A warm welcome from our team
Whether you are here in Canada or arriving from abroad, the International & Exchange Student Centre team is planning an amazing experience for you as you join the Western family. Our advisors are available to meet via MS Teams or phone to help you prepare for your academic journey and answer any questions you may have. Please contact us or arrange to meet online if you need assistance.
Travel, Immigration and Quarantine Information
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAREFULLY IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO TRAVEL TO LONDON FROM OUTSIDE OF CANADA
Students must complete all necessary testing and quarantine requirements, and enter travel and quarantine plan information through the ArriveCAN app PRIOR to arrival in Canada.
We also encourage you to register your arrival through Western’s Travel & Quarantine plan registration. By registering your travel and quarantine plan, Western will know when to expect your arrival, and can assist in case anything unexpected happens before or during your travels. In addition, exemption from quarantine is only determined by a border official at the point of entry to Canada. In the case you are not granted a quarantine exemption, Western will be able to support you through your quarantine period.
To be eligible to enter Canada, all travellers above the age of 18 must be fully vaccinated with one of the following vaccines:
- Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2)
- Moderna (Spikevax, mRNA-1273)
- AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria, COVISHIELD, ChAdOx1-S, AZD1222)
- Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S)
- Bharat Biotech (Covaxin, BBV152 A, B, C)
- Sinopharm (Beijing) BBIBP-CorV (Vero Cells)
- Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc)
International students who are 18 years of age or older, who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or vaccinated with a vaccine other than the seven types mentioned above, must contact iesc@uwo.ca for more information on arriving to Canada.
Preparing to Travel: Steps to Follow
All students will still need to complete steps required to travel to Canada from abroad regardless of immigration status. Visit Western's International Arrival website for details on:
- quarantine requirements
- immigration and travel
- steps for travelling to Canada
- vaccine information
- and more!
Please note that government travel requirements continue to change. We will provide updates on our website and via email as required.
Friday FAQ Session
Weekly, 9-10 am EDT
If you're planning to travel to Canada, join us on Fridays for an open question and answer session via Zoom. We can discuss travel exemptions and restrictions for international students, immigration and study permits, navigating vaccine requirements, important considerations for planning when to arrive, and what you need to know before you travel.
Important Documents to Bring with You
Please read Documents and Items to Bring with You on our arrival website to ensure you have everything you need to enter Canada. COVID-19 may have affected your original travel plans, so please note that you may be required to bring additional supporting documents depending on your situation. Some documents may take time to obtain. Please be sure to have them well in advance of travelling.
Western-arranged quarantine accommodations
Fully vaccinated travellers arriving to Canada must have a 14-day quarantine plan, even if they plan to be exempt. If you aren’t sure your accommodations meet quarantine requirements, or if you don’t have a credit card that will work upon arrival, we recommend Western-arranged quarantine accommodations and meal service .
Once you are exempt from quarantine, the accommodation is easily refundable by contacting conference.services@uwo.ca before 5 pm on the first day of your booking.
Note: we are no longer able to provide subsidized rates for Western-arranged quarantine accommodation for any bookings starting on or after May 2, 2022.
Off-Campus Housing
Western’s Off-Campus Housing Service is dedicated to helping you during your time living off campus. Explore a range of housing options in their online rental listings or meet with the team virtually or in-person for services including lease review. They are here to support you with your renting experience. Visit offcampus.uwo.ca or email ocha@housing.uwo.ca.
Western's COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
Western students are currently required to submit proof of vaccination in compliance with Western's COVID-19 mandatory vaccination policy. This policy is in place at least until April 30, 2022 and may be extended to summer term.
Please note that you may be required to obtain additional vaccines upon arrival to Canada to comply with Western University’s vaccination policy, even if you are declared exempt from quarantine requirements.
Please have documentation ready to prove your vaccination status. Proof of vaccination should be uploaded prior to students visiting campus. If you arrive prior to May 1, 2022, a link will be emailed to your Western email address (@uwo.ca) from 'noreply@uwo.ca', which will provide instructions on how to submit your proof of vaccination.
If you require translation of vaccine documents, you may request assistance through the London Cross-Cultural Learner Centre. See Vaccine FAQs for International Students for details.
We will provide updates on Western’s vaccination policy for summer term as they become available. For questions, please email vaxinfo@uwo.ca
Save The Date: #GlobalWesternU New Student Party
No matter where you are in the world, we hope you’ll join us at this two-hour virtual event to mark the beginning of your journey at Western! Meet other new international students, hangout, watch, play and celebrate the start of the Summer 2022 term!
All incoming graduate and undergraduate students are invited to join us for special games and activities, some friendly competition, and a few other surprises- DON’T miss out!
Thursday May 5, 6 pm to 8 pm EDT
Contact Us & Other Resources
The International and Exchange Student Centre is here to support all students - whether you are in Canada, planning to travel to Canada, or studying remotely. Please contact us or arrange to meet online if you need assistance. Some additional links and resources are below for your reference:
