Travel & Visa

The 241st ECS Meeting is registered with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to facilitate processing speakers, attendees, and exhibitors into Vancouver.

Depending on where you live, you may need to meet certain entry requirements to visit Canada. Please read the following information carefully.

Canadian entry and health requirements

• ArriveCAN: All travelers must use ArriveCAN to provide mandatory travel and contact information required for entry into Canada. Effective April 25, 2022, fully vaccinated travelers are no longer required to provide details of their quarantine plan.
  • Download the ArriveCAN app

Make sure to use the newest version of ArriveCAN. If you submitted your information in the past using an older version of ArriveCan, you must download the latest version and resubmit your information.

• Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): Visa-exempt foreign nationals—excluding U.S. citizens—now require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to, or transit through, Canada.
  • Apply for an eTA

• Visitor Visa: To determine if you need a Visitor’s Visa to enter Canada, visit https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp and complete the short questionnaire.
  • Apply for a Visitor’s Visa

If you require a visa to enter Canada, you need a letter of invitation on ECS letterhead. The ECS Letter of Invitation does not constitute an application for a Visa; we cannot guarantee that it will enable you to obtain a Visa.

• • Request an ECS Letter of Invitation

• COVID-19: As of April 1, 2022, all visitors to Canada must be fully vaccinated, but are no longer required to take a pre-entry COVID-19 test. Bookmark this link for future reference as these requirements may change between now and the meeting.
  • COVID Information for Travelers

Depending on the regulations of their country of origin, some meeting attendees may be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken just prior to their return flight home. Check your national and airline regulations to see if this is required.

• • COVID Testing for Travelers

Meeting attendees needing a test may schedule an appointment with Empower Clinics by visiting https://www.empowerclinics.com/covid-19-testing/. The testing facility will be set up at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel.

• Vancouver: Please note that all participants arriving at the Vancouver Convention Center for an event must adhere to safety protocols.
  • Vancouver Convention Center Health and Safety

While indoor masking is still recommended, it is no longer required to wear masks in all city-wide public indoor settings or to show proof of vaccination to enter many establishments.

Tips for successful visa applications

• Apply as soon as possible before your planned travel date!
• Complete your application fully and accurately.
• Provide evidence that you intend to return to your country of residence and/or binding or sufficient ties to your home country or permanent residence abroad.
• Provide proof of professional scientific and/or educational status, ECS membership, meeting registration, and/or letter of presentation acceptance.
• Request an ECS Letter of Invitation.
• If the application center requires an in-person interview, dress professionally. Prepare for the interview so you can clearly and concisely describe your intentions.

Discover Vancouver

• For detailed visitor and travel information about Vancouver, click here.
• Show your badge for exclusive discounts at certain restaurants, shops, spas, attractions, nightclubs, sightseeing tours, and transportation services!
• Whether you’ve been to Vancouver before or not, make sure to get out and about at the end of the day. You won’t be disappointed!
• It’s never too early to start thinking about where to eat. With an amazing dining scene that satisfies all tastes and budgets, Vancouver is sure to provide memorable meals.
• Whether you want to explore the city in your off hours or are bringing friends and family looking for things to do, make sure to check the variety of options available.

Weather

Local temperatures are mild so dress in light layers. Make sure to pack a rain jacket and umbrella. Plan to layer on warmer clothes for visiting the nearby mountains. Vancouver is a great place to explore on foot so bring good walking shoes!

In late May/early June, the average high temperature is 65 ^o F (18^o C) and the average low temperature is 52^o F (11^o C). British Columbia’s coastal climate is the most moderate in Canada, but expect rain—it is overcast or mostly cloudy 56 percent of the time.

Check out the forecast to plan accordingly.

Meeting Location

Vancouver Convention Center, 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 0C3, Canada