Pre-departure: applying for your immigration documents
Now that you’ve been admitted, you will need to apply for your immigration documents. We recommend that you start this process as soon as you received your PDF offer of admission from Concordia University (even if you receive a conditional offer of admission) as it may take 2 to 4 months to complete this process.
On this subject, you are strongly encouraged to read your offer of admission in its entirety, as it contains important information about:
- the deadline to confirm your admission
- the conditions on your offer of admission (if applicable)
- the deadline by which you must meet the conditions of your offer of admission (if applicable)
- course registration information
- contact details for your program advisor or director
- useful links for newly admitted students
- and much more!
Most students will need to apply for a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ), a study permit and either a temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA). Find out which documents you will need to apply for.
What type of student will you be?
You can enter Canada for study for 6 months or less with a valid travel document (visitor visa or electronic travel authorization [eTA]).
If you like, there are advantages to getting a study permit for studies lasting 6 months or less, including facilitating re-entry to Canada if you travel during your studies. Since you'll be studying in Quebec, you won’t need to apply for a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) before you apply for your study permit if you’re coming to Canada to study for less than 6 months.
Find out which document you need at https://ircc.canada.ca/english/visit/visas.asp
What you get depends on your passport or travel document. This is what allows you to travel to and enter Canada.
Please note: your passport or travel document must be valid for at least 6 months upon entering Canada.
A two-terms exchange or visiting student has to apply for both a CAQ and a study permit and either a TRV or eTA in order to study legally in Quebec.
A student who has been admitted to a program (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, certificate or diploma) has to apply for both a CAQ and a study permit and either a TRV or eTA in order to study legally in Quebec.
Your responsabilities as an international student
- You are responsible for maintaining your immigration status and obeying immigration regulations during your stay in Canada.
- You must maintain full-time status throughout your studies:
- Always verify that your immigration documents (passport, CAQ, study permit, TRV or ETA) are accurate and still valid. NOTE: Your CAQ and study permit do NOT always have the same expiry date.
- Upload your immigration as soon as you get them or submit them in person at the ISO.
- Keep your contact information in your student service centre up to date as ISO may contact you with regards to your immigration documents.
Now that you know which documents you will need to apply for, find out how to apply for them!
Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)
Some students must include a provincial attestation letter (PAL) with their study permit applications.
The following students do NOT need to provide a PAL:
• You are applying to study in a master’s degree or doctoral degree program or
• You are currently in Canada and applying from within Canada and one of the following situations applies to you:
o You’re applying for a study permit extension.
o You have a work permit.
o You are a visiting or exchange student.
o You’re a Refugee Claimant.
o You’re the family member of a foreign national who lives in Canada and is one of the following:
- a study permit holder
- a work permit holder
- a temporary resident permit holder with a permit that’s valid for at least 6 months
- a member of armed forces in another country under the Visiting Forces Act
• an accredited foreign government representative
Please see IRCC website for the full list of exemptions.
If you do not meet any of the criteria above, then you need a PAL.
In Quebec the CAQ acts as your PAL if it contains the following statement:
“Cette lettre d’attestation confirme que le demandeur dispose d’une place dans la part du Québec de la répartition des demandes de permis d’études ou en est exempté". In English "This attestation letter confirms that the applicant has a place in Quebec’s share of the distribution of study permit applications or is exempt from it”.
If you require a PAL and your CAQ does not contain the above statement, please complete the MIFI’s webform to request that your CAQ be updated.
Step 1: Apply for your CAQ
Anyone undertaking a course or program of study of more than six months in the province of Quebec MUST be authorized to do so by Immigration Quebec. This authorization is given in the form of a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) which is issued for the level of study and duration of the length of your program, e.g. generally three or four years for a Bachelor or Ph.D. program, two years for a Master’s program. You will need a CAQ unless you fall under one of the exemption categories.
You must have an official Offer of Admission from Concordia University before applying for immigration documents. The Offer of Admission is sent by email in PDF format. Once you receive the PDF format of your Offer of Admission (even if it is a Conditional Offer), apply for your CAQ.
Go to: https://www.quebec.ca/en/education/study-quebec/temporary-selection-studies and complete the online CAQ application
Remember: the CAQ is degree-level specific:
- Université 1er cycle refers to undergraduate level (Bachelors, undergraduate certificate, undergraduate independent or exchange or visiting student)
- Université 2 ième cycle refers to graduate level (Masters, Grad Diploma, Certificate, graduate independent or exchange or visiting student)
- Université 3ième cycle refers to a PhD student
Start and end date of your program: go to page 2 of your Offer of Admission and look for:
- Session: this is the start date of your program (the full date is indicated in your offer of admission)
- Expected Graduation term: this is the expected end date of your program. If your offer reads:
- Fall: put December 31 of the year mentioned under Expected Graduation term
- Winter: put April 30 of the year mentioned under Expected Graduation term
- Summer: put August 31 of the year mentioned under Expected Graduation term
You will need to print:
- the declaration and commitment form (must be signed, digital signatures not accepted)
- the personalized checklist
It currently costs $120.00 Canadian dollars to apply for a CAQ.
You will need to upload the following documents via Arrima, the Quebec government’s immigration portal:
- All pages from your offer of admission
- The biographical page of your valid passport
- Proof of financial capacity: some* students are required to show that they have sufficient funds for one year of tuition fees AND one year of personal expenses. More information about proof of funds is available here and here
- The declaration and commitment form (must be signed)
- The personalized checklist
* This applies to students FROM or LIVING IN:
- Austria
- France (including Réunion)
- Greenland
- Hong Kong
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon
- United States of America
- Student applying for their CAQ from within Canada, independently of nationality.
You will to show that you have enough funds for one year of tuition fees AND personal expenses. To find out how much your tuition fees should cost for your first year, please visit our Estimation Letters and Receipts page.
To find out how much you must show in terms of personal expenses, as well as how to demonstrate you have the sufficient funds, please visit Immigration Quebec's Costs of Studies and Proof of Financial Capacity pages.
If you live in any other country, you must present your proof of financial capacity to the Canadian visa office, which will process your study permit application.
This only applies to students who are not yet 17 (if you are 17, this does not apply to you).
On top of the documents mentioned above, you will also need to upload:
However, please note that Arrima often erroneously requests a Declaration of guardianship for those who are under age 18. If this occurs to you, note that it is an administrative error and that as per the policy, students only require a guardian in Quebec if they are under 17 years old. If you are erroneously instructed to provide a guardian, in lieu thereof provide a letter where you explain that you are 17 years old and as per the policy you do not require a guardian. For good measure include and refer to a proof of date of birth.
Generally speaking, it takes 20 to 30 business days for a complete CAQ application to be processed.
IMPORTANT: Do not wait for the CAQ certificate to be sent to you, use the CAQ Approval Letter from your Immigration Quebec portal page to start applying for your Study permit.
Below are samples of a CAQ approval letter and a new CAQ approval letter (issued as of mid-March 2023).
Your CAQ and deferrals
Please note: this information only applies to students who have already submitted a CAQ application or received their CAQ for their upcoming studies.
You will need to apply for a new CAQ if your deferral is not for the following academic term. For example:
- If you defer from Fall to Winter, or Winter to Summer: you will not need a new CAQ
- If you defer from Winter to Fall: you will need to apply for a new CAQ.
If you have been granted a deferral and not yet applied for your CAQ, simply input your new start term when submitting your initial CAQ application.
Please remember to upload your CAQ (digital copy) to your student service centre once you receive it.
Step 2: Apply for your study permit
To study in Canada, you need to apply for a Study Permit. When your study permit is approved, you will receive a Letter of Introduction from IRCC (Immigration Refugee Citizenship Canada) and your study permit will be issued to you upon entry to Canada. You will need to show this letter to officials at the port of entry when you arrive in Canada and then a Study Permit will be issued.
There are 2 ways to apply for a study permit:
- Regular stream
- Study Direct Stream (commonly called SDS)
The Regular stream applies to students from every country, whereas the SDS only applies to legal residents living in one of the following countries:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- People's Republic of China
- Peru
- India
- Morocco
- Pakistan
- the Philippines
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Senegal
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Vietnam
If you are from one of the above-mentioned countries, you can apply either via the Regular stream or the SDS.
Regular Stream
You will need the following document:
Your offer of admission must be from a post-secondary designated learning institution, such as Concordia University.
A clear copy of the biographical page and signature page(s) of your current passport.
Please note: your passport must be valid for a minimum of six (6) months from the date you apply for your study permit.
You must show that you have enough money for one year of tuition fees, as well as one year of personal and living expenses. You can find more information about Proof of financial support here. Please make sure to refer to the In Quebec section.
If you need to find out how much your studies will cost, please visit our Estimation letters and Receipts page.
If you gave biometrics for Canada in the last ten (10) years for a visitor visa, work permit or study permit, and they’re still valid, you don’t have to give them again if you’re applying to visit, work or study.
Use the Check Status tool to find out if your biometrics are still valid.
If you have not had biometrics done for Canada in the last ten (10) years, please go to https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/where-to-give-biometrics.asp to find out where and how to get your biometrics done.
If you’re applying to become a temporary resident of Canada, such as a student, you must have a medical exam if you:
- want to come to Canada for more than 6 months and
- have lived or travelled for 6 months in certain countries or territories in the year before you come to Canada
Find out if you need a medical exam here.
If you do need a medical exam, you can browse the list of Panel Physicians approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada who can perform this exam.
You can refer to Step 1 - Apply for your CAQ at the top of this page for instructions on how to apply for your CAQ.
It is recommended to include a study plan with your initial study permit application. You can refer to our How to write a study plan instruction sheet for more information.
Once you have gathered all your documents, go to https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/apply.html and apply online.
Remember, you will also need to pay the $150.00 Canadian dollars processing fees online, so have a credit card at hand.
Some students applying for their initial study permit via the Regular Stream will also need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). Your initial TRV will be issued once you study permit is approved. You will need to send your passport to have your visa issued.
If you do not need a TRV to travel to Canada, you will likely need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Your initial eTA will be issued once your study permit is approved.
Once your study permit is approved, you will receive a Letter of Introduction so that your study permit is issued at the point of entry. Please do not leave for Canada without this letter! Your actual study permit will be issued once you land in Canada. Please make sure to upload it to your student service centre as soon as it is issued.
Below is a sample of what a Letter of Introduction looks like. Please remember: an introduction letter is not a study permit.
Your study permit will be issued once you land in Canada. Please make sure to upload it to your student service centre as soon as it is issued.
Below is a sample of what a study permit looks like.
Study Direct Stream (SDS)
Remember, the SDS only applies to legal residents living in one of the following countries:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Brazil
- People's Republic of China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- India
- Morocco
- Pakistan
- Peru
- Philippines
- Senegal
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Vietnam
You will need the documents listed in the Regular Stream above, to be living outside Canada, as well as the following documents:
If you need to find out how much your studies will cost, please visit our Estimation Letters and Receipts page.
Learn more about paying your tuition.
A GIC is a Canadian investment that has a guaranteed rate of return for a fixed period of time.
For more information about GICs, as well as the financial institutions that offer them, please click here.
Please refer to Step 1 - Apply for your CAQ at the top of this page for more information.
A CAQ certificate or CAQ approval letter is accepted when applying via the SDS program.
Since you are applying via the SDS program, you are from a country that requires a medical exam in order to become a temporary resident in Canada.
Please visit the list of Panel Physicians approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada who can perform this exam.
In most cases, you must contact the police or government to ask for a certificate. You may have to:
- provide information or documents, such as photographs, fingerprints, or your addresses and dates that you lived in the country or territory, and
- pay a fee
If you need to give your fingerprints for a police certificate, this isn’t the same as giving your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) for an application.
Here is the name of the document needed, as well as how to apply for them by country:
Make sure your transcripts are official.
You can submit results from one of the tests below:
- an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) academic or general training score of 6.0 or higher in each skill (reading, writing, speaking and listening), or
- a Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF) score that is equal to a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of at least 7 in each skill (reading, writing, speaking and listening)
It is recommended to include a study plan with your initial study permit application. You can refer to our How to write a study plan instruction sheet for more information.
Once you have gathered all your documents, go to https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/student-direct-stream/apply.html and start the application process.
Remember, you will also need to pay the $150.00 Canadian dollars processing fees online, so have a credit card at hand.
Depending on where you’re applying from, you may also need to provide other documents. Make sure you include all the documents required by the visa office that processes your application.
IRCC may ask you to provide additional documents to support your application. In this situation, your application will take longer to process.
It is also recommended that students include a Study Plan with their application. A study plan is a letter that explains why you wish to study at Concordia University and the rational for your program of choice. Please read our Study Plan Info sheet for information on how to write a study plan.
Students applying via the SDS program will also need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). Your initial TRV will be issued once you study permit is approved. You will need to send your passport to have your visa issued.
Once your study permit is approved, you will receive a Letter of Introduction so that your study permit is issued at the point of entry. Please do not leave for Canada without this letter! Your actual study permit will be issued once you land in Canada. Please make sure to upload it to your student service centre as soon as it is issued.
You may need another visa if you will transit through another country (for example if you flying from China, to the US and then Canada, you would need a visa to transit through the US). Please check with the proper authorities for the country in question.
Below is a sample of what a Letter of Introduction looks like. Please remember: an introduction letter is not a study permit.
Your study permit will be issued once you land in Canada. Please make sure to upload it to your student service centre as soon as it is issued.
Below is a sample of what a study permit looks like.
Apply at the port of entry
Only certain people can apply at the port of entry at this time. You may be able to apply at the port of entry if you’re a
- U.S. citizen
- lawful permanent resident of the U.S.
- resident of Greenland
- resident of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon
You can apply for your Study Permit at a Canadian Port of Entry (Canadian airport or land border-crossing), consequently, a Letter of Introduction is not required. Since you are applying for a Study Permit upon entry, bring all supporting documents with you and be prepared to pay the processing fee.
Here are the documents you will need in order to apply at a Canadian port of entry.
Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six (6) months in order for your study permit to be issued.
Please note that your study permit will expire on one of the following dates:
- The expiry date of your CAQ
- The expiry date of your passport if that date is prior to the expiry date of your CAQ
This said, if your passport will expire soon, we recommend, if time allows, that you renew it.
Your offer of admission must be from a post-secondary designated learning institution, such as Concordia University.
You can refer to Step 1 - Apply for your CAQ at the top of this page for instructions on how to apply for your CAQ.
You must show that you have enough money for one year of tuition fees, as well as one year of personal and living expenses. You can find more information about Proof of financial support here. Please make sure to refer to the In Quebec section.
If you need to find out how much your studies will cost, please visit our Estimation letters and Receipts page.
This only applies if:
- You lived in one or more of these countries or territories for at least 6 months in a row within the last year, or
- You’ll come to Canada to work in a job in which public health must be protected (see jobs for which you need a medical exam)
If you need a medical exam, please refer to this section from IRCC to find out who can perform your exam.
Remember, you will also need to pay the $150.00 Canadian dollars processing fees so have a credit card at hand.
Your study permit will be issued once you land in or drive into Canada. Please make sure to upload it to your student service centre as soon as it is issued.
Below is a sample of what a study permit looks like.
TRV or eTA
Your initial Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) will be issued once you study permit is approved. You will need to send your passport to have your TRV issued.
If you do not need a TRV to travel to Canada, you will likely need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Your initial eTA will be issued once your study permit is approved.
Cost of studies
By now, you will have noticed that you will need to indicate how much one year of tuition fees will cost, along with one year of living and personal expenses when applying for your immigration documents. To help you, please take a look at our Estimation letters page.
Estimation letters are available for each Faculty, each level, and then program. For example:
If you've been admitted to a Master's of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) for September 2023:
- Go to term of admission (start of studies) - Fall 2023
- Go to the section Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science
- Click Graduate
- Click Master's of Applied Computer Science or Engineering (course-based – 45 credits)
- Open the PDF
If you cannot find your program, contact iso@concordia.ca.
Prepare to travel!
Now that you've applied for your immigration documents, you can start planning your journey to Montreal.