Arriving in Canada: Student Checklist

Before you board: documents to carry, not pack

This page is general information to help you prepare, not immigration advice — always confirm the current rules on the official Government of Canada source before you act.

Keep your most important documents in your hand luggage, never in a checked bag. If your bag is delayed, you must still be able to show these papers to the border officer. Make a clearly labelled folder so you are not searching at the counter.

• Valid passport and, if issued, your visitor visa counterfoil or eTA confirmation
• The port-of-entry letter of introduction you received after your study-permit approval
• Your letter of acceptance from the designated learning institution (DLI)
• Proof of funds and proof of paid tuition or housing, as referenced in your application
• Provincial/territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) if it applied to your application
• A few printed copies plus secure digital copies of everything

How the study permit is issued at the port of entry

An important point many new students miss: if you applied from outside Canada, your actual study permit is printed and handed to you at the port of entry (an airport or land border) by a border services officer — it is not the approval letter you received earlier.

When you land, you will pass through a primary inspection. Tell the officer you are arriving to study, and have your letter of introduction and acceptance ready. The officer confirms your documents and issues the study permit. Check the permit on the spot for the correct name, dates, conditions, and any note about working or your program. If something looks wrong, ask the officer politely to correct it before you leave the counter.

Right after you land

The first hours are about getting from the airport to your accommodation safely and staying connected. Plan your route in advance and keep some Canadian currency or a working card for transit.

• Confirm how you will reach your housing — campus shuttle, public transit, or a licensed taxi/rideshare
• Get a local SIM or activate a Canadian mobile plan so you can be reached
• Save your institution's international-student office number and the campus security number
• Note that 911 is the emergency number across Canada for police, fire, and medical emergencies

Your first week: settling-in tasks

Once you have arrived, a short list of administrative tasks will set you up for the term. Your institution's international-student office is the best first stop — they run orientation and can point you to the correct, current steps for your province.

• Attend the international-student orientation and complete any mandatory check-in or registration
• Open a Canadian bank account (ask your bank which documents they need)
• Apply for provincial or institution-arranged health coverage and learn what it covers
• Apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) if you plan to work and are eligible
• Set up a transit pass and learn your daily routes to campus

Money, weather, and staying organised

Canada has four distinct seasons and winters can be very cold in much of the country, so arriving with at least a warm layer for your first days is wise. Build a simple budget early, keep digital and paper copies of every official document, and write down the deadlines that matter (course registration, fee payment, health-coverage enrolment).

Give yourself time to adjust — jet lag, a new climate, and a new city are a lot at once. Lean on orientation events and the support services your institution provides.