International students travelling to McMaster Divinity College

Before making arrival plans, all international graduate students must:

• be in possession of a valid study permit or “Letter of Introduction” that shows approval for a study permit; 
• be enrolled or plan to enrol in McMaster Divinity College (be in possession of course enrollment letter or offer letter);
• inform MDC of their travel plans by downloading the iCent app (see below) and completing the mandatory forms.

Please note: If you do not have a quarantine space, you will find hotel listings in the iCent app.

All graduate students arriving in Canada will receive daily check-in messages; they must report their wellness and compliance status daily.

Students usually arrive between 3 and 4 weeks prior to the start of term.

If you choose to arrive earlier than four weeks before your program starts, you may be denied entry by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) if you do not have a valid reason for your early arrival. Contact CBSA for more information on how this may impact your arrival in Canada.

Please note that settling in Canada, finding a place to live, and visiting a family member are not considered essential reasons to enter the country earlier than what is permitted.

If you are travelling early for medical, immigration and/or academic requirements, you must have documentation that explains the reason(s) for your early arrival to provide to the CBSA when you arrive.

All new and returning international graduate students who are planning to travel to Canada must sign up for the iCent app. This is mandatory.

This app provides a streamlined process for safe arrival and quarantine in Canada, as outlined in our government-approved readiness plan.

All students joining us in Canada must:

• declare your arrival plans
• confirm your arrival status
• complete mandatory wellness check-ins
• declare the completion of your quarantine

Additional benefits of using iCent

• Provides options to book hotel packages if you need a place to complete your quarantine.
• Additional information about arriving at Pearson Airport in Toronto – where to go, what happens when you arrive, etc.
• Push notification for updates and automatic reminders to complete daily check-ins.

Get the iCent app

1. Download the iCent app (available at the Apple Store and Google Play Store).
   • If you’re unable to download the app, visit the iCent web version.
2. Select “Canada” as your institution country.
3. Select “McMaster University” as your institution name.
4. Select “McMaster Grad Programs.”
5. Enter your email address and click “Continue.”
6. You will receive an email with a secured PIN to log in.
7. Enter the secured PIN and go to “continue.”

First, download and register in the iCent app. You must declare your arrival and plan to quarantine at your private residence.

International graduate students with homes or pre-arranged rental accommodations may plan to quarantine in those accommodations following the completion of the federally mandated airport quarantine. These students will be expected to follow quarantine regulations in their accommodations.

Use the Canadian Government’s quarantine assessment tool to determine if your plan is suitable.

The details of private quarantine plans will be assessed by a Canadian Border Service Agent at the point of entry to Canada. An unacceptable quarantine plan may result in you being denied entry into Canada. It is the responsibility of the student/postdoc to ensure their quarantine plan meets government requirements.

Additional resources from the government:

• Flying to Canada requirements checklist
• Driving to Canada requirements checklist

Incidents of failure to comply with quarantine rules will be reported and investigated as we are required to report incidents to Hamilton Police Services and Public Health. Hamilton Police Services will determine whether to lay charges under the Federal Quarantine Act.