New Information for International Students Preparing to Travel to Canada:

Note: Students who are looking to travel to Canada must have a POE letter with a VISA, or a study permit. Please ensure that you are not planning to arrive more than 3 weeks prior to the start of classes.

New! Please be aware of the latest Transport Canada announcement concerning international travel to Canada, from India and Pakistan. Transport Canada is suspending all commercial and private from India and Pakistan for 30 days, effective 23:30 EDT April 22, 2021. Please do not make any travel plans until this pause to travel is lifted. Information on indirect flights and necessary COVID testing is available through the Transport Canada website.

All other existing requirements including mandatory quarantine at a Government of Canada approved hotel, COVID-19 molecular testing, and negative pre-departure tests, remain in effect for travelers arriving from other countries.

Important links:

IRCC has provided a checklist on pre-departure instructions and planning your trip to Canada. We strongly recommend reviewing this website before moving forward.
Pre-approved quarantine hotels for Calgary can be found here.

Anyone flying to Canada from another country, unless exempted, will be required to provide written or electronic documentation showing they received a negative result from a COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours prior to their scheduled boarding. The test must be performed using a COVID-19 molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Without a negative COVID-19 test, travelers will be denied boarding onto their flight. Please review additional information on this announcement here.

Please note: If your first point of arrival is not Calgary, you will be required to complete you mandatory hotel quarantine at your port of entry. You will be required to obtain a negative PCR test to before continuing on to your final destination where you will complete the remainder of your quarantine. Please visit the IRCC website here for more details.

Please review the following steps to make informed plans for travelling to Canada:  

1. Review this IRCC webpage, to understand how to prepare for your trip, if you are approved to travel to Canada.
2. Know your travel window:
   - New students: Do not arrive in Canada more than 3 weeks prior to the start of classes. Current students should not arrive 3 weeks prior to an upcoming semester.
   - Current students: Avoid travel during your academic breaks
   - Current students: Ensure that you travel to Canada at least 1-2 months prior to the end of your program, if you plan to apply for a PGWP inside Canada.
   
3. Book your pre-departure COVID-19 test.
4. Review the Student Quarantine Guide, to understand what you need to include in your quarantine plan, and submit your travel support letter request to the College:
   -If this is your first time submitting the quarantine plan, please provide it through this link
   -If your travel itinerary or other details require updates, please use this link and submit a new quarantine plan
5. Submit your quarantine plan to the Government of Canada, through the ArriveCAN mobile app.
6. Submit your Alberta Isolation Questionnaire to the Government of Alberta.
7. Download the ABTraceTogether mobile app.
8. Upon your arrival to Calgary please complete the arrival form that will be sent via email.
   a. As a reminder, you will complete a COVID test on arrival. You are required to remain in the hotel until you receive your results.
9. Students will be required to complete their daily 14 day check in throughout quarantine from the College, which will be received through email.

10. Alternative quarantine accommodation option: The  Languages Canada, Study Safe Corridor (SSC) – Travel Safe solution ensures international students have a smooth entry into Canada and a safe, comfortable, and affordable mandatory quarantine upon arrival.

11. If you are interested on getting a Canadian Phone number before arriving to Canada, visit PhoneBox.

Housing options after your quarantine is completed

Bow Valley College does not offer on or off-campus housing, however we offer a list of resources for housing options, including, homestay, rentals, and student housing at SAIT.

Please note that Bow Valley College is not affiliated with any of these companies. We cannot guarantee the quality of service or accommodation.

Homestay and student residence

• Pick Homestay and Airport Pick-up: Bow Valley College students receive a discount with Pick Homestay. It allows international students to live with a host family and have an amazing cultural experience.
• Canada Homestay International: Allows international students to live in a Canadian home as a member of the family.
• SAIT residence: Bow Valley College students are eligible to live in SAIT residence.
• Places4Students.com has partnered with SABVC to ensure that you can find affordable off-campus housing. 

Rental options

• Students' Association of Bow Valley College (SABVC): Off-campus housing ads listed through SABVC.
• Rent Faster
• Rent Spot
• Rentals.ca
• Capreit
• Rent Seeker
• Search for Student Housing
• Mainstreet Apartments

These websites provide information on the rights of renters and landlords:

• Renting 101
• Living in a rental property

Medical Health Insurance 

Insurance Coverage

Students arriving before the start of class, must ensure they possess their own private medical or travel insurance that covers medical expenses in Canada. This coverage must be valid until the start of their term. After the start of their term, mandatory student insurance plans will come into effect.

For career students:

Career students can request a copy of their Gallivan insurance card from the Student Benefits Plan Office at bowvalleyplan@mystudentplan.ca. Click here for additional information on the student benefits plan.

For ELL students:

All ELL students receive their Guard.me insurance cards via email within the first week of classes. If you do not have your card, please email issc@bowvalleycollege.ca

For all students:

All students must enroll themselves in the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan when they arrive. Registration is not automatic.

Alberta Health Care Insurance is a basic health care coverage that is administered and governed by the provincial Government of Alberta. All eligible recipients are required by law to be covered by this insurance plan.

Students must enrol themselves for Alberta Health Care Insurance when they arrive and establish a residence in Alberta, registration is not automatic. For specific details on Alberta Health Care Insurance benefits and how to register please refer to the website health.alberta.ca.

Other links of interest:

• Eligibility criteria
• Supporting documents
• Application form

To find health care information, please visit Alberta Health Services' website.