A Quick Guide: COVID-19 Regulations, Standard Procedures, and Safety Protocols Before Flying to the UK, the US, Canada, and Australia

If you are a student flying to the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, or Australia to start or to continue your studies, you must stay updated with COVID-19 regulations, standard procedures, and safety protocols in your respective country of destination.

This article will give you a simple and straightforward guide in checking COVID-19 regulations prior to your departure.

Canada

Upon arrival in Canada

• Anyone arriving in Canada, including international students, must take the COVID-19 test upon arrival.
• The student must spend the first three days of the mandatory 14-day quarantine in a hotel approved by the Canadian Government.
• If the COVID-19 test result is negative, the student must be moved to the DLI-organized accommodation to finish the quarantine period.

Requirements

1. The student must test negative on the COVID-19 test. The test must be conducted within 72 hours at the start of the student’s travel.
2. The student must be in possession of a valid study permit, and a letter of introduction The letter of introduction is the document issued to you by the visa office after approving your study permit.
3. The student must be studying in a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) with a province-approved COVID-19 readiness plan. The readiness plan is prepared by the respective DLI which includes travel and quarantine arrangements for international students entering Canada.

United Kingdom

Requirements

• Duly complete the passenger locator form. The form must then be submitted within 48 before arriving in the UK.
• The student must test negative on the COVID-19 test. The test must be conducted no more than three days prior to departure.
• The student must present the negative test result to the border officer. The test result could be printed or presented through the phone as an email or text message.
• The student must self-isolate for 10 days upon arrival in the UK, regardless of the test result. The student can self-isolate in a hotel or a shared home.
• The student must take the COVID-19 test on the 2nd and the 8th day of quarantine. If positive, the student must isolate for 10 more days. The test costs EUR 210.

United States

Requirements

Different states in the US have different requirements. Generally, international students must satisfy the following conditions before being allowed entry in the US:

• The student must test negative on the COVID-19 test. The test must be conducted within 72 hours prior to their departure.
• The student must possess a valid J1 or F1 student visa.
• The student must take a viral test three to five days after arriving in the US.
• The student must self-quarantine for seven days.

On January 25, 2021, the US implemented a travel ban on people who have been in countries with high cases of COVID-19 transmission. The only exception to this ban is international students from the UK, Ireland, and Schengen Area who possess an M-1 or F-1 visa. 

International students who are J-1 visa holders may enter the US too but must be in contact with the US consulate first, as entry is granted depending on the conditions of each case. 

Australia

Australia still has its borders closed to international students. If an international student seeks to enter Australia, they must apply for an exemption to the ban. 

International students in Australia who want to go back to their home country can continue their studies remotely. Active participation in remote classes is required for the students to maintain their Certificate of Enrolment (CoE). 

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we travel and explore the world. Let MSM Unify be your foremost source of relevant news and updates when flying abroad.