You must hold a valid passport to apply to study in Canada. Ideally, your passport should be valid for at least three months after the end of your study period or intership in Canada. Your immigration documents (study or work permit and, if applicable, temporary resident visa or eTA) are only valid so long as your passport is.

Notes: It is possible to apply for a Québec Acceptance Certificate for studies using a passport that will expire during the course of your studies. However, we recommend that you apply for your study permit and visa using a passport that will remain valid for the entire study period

Renewing your passport in Canada

If your passport expires during your study period or internship, you will have to renew it in order to extend your immigration documents before they expire. Contact your home country's consulate or embassy in Canada for more information.

Citizens of all countries except the United States and other minor exceptions must obtain a temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA) from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to be able to enter Canada. The visa is placed in your passport by the Canadian visa office that serves your country of residence, while the electronic travel authorization is linked electronically with your passport.

If you apply for a student permit online, you will receive once your permit awarded an e-mail with instructions as where to send your passport to the canadian passport office covering your country.

The type of document you need to come to Canada (TRV or eTA) depends on your country of citizenship.
There is a C$100 fee for the visa and a C$7 fee for the eTA (fee in effect May 1 2019).

• Countries and territories whose citizens need a visa or eTA
• Find out if you need an eTA or a visa

Applying for a temporary resident visa (TRV) - 2 ways to apply

Canada recently introduced a new entry requirement, the Electronic Travel Authorization, for visa-exempt foreign nationals who fly into Canada. U.S. citizens are among those exempted from the requirement.

Biometrics

Citizens of all countries except the United States and other minor exceptions have to give their biometrics in order to obtain a visa or permit.

Important: Persons needing only an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) do not have to provide biometrics.

• Find out if you need to give biometrics

Fee: $85 biometric fee in addition to the visa application fee.

In the hours following submission of your online application, you will receive the 'instruction letter' in your MyCIC account with instructions to submit your biometrics at  a collection service point.

• Biometrics collection service points

IMPORTANT: Processing of your application begins only after reception of your biometric information.

Medical exam

Persons who reside or have resided for six months or more in the past year in certain countries need a medical exam by a IRCC-approved physician if they plan to stay in Canada for 6 months or more. You should allow at least one month for this process and you are responsible for the cost of the exam. The embassy that handles your case will contact you and provide instructions as needed.

• Find out if you need a medical exam

To get the most out of your studies in Québec and make sure you’re covered in the event the unexpected happens, you need health and hospitalization insurance.

Québec and Canadian immigration law requires non-Canadian students to have valid health and hospitalization insurance for the duration of their stay in Canada.

Upon your arrival on canadian territory, as soon as August 15th for the fall session, December 15th for the winter session and April 15th for the summer session, all international students are automatically covered by the Desjardins Insurance’s health and hospitalization plan. 

Family members traveling with you may also be covered by an insurance plan offered by Desjardins Insurance. For information: Visitors to Canada Insurance.

Students registered in a Université Laval regular program are automatically enroled in supplemental dental insurance through their student association, with the option of cancelling it. Visit the student association health insurance website for more information (French only).

Depending on your specific needs, we recommend that you take out additional insurance if necessary.

Cost of mandatory insurance

Health and hospitalization insurance fees will appear on your electronic tuition fee invoice. New students are covered as soon as they set foot on Canadian soil, no earlier than August 15 for the fall semester, December 15 for the winter semester, and April 15 for the summer semester.

Cost for the 2019-2020 academic year:

• Coverage for regular students
  September 1 - August 31: $900
  January 1 - August 31: $600
  May 1 - August 31: $300
  
  
• Coverage for visiting (exchange) students
  Cost per semester: $300
  Insurance is billed each semester for the duration of the study period. For example, for a 2-semester study period, you will receive 2 separate invoices of $300.
  
  
• Coverage for training and research interns
  Cost per month: $75
  Insurance is billed each semester for the duration of the study period. For example, for a 2-semester study period, you will receive 2 separate invoices. 

Receiving your insurance card:

Sometime during your first few weeks at Université Laval, you will receive an email notifying you that your insurance card is ready for pickup at the Registrar’s Office.

Related links

• Your mandatory group insurance plan (PDF)
• Health insurance claim form (PDF)
• Leaflet Visitors to Canada - Insurance (PDF)
• Group insurance plan - Frequently asked questions (PDF)