Guidelines for quarantine
If you are arriving from abroad, you will need to follow some important public health guidelines. This guide will help you prepare.
International students: Canada continues to maintain strict COVID-19 health and safety guidelines about who can enter the country. Before you make travel plans, consult the FAQ and review the travel and quarantine checklist.
Everyone, whether Canadian citizen or international, is required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Canada from abroad. This applies to both land and air travel.
At Canadian Port of Entry, a Canada Border Services Officer will ask you for:
- an address,
- phone number, and
- email address where you will be reachable during this period.
A representative of the Government of Canada will check on you during the 14-day period to monitor your compliance.
If you are travelling to Montreal from another Canadian province, and have not travelled abroad in the 14 days prior, you will not need to quarantine.
If you violate these rules or any instructions provided to you when you enter Canada, this is an offence under the Quarantine Act. Consequences may include up to $750,000 in fines and/or 6 months in prison, and/or being removed from Canada and banned from entering for one year.
If you do not abide by the Quarantine Act, you could also face fines of up to $1 million and 3 years’ imprisonment
For more information: Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Being in quarantine means you must self-isolate in one location for the 14-day duration. During this period, you must:
- Not have visitors (friends, family, maintenance workers or utility workers for things like internet or phone set-up)
- Arrange to have your groceries or any medications you need delivered to you.
- Stay in a private area, such as a yard or balcony, if you go outside for fresh air. Neighbourhood walks are not permitted in quarantine.
- Monitor your health for symptoms of COVID-19.
For more information: Government of Canada
According to the guidelines for Montreal-Trudeau airport, you will be allowed to use public transit (including taxis, Ubers, or the 747 Bus) only if you are showing no symptoms of COVID-19.
In Montreal, you are required to wear a mask or face covering that covers your nose and mouth while you use public transit.
For more information: Montreal Trudeau International Airport
Bring at least 14 days’ worth of any medication you need, and remember to pack all medication and important documents with you in your carry-on bag. If your bags are delayed, you will not be able to return to the airport to pick them up until after you have completed your quarantine. You should also have a face-covering to wear with you throughout your transit.
Public health officials suggest the following supplies:
- Non-medical mask or face covering (i.e., made with at least two layers of tightly woven fabric, constructed to completely cover the nose and mouth without gaping, and secured to the head by ties or ear loops)
- Disposable paper towels
- Thermometer
- Running water
- Hand soap
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol
- Dish soap
- Regular laundry soap
- Regular household cleaning products
- Hard-surface disinfectant that has a Drug Identification Number (DIN), or if not available, concentrated (5%) liquid bleach and a separate container for dilution
- Appropriate cleaning products for high-touch electronics
Parents (foreign nationals/US citizens) who wish to accompany their student(s) to campus will not be able to enter Canada from the United States unless the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) deems your trip to be essential.
You may contact the CBSA to determine whether your trip would qualify as essential. Bear in mind that anyone entering Canada will have to remain in Canada for the 14-day isolation that the Federal Government has outlined in the requirements for Mandatory Quarantine for Travellers to Canada. Short visits are not permitted.
If you have your own accommodations ready to move into, you may quarantine there. For those who haven’t found housing in Montreal ahead of their arrival, Concordia is providing options with Hotel Management International (HMI) to offer you "quarantine accommodation" at discounted rates. Fill out the accommodation request form to access and reserve a Montreal-based hotel room.
For international students who are returning to Canada and are seeking housing during their 14-day quarantine, Concordia is providing options through Hotel Management International to offer “quarantine accommodations” at discounted rates. More information is available on the Travel & Self-Quarantine section of Concordia’s Student Housing webpage.
Many grocery stores in Montreal offer online ordering and contact-free delivery, including Supermarche P.A., Supermarche Adonis, Metro, and IGA. You will need a credit card to pay for groceries, so be sure to have one when you arrive. You will not be able to open a bank account in Canada until after your quarantine period is over.
COVID-19 tests are currently administered in public test centers at no cost. Blue Cross health insurance also covers diagnostic tests - please refer the Health Insurance Booklet [PDF] for further details.
To qualify, you need to be a student enrolled in winter term courses who does not have a computer. You can also request the loan of a webcam or internet stick.
Please fill out this web form, or call 514 848-2424, ext. 7613.
Please note: because of the limited number of devices available, you may be asked to briefly explain the nature of the work you need to accomplish. We also request that you strictly adhere to borrowing deadlines since other students, faculty and staff members may be negatively impacted by return delays.
Important: this service is reserved for students, faculty and staff who do not have a personal device and who are unable to borrow one by another means. Please note that this request does not guarantee availability of equipment as stock is limited. The University is exploring all possible options to distribute equipment safely and efficiently within the present restrictions of the COVID-19 situation.
If you no longer require loaned equipment, please contact the Service Desk at help@concordia.ca with the subject line “Equipment Return.” A Service Desk agent will be in touch to coordinate the equipment drop-off.
