Latest Travel Restrictions

Sent: August 16, 2:00pm

To the CBU Student Community,

As you may be aware, the Government of Canada has extended the suspension of all direct flights from India and Pakistan, to Canada, until September 21, 2021. We understand this raises questions about how this will affect travel arrangements and your ability to travel to Canada in time for the start of classes on September 8, 2021. 

Studying In-Person

As we return to in-person operations at Cape Breton University, students are expected to be in Sydney, Nova Scotia, by September 8, 2021. Students unable to arrive by this date are either encouraged to defer their studies to a later semester, or meet with an Academic Advisor to see if you are able to change your classes to an online offering for this semester. Arriving late will not only make your studies more difficult, but will put you at risk of being turned away at the border by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Remember, entry into Canada is always at the discretion of CBSA, not CBU.

Note: Students deferring to a later semester are reminded to drop their courses in their Compass Student Account to avoid academic and financial penalties.

Studying Online

If you are taking online classes this fall and cannot arrive in Sydney, Nova Scotia by the first day of classes, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will allow you to continue your online studies from your home country until December 31, 2021. However, you should plan to arrive within four weeks of the start of the Winter 2022 semester beginning January 10, 2022. We do not recommend travelling before then, as you will run the risk of being turned away by Canada Border Services Agency.

Vaccination Status

If you are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, you must be in Nova Scotia by Tuesday, August 23 so you can finish your 14-day quarantine before classes begin. Students must make travel arrangements with the Study Safe Corridor and their Travel Safe Package available here.

If you are fully vaccinated with one of the Health Canada approved vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, Astrazeneca, or Johnson & Johnson) administered 14 days prior to arrival in Canada, you will no longer be required to quarantine upon arrival to your final destination. However, you will still need to have a precautionary quarantine plan in place, as the fully vaccinated quarantine exemptions are not granted until you reach your port-of-entry into Canada by a Canada Border Services Agent. Students must make travel arrangements with the Study Safe Corridor and their Travel Safe Package available here.

For more information on international travel to CBU, please click here

Sincerely,

Bilynda Whiting
University Registrar & Director of Admissions