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.

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.

This first step is normally carried out using automated kiosks. 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 take to a border services officer when you leave the secure area.

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

You will need to show your letter of introduction to get your study permit (unless you are exempt from this) when you first arrive at a Canadian airport regardless of whether it is a stopover airport or your final destination. When you exit the security area, the border services officer will direct you to secondary inspection where your documents will be examined and where your study permit will be issued. You may be asked to show your ArriveCAN receipt as well as your COVID-19 proof of vaccination. 

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.

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 and try to have the information changed.

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).

Fully vaccinated travellers arriving in Canada by air are subject to random testing for COVID-19. Those selected for testing will receive an email providing full instructions for the test within 15 minutes of their arrival. The tests will be done outside the airport (pharmacies or virtually); they are mandatory. Selected travellers will be able to take their connecting flight or train and are not required to quarantine while waiting for their results. If you test positive on arrival, you must isolate for 10 days from the date you receive your results, in accordance with federal requirements. The requirement is 10 days, regardless of the isolation period in the province or territory of residence. If you test positive, you will also need to follow the Gouvernement du Québec guidelines in place. 

Unless they have an exemption, travellers who are not considered fully vaccinated must do a test on Day 1 and Day 8 of their mandatory 14-day quarantine.

For more information, see the Arrival tests if selected section as well as the news release.