All these questions are answered in this podcast.
Here is a FREE downloadable pdf checklist of all the documents you need in order to apply for your Canadian Student Visa.
http://bit.ly/internationalstudentcanada
For coaching you can email me at growwithtp@gmail.com
In this podcast, I also talk about the new rules surrounding international travel and the covid-19 situation. This podcast also has details on the process to travel to Canada during the pandemic, all the documents you will need, and the cost to quarantine in Canada. I covers how to quarantine in Canada during the covid-19 pandemic, the symptoms of covid-19 and the new rules for international travelers.
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