Canada extends India flight ban another month until September 21

Transport Canada has announced the extension of restrictions on flights to and from India.

The ban on direct flights between Canada and India will continue until September 21, 2021. This is due to an ongoing public health measure as a result to the COVID-19 pandemic in India. All direct commercial and private flights are suspended. The only flights that are allowed to fly directly between the two countries are cargo operations, military flights, and medical transfers.

If someone wishes to come to Canada from India amid these restrictions, travellers will need to take an indirect route. Regardless of their immigration status, travellers will need a pre-arrival PCR test from a third country which must be taken within 72 hours of their final departure to Canada. The test must be taken in any country other then India and follow its COVID-19 related measures.

The travel ban between India and Canada was put in place in April and has been extended monthly.

The ban creates difficulty for international students from India as many Canadian schools plan to begin in-person classes in September. Although international students who are going to COVID-19-ready institutions are exempt from travel restrictions, such as quarantining, the ban means that extra travel planning and budgeting will need to be done.

Recently, about thirty percent (30%) of international students in Canada are from India. Indian students make up a large amount of the international students studying in Canada.

On September 7, fully vaccinated tourists will be allowed to enter Canada, pending on the state of the COVID-19 cases. To be classified as fully vaccinated, you need to have two shots of one of the Canadian-approved vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, Astra Zeneca, or Johnson & Johnson. The last shot must be taken at least fourteen (14) days prior to entering Canada.