Update on international travel restrictions – June 21

The Government of Canada announced details of the first phase of its approach to easing border measures for travellers entering Canada. Beginning July 5, 2021 at 11:59pm EST, fully vaccinated travellers who are permitted to enter Canada will not be subject to the federal requirement to quarantine or take a COVID-19 test on day-8. We recommend that travelers consult the federal government website on eligibility and quarantine guidelines.

Fully vaccinated travellers must also:

  • Be asymptomatic and meet the pre- and on-arrival test requirements;
  • Have a suitable quarantine plan;
  • Have documentation that prove they received doses of vaccines at least 14 days prior to entering Canada; and,
  • Electronically submit COVID-19-related information to the government’s ArriveCAN app before arriving in Canada.

For travellers who are not fully vaccinated, there are no changes to Canada’s current border measures. Read the full announcement from the Government of Canada.

What does fully vaccinated mean?

To be considered fully vaccinated, a traveller must have received the full series of a vaccine — or combination of vaccines — accepted by the Government of Canada at least 14 days prior to entering Canada. Currently, those vaccines are manufactured by Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson). Travellers can receive their vaccine in any country, and must provide documentation supporting their vaccination in English, French, or with a certified translation.

A careful and safe restart

Thanks to the increase in vaccinations, more than 75% of adults in BC have now received their first shot. This combined with the decline in the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations has allowed BC to safely move to Step 2 of its Restart Plan. BCIT continues to follow guidelines and protocols from the Provincial Health Officer, Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training, WorkSafe BC, and other health organizations to ensure the safe return of our community to all BCIT campuses for the Fall 2021 term.

As a reminder, all BC residents 12+ are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. We encourage you to register today.

Thank you for your continued support in keeping the BCIT community safe.

Glen Magel
Director, Safety, Security and Emergency Management

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