Travelling to Canada and clearing Canadian customs

To enter Canada, whether it is your first time entering Canada or you are a returning student, you must have these documents with you in your carry-on baggage (not in your checked baggage). In addition of the electronic versions of these documents on your phone or computer, we recommend that you carry with you printed copies of all of them.

The Government of Canada has reinstated some COVID-19 measures for air travellers from China, Hong Kong and Macao. These travellers must show a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 2 days before their departure to board their flight. See COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders.

These requirements will be checked before boarding a flight to Canada, and they will be checked again when you arrive at the port of entry in Canada. 

However, please note that meeting all of those requirements does not guarantee you entry into Canada. When you arrive in Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will determine whether you meet the various requirements for entering Canada.

Before you arrive, it’s also important that you review information pertaining to health and hospitalization insurance for your stay in Canada on the page Enrolling in the health and hospitalization insurance plan for international students.

Please note that the group health and hospitalization insurance plan through Desjardins Insurance (the one for international students and foreign interns) and coverage with the Régie d’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) [Québec’s public health insurance plan] (the one for students covered under reciprocal social security agreements with certain countries) begin only when you arrive in Québec. Also, when deciding on when to arrive, be aware of the policy start date for the group health and hospitalization insurance plan with Desjardins or the coverage with the Régie d'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ), so that you can arrange for personal insurance coverage if necessary.

Clearance through the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and issuance of the study permit (unless you are exempt) is done at the first Canadian airport that you visit, regardless of whether it is a stopover or your final destination.

The first step is normally carried out using automated kiosks or eGate. At these kiosks, you will have to answer a series of questions. Once you are done, you will receive a receipt that you will have to give to a border services officer. Generally, the latter will then direct you to the secondary inspection for the study permit’s issuance.

Optionally, you can use ArriveCAN to submit your Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) declaration up to 72 hours in advance of flying into Canada. This option is available only in some international airports.

If you had to provide your fingerprints to obtain your Canadian immigration document, you will have to have them verified at the inspection kiosk.

For more information on primary inspection kiosks

During the secondary inspection, you will need to show your letter of introduction that confirms approval of your study permit and other pertinent documents (see the section “Documents required to enter Canada”) so that the Border Services officer can analyse and issue your study permit (unless you are exempt from this).

You must ensure to have obtained your study permit before leaving the Canada Border Services Agency area. Please verify that your personal information appearing on the study permit is accurate and that the mention/comment regarding your right to work is clearly indicated, in case you plan on working here during your stay. It should say something like, “May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria, per paragraph R186(f), (v) or (w). Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria.”. If there is an error, go back to an officer before leaving the secure area and try to have the information changed.

If, when you applied for your study permit, you also applied for a co-op work permit to do a mandatory internship in your study program, make sure that you also receive this work permit and check that the information on it is correct.

If you are travelling with family members, make sure they also get their permit (depending on the situation, that might be a work permit, study permit, or visitor record).

The time it takes to clear customs and immigration to have your study permit issued can vary from 1 to 3 hours or more. It depends on the time of day and the airport.