COVID-19 FAQ for international students
Last updated: July 22, 2021, 12:41 p.m.
Latest updates
All students should prepare to be in Montreal by the start of the fall 2021 term. All students must have valid documentation (CAQ and study permit) to travel Canada and should ensure that they carry proof of current term registration in order to enter the country.
If you are beginning your studies in fall 2021, the ISO recommends that you not attempt to travel to Canada prior to August 2021. You may be denied entry if you arrive too early and without proof of fall 2021 registration.
All students, new and returning, need a proof of registration in the form of an unofficial transcript can be printed or saved as a pdf directly from My Student Centre page, under the Academics section.
Government authorities confirm this year – by exception – you may start the fall term remotely if you can’t be in Montreal by September 7, provided you make every effort to arrive as soon as possible after that. Please monitor your local visa application centre and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) study permit updates.
Important consideration for new students admitted to the fall 2021 term: You must be confident that you can arrive by the end of the fall 2021 term. If not, then we recommend that you request an admissions deferral.
COVID-19 travel and quarantine updates
Effective July 6, 2021, travellers – including international students – who are eligible to enter Canada and considered fully vaccinated may qualify for an exemption from quarantine requirements — provided they meet certain additional criteria. You will still need a quarantine plan in place even if you are seeking the exemption.
Note: The final determination to allow entry into Canada will be made by a government representative at the border or port of entry based on the information presented at that time.
ArriveCAN app
Set up and enter your info in the ArriveCAN mobile app (Android, iOS or web format) before travelling to Canada to reduce your wait time and facilitate any contact with border and health officials.
Note: Travel letters are not required nor are they being issued by Concordia University.
COVID-19 vaccine information
People aged 12 years and older are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.
People vaccinated for COVID-19 outside Quebec can sign up at the Quebec Vaccination Registry and get their next dose in Quebec, if necessary, by booking an appointment at a designated vaccination centre. Learn more.
Travel, immigration and documentation
Mandatory COVID-19 testing
To be allowed to board a flight to Canada, all air passengers 5 years of age or older, including Canadians, are required to show a negative COVID-19 molecular test result taken within 72 hours of their scheduled time of departure to Canada. If the traveller has a connecting flight to Canada, the pre-departure test must be conducted within 72 hours of the last direct flight to Canada. This means they may need to schedule a COVID-19 test at their transit city within 72 hours of their direct flight to Canada.
For those traveling via the United States of America, all travellers 5 years of age or older, including Canadians, arriving to Canada by land are required to show a negative COVID-19 molecular test result taken in the United States within 72 hours prior to crossing the border into Canada.
Alternatively, travellers can present a positive COVID-19 molecular test taken between 14 and 90 days prior to departure.
Quarantine
Right now, everyone who arrives in Canada, whether a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student, must have a 14-day quarantine plan in place.
Depending on your situation (whether you arrive by air or by land, among other factors), you may also need to arrange and pay for a stay in a Canadian government-approved hotel as part of your quarantine, plus COVID-19 molecular testing.
Effective July 6, 2021, travellers who are eligible to enter Canada and considered fully vaccinated may qualify for an exemption from quarantine requirements — provided they meet certain additional criteria. You will still need a quarantine plan in place even if you are seeking the exemption.
Look into the rules that apply to you before you make travel plans.
See Concordia's travel and quarantine checklist
While under quarantine, you will not be able to:
- Let in utility companies (internet, phone, etc.)
- Go shopping for groceries or household items (beds, sheets, pots, plates, utensils) - be prepared to shop online.
- Set up bank accounts or obtain a social insurance number in person,
- Purchase a cell phone
- Come to campus (including to pick-up of school material from bookstore or to obtain an ID card).
Once quarantine is completed, students must follow the COVID-19 zone guidelines as per the Government of Quebec.
As an international student travelling to Canada after October 20, 2020, Immigration Canada requires that:
- You must have a valid study permit, or have been approved for a study permit.
- You have a negative PCR test.
(Note: This applies to all international students, whether you’re travelling from the United States or from any other country.)
According to Immigration Canada, you must bring
- a valid study permit or a port of entry letter of introduction that shows you were approved for a study permit
- a valid letter of acceptance from a DLI with a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by its province or territory
- proof that you have enough money to support yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada
- a negative PCR test result.
As Concordia University is indeed on the list of designated learning institutions (DLI) with a COVID-19 readiness plan, the university is not providing an additional letter of support. Please note that this is a dynamic list and we recommend that you check the list immediately prior to your travel.
International students entering Canada will need to provide the following documents:
- A valid study permit or a letter of introduction that shows that you were approved for a study permit
- A negative COVID-19 test
- Your proof of COVID-19 vaccination (if applicable)
- Concordia Offer of Admission (new students only or any research-based student)
- A print-out of your unofficial transcripts from your student service centre (all students)
- Download the ArriveCAN mobile app (Android, iOS or web format) on your phone before arriving to Canada. You can reduce your waiting time and minimize contact with border and health officers by submitting your information in advance.
Depending on your situation, the airport/border agent may also request the following:
- Any supporting documents to explain your 14-day quarantine plan
- Copy of lease (if applicable)
- Letter from your Canadian employer (if applicable)
- Proof of local bank account (returning students only)
- Proof of IT issues in your home country (if applicable, e.g. Zoom/Teams restrictions, limited internet access, etc.)
- Contacts for roommates and/or those supporting quarantine (if applicable)
- Proof of negative COVID-19 test (certain airlines only – please check with your airline)
As Concordia University is on the list of designated learning institutions(DLI) with a COVID-10 readiness plan, the university is not providing an additional letter of support.
Don’t wait to register for courses. Once you have accepted your offer of admission, you can go ahead and add courses. If for any reason you aren’t able to attend Concordia in the fall, you have until the DNE deadline (September 20, 2021) to withdraw from courses with no academic or financial penalty.
Current students and students starting their studies in summer 2021:
If you plan to travel to Canada this summer, you may be required to show proof of current and summer 2021 registration (for returning students); for students starting their studies in summer 2021, you may be required to show proof of current and summer semester registration. You may be denied entry if you arrive without proof registration.
Students starting their studies in fall 2021:
If you are beginning your studies in fall 2021, the ISO recommends that you not attempt to travel to Canada prior to August 2021. You may be denied entry if you arrive too early and without proof of fall 2021 registration.
All students: proof of registration in form of an unofficial transcript can be printed or saved as a pdf directly from My Student Centre page, under the Academics section. You can also request a letter of attestation.
We truly understand your frustration. The Government of Quebec has stated that all university students should be prepared for an in-person experience this fall term. The only exception to this is for international students: they are permitted to start their term online from abroad only if they are unable to obtain their travel and immigration paperwork before the start of the term. They must make every effort to come to Montreal as soon as they can.
This is why the university is planning for a combination of online and in-person courses this fall. Once the schedule is finalized in a few weeks, students can make informed decisions about which courses or course sections to take, drop, change, etc.
Meanwhile, we encourage you to start looking into off-campus housing, even if you will be starting the term in your home country. We are hosting virtual online info sessions that you can attend now, to help you get started on looking for housing online.
Yes! Even if you are staying in a temporary accommodation at first, please update all your personal information (address, telephone number, email address, etc.). Once you move into your permanent accommodation, please update your personal information again.
Instructions on how to update your personal information are available here.
Please consult Quebec Public Health for a list of test centres.
Your spouse and/or children may be able to come with you to Canada, provided they have obtained the appropriate immigration documents. Find out who can enter Canada.
If your spouse or children will study or work in Canada, you must submit all of your applications together when you apply online for your Study Permit.
They may also need a visitor visa to travel to Canada - you should include their application when you apply online for your study permit. If they need an eTA, they must apply for one separately. Make sure they follow the special instructions on how to apply for an eTA.
Please visit the IRCC website for more information.
New students
Your documents can be uploaded from your Student Center by following these instructions.
If you defer your admission from fall 2021 to winter 2022, your immigration documents will remain valid. However, if you defer to a new academic year (for ex., summer 2022 or Fall 2222) you must apply for a new CAQ even if your CAQ has not yet expired.
The CAQ start date must match the start date of your program. If you have already received your Study Permit, it will remain valid, however, you must update your file with IRCC by uploading your new Letter of Admission by way of the webform, available here.
The deadline for a refund which can be confirmed is the DNE deadline:
- May 17, 2021 for Summer 1 and Summer 3 registration (May to June or May to August sessions)
- July 12, 2021 for Summer 2 registration (July to August session)
The above-mentioned deadlines apply to undergraduate and graduate students.
The refund request for students who are refused an immigration document is specific to each student and situation:
- Students from France or Belgium who receive international fee waivers: your retroactive de-registration will have to be discussed on case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed. Contact the ISO for issues related to your immigration documents and visit your faculty's website for more information regarding their student request process.
- Research-based students: your retroactive de-registration will have to be discussed on case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed. Contact the ISO for issues related to your immigration documents and visit your faculty's website for more information regarding their student request process.
- Course-based students: If your visa is denied by the DISC deadline
- June 7, 2021 for Summer 1 registration (May to June session)
- July 13, 2021 for Sumnmer 3 registration (May to August session)
- July 29, 2021 for Summer 2 registration (July to august session)
and provided at the time of de-registration, you have not received any funding from the university (TA or RA payment, awards, bursaries, scholarships, loans), the ISO can retroactively remove your registration and refund your tuition to your student account. If however, your visa is denied after the DISC deadline or you wish to drop your courses for other reasons, or you have received funding, your retroactive de-registration will have to be discussed on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed. In these cases, please visit your faculty's website for more information regarding their student request process.
The above-mentioned deadlines apply to ungdergraduate and graduate students.
Students in Canada must have legal status to study in Canada at the time they are registered.
If you receive your refusal letter prior to the DNE deadline, please drop all your courses on your Student Service Centre no later than the DNE deadline in order to avoid getting charged for your courses.
The deadline for a refund which can be confirmed is the DNE deadline – September 20, 2021. This deadline applies to both undergraduate and graduate students. The refund request for students who are refused an immigration document is specific to each student and situation:
- Students from France or Belgium who receive international fee waivers: your retroactive de-registration will have to be discussed on case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed. Contact the ISO for issues related to your immigration documents and visit your faculty's website for more information regarding their student request process.
- Research-based students: your retroactive de-registration will have to be discussed on case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed. Contact the ISO for issues related to your immigration documents and visit your faculty's website for more information regarding their student request process.
- Course-based students:
Undergraduate students: if your visa is denied by the DISC deadline (November 8, 2021), the ISO can retroactively remove your registration and refund your tuition to your student account. If however, your visa is denied after the DISC deadline or you wish to drop your courses for other reasons, your retroactive de-registration will have to be discussed on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed. In these cases, please visit your faculty's website for more information regarding their student request process.
Graduate students: If your visa is denied by the DISC deadline (November 8, 2021) and provided at the time of de-registration, you have not received any funding from the university (TA or RA payment, awards, bursaries, scholarships, loans), the ISO can retroactively remove your registration and refund your tuition to your student account. If however, your visa is denied after the DISC deadline or you wish to drop your courses for other reasons, or you have received funding, your retroactive de-registration will have to be discussed on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed. In these cases, please visit your faculty's website for more information regarding their student request process.
You can visit our Estimation Letters page to help you figure out how much your studies should cost.
Students who have not been issued a study permit by the time they start their studies at Concordia University can apply for their permanent code by uploading a copy of their birth certificate showing parents names in English or French (or in another language but accompanied by a certified/notarized translation into English or French).
International students are expected to make their studies their primary activity in Canada. To this end, International Students who have a CAQ and Study Permit are advised to maintain full-time status for the duration of their degree. Failure to be full-time can lead to refusal of your CAQ and Study Permit extension and may lead to, employment and financial challenges. It is not recommended that international students pursue their studies part-time or take leaves of absence.
Find out more about how the university defines full-time status in the Undergraduate and Graduate calendars. Note, however, that even if a student meets the university’s definition of full-time status, discontinued courses, failed courses, and failure to receive credits for attempted courses can lead to challenges extending your CAQ and Study Permit. If you are in this situation, please speak to an ISO Advisor.
If you are considering reducing to a part-time course load or taking a leave of absence, it is important that you review the possible impacts. If, after reviewing the list below, there are extenuating circumstances that may require that you reduce your registration to part-time status or that you take a leave of absence, please contact the ISO to discuss your situation with an Advisor.
Impact on future immigration documents:
When applying for a CAQ, students “agree to comply with all the conditions for issuing your Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) for studies”, including “making your studies your principal activity”, meaning that you are studying full-time for the complete duration of your studies. The only terms students are not required to be registered in full-time courses is during scheduled breaks in your academic calendar, such as winter and summer break, and during your last academic term.
In order to be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit students must “have maintained full-time student status in Canada during the complete duration of their studies, except during scheduled breaks in the academic calendar, such as winter and summer break, and during your last academic term.
According to IRCC International students who work either on-campus or off-campus must maintain full-time status. If you reduce your registration to part-time or take a leave of absence, you must immediately stop working as you are no longer eligible to work.
IRCC states that students can work off-campus on a full-time basis during scheduled breaks in the academic calendar if they are enrolled full-time during the academic terms before and after a regularly scheduled break. If the student is on a scheduled academic break, they may work full-time even if they elect to take courses during the scheduled break. If these requirements are not met, then the student may only work up to 20/hrs per week off-campus.
Right now, the government rules are that all registered students this fall must be in Quebec before the beginning of the fall term regardless of whether their courses are online or in person format.
Undergraduate students — Requests for a deferral are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Students admitted to programs in the Faculty of Fine Arts, Communications, Communications and Cultural Studies, Journalism, TESL and Early Childhood Education are not normally eligible for deferral – they will need to submit a new application for the term they wish to attend.
International students may be eligible for a deferral if they are unable to travel to Canada due to restrictions including not getting their study permit in time. Your deferral request must include proof that you have applied for both your CAQ and study permit. Deferral requests for your Fall 2021 admission will be considered from August 1 to September 1. Deferrals are not available for students who do not require a study permit or who plan to take courses at another institution.
Graduate students — To defer admission, refer to your official Offer of Admission for instruction or contact your program directly. Should you defer, your graduate award (if applicable) will also defer.
Current students
You can apply to extend your immigration documents in Canada and should make sure to maintain your status in Canada by applying to extend your documents before the current period of authorized stay ends.
If you need help with your renewal process, send an email including your student ID to iso@concordia.ca or take part in one of our ISO Virtual Drop-In sessions.
The sooner the better! Immigration has experienced some delays in application times. However, both the provincial and federal government offices remain operational, and continue to process files. A CAQ is taking, on average, six to eight weeks to process and the study permit is currently taking more than 120 days.
IMPORTANT: Those whose study permits have not yet expired can renew them and continue their studies. However, those whose study permits have expired must apply to restore their status in Canada before returning to Canada.
Immigration Canada states, “Foreign nationals applying for restoration have lost their status and may not continue to work or attend school until their status has been restored and a new work or study permit has been issued.”
If you are unable to gather the required documents (CAQ, financial proof, etc.) on time to apply for a study permit, please contact the International Students Office (ISO) for assistance BEFORE your study permit expires. Do not let your immigration status expire.
International students with immigration-related issues should contact the International Students Office (ISO) at iso@concordia.ca or take part in one of our ISO Virtual Drop-In sessions.
International students are expected to make their studies their primary activity in Canada. To this end, International Students who have a CAQ and Study Permit are advised to maintain full-time status for the duration of their degree. Failure to be full-time can lead to refusal of your CAQ and Study Permit extension and may lead to, employment and financial challenges. It is not recommended that international students pursue their studies part-time or take leaves of absence.
Find out more about how the university defines full-time status in the Undergraduate and Graduate calendars. Note, however, that even if a student meets the university’s definition of full-time status, discontinued courses, failed courses, and failure to receive credits for attempted courses can lead to challenges extending your CAQ and Study Permit. If you are in this situation, please speak to an ISO Advisor.
If you are considering reducing to a part-time course load or taking a leave of absence, it is important that you review the possible impacts. If, after reviewing the list below, there are extenuating circumstances that may require that you reduce your registration to part-time status or that you take a leave of absence, please contact the ISO to discuss your situation with an Advisor.
Impact on future immigration documents:
When applying for a CAQ, students “agree to comply with all the conditions for issuing your Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) for studies”, including “making your studies your principal activity”, meaning that you are studying full-time for the complete duration of your studies. The only terms students are not required to be registered in full-time courses is during scheduled breaks in your academic calendar, such as winter and summer break, and during your last academic term.
In order to be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit students must “have maintained full-time student status in Canada during the complete duration of their studies, except during scheduled breaks in the academic calendar, such as winter and summer break, and during your last academic term.
According to IRCC International students who work either on-campus or off-campus must maintain full-time status. If you reduce your registration to part-time or take a leave of absence, you must immediately stop working as you are no longer eligible to work.
IRCC states that students can work off-campus on a full-time basis during scheduled breaks in the academic calendar if they are enrolled full-time during the academic terms before and after a regularly scheduled break. If the student is on a scheduled academic break, they may work full-time even if they elect to take courses during the scheduled break. If these requirements are not met, then the student may only work up to 20/hrs per week off-campus.
Students who intend to apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) through the Programme de l’experience Quebecoise (Quebec Graduates) must have completed at least half of their studies at a Quebec designated learning institution AND have been physically present in Quebec for at least half of their studies at this institution.
Quarantine and health and safety regulations
For international students who are travelling to Canada and are seeking housing during their 14-day quarantine, there are options available through Hotel Management International who offer “quarantine accommodations” at discounted rates. More information is available on the Guidelines for Quarantine section of Concordia’s Well-Being webpage.
Read more about our health and safety protocols.
At this time, travellers do not require a vaccine to travel to Canada (see our travel and quarantine page for more information).
Effective July 6, 2021, travellers who are eligible to enter Canada and considered fully vaccinated may qualify for an exemption from quarantine requirements — provided they meet certain additional criteria.
People vaccinated for COVID-19 outside Québec can sign up at the Québec Vaccination Registry and get their next dose in Québec, if necessary, by booking an appointment at a designated vaccination centre. See our vaccine page for more information.
Yes, your student health insurance covers hospitalization for COVID-19.
Employment and income
Returning students
The deadline for a refund which can be confirmed is the DNE deadline:
- May 17, 2021 for Summer 1 registration (May to June or May to August sessions)
- July 12, 2021 for Summer 2 registration (July to August session)
The refund request for students who are refused an immigration document is specific to each student and situation:
- Students from France or Belgium who receive international fee waivers: your retroactive de-registration will have to be discussed on case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed. Contact the ISO for issues related to your immigration documents and visit your faculty's website for more information regarding their student request process.
- Research-based students: your retroactive de-registration will have to be discussed on case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed. Contact the ISO for issues related to your immigration documents and visit your faculty's website for more information regarding their student request process.
- Course-based students: If your visa is denied by the DISC deadline
- June 7, 2021 for Summer 1 registration (May to June session)
- July 13, 2021 for Sumnmer 3 registration (May to August session)
- July 29, 2021 for Summer 2 registration (July to august session)
and provided at the time of de-registration, you have not received any funding from the university (TA or RA payment, awards, bursaries, scholarships, loans), we can retroactively remove your registration and refund your tuition to your student account. If however, your visa is denied after the DISC deadline and you wish to drop your courses for other reasons, or you have received funding, your retroactive de-registration will have to be discussed on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed. In these cases, please visit your faculty's website for more information regarding their student request process.
International students with questions about the post-graduation work permit should contact the International Students Office (ISO) at iso@concordia.ca or join one of our ISO Virtual Drop-In sessions.
Health insurance
All international students
For students starting their studies in Winter 2021:
You can print proof that you are billed for health insurance from your MyConcordia.ca
- Make sure you are registered for Winter 2021
- Go to Account Inquiry in your Myconcordia.ca
- Select Winter 2021 and click on details
The fee for your health insurance plan should appear (the fee should be $784.00) and you can then print this out and have it on your person when you travel to Canada.
For students who started their studies in Fall 2020:
- You must have been registered for Fall 2020
- Go to Account Inquiry in your MyConcordia.ca
- Select Fall 2020 and click on details.
The fee for your health insurance plan should appear (the fee should be $1,176.00) and you can then print this out and have it on your person when you travel to Canada.
At this time, travelers do not require a vaccine to travel to Canada (see our travel and quarantine page for more information).
Effective July 6, 2021, travellers who are eligible to enter Canada and considered fully vaccinated may qualify for an exemption from quarantine requirements — provided they meet certain additional criteria.
People vaccinated for COVID-19 outside Québec can sign up at the Québec Vaccination Registry and get their next dose in Québec, if necessary, by booking an appointment at a designated vaccination centre. See our vaccine page for more information.
Yes, your student health insurance covers hospitalization for COVID-19.
The COVID‑19 vaccine is free for anyone who wants it. The vaccines are distributed by the Québec Immunization Program. Doses are not available on the private market. (source: COVID-19 vaccination campaign | Gouvernement du Québec (quebec.ca)
See our vaccine page for more information.
We are not offering an exemption waiver for the Summer 2021 term given that:
- The Government of Quebec is now requiring all international students to be physically present in Quebec by the start of Fall 2021 term
- All travellers to Canada are required to quarantine for 14 days prior to the start of classes
- Concordia is required by law to insure our international students
Please stay up to date on news by visiting our ISO Covid FAQ page, guidelines for quarantine and travel and quarantine checklist for more information prior to making your travel plans. Please note that health insurance is charged on an annual basis based on your program and is expected to be continuous until your program is completed. Visit our Health Insurance page for more information on the coverage, how to make a claim and the exemption categories.
The Quebec COVID-19 vaccination program is currently underway! The COVID-19 vaccine is currently available to anyone 12 years old and over. To book an appointment:
- Go to https://portal3.clicsante.ca/
- Select a service: COVID-19 vaccine
- Enter your postal code
You can then select a location where to get vaccinated, as well as a day and time.
YOU MUST BRING YOUR PASSPORT WHEN YOU GO TO YOUR APPOINTMENT.
Please make sure that you are available for the appointment. If your schedule changes and you are no longer available for your appointment, you must cancel your appointment in order for someone else to get vaccinated. Read more about the Quebec vaccination program and see our vaccine page for more information.
Adults need vaccines too! Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses occur on Canadian and U.S. campuses every year, including measles, mumps, chicken pox, meningitis, and of course Covid-19. Keeping your vaccines up-to-date will help you stay healthy all year long.
What you can do before you leave home
- Before you leave home, review your vaccine history with your health care provider, and update any vaccines you’re missing. Vaccines can be costly, and student insurance plans do not offer the same coverage that employee or parents’ plans pay for. Get started now, as some vaccines require a series of shots and may take a few weeks or months to complete.
- Pack your Vaccine Records (or a clear copy or photo): It is important for every university student to have this vital information easily accessible. Don’t leave home without it!
What you can do once you are at Concordia
If you did not finish updating your vaccines, or you are due for a vaccine booster while you’re in Montreal, book an appointment with a nurse at Concordia University Health Services. You may qualify to get certain vaccines for free. For reliable information about vaccines, see our Vaccination page.
International students in Canada
In some cases, the ISO can sell you an additional four months of health insurance*.
To find out if this applies to you, please contact iso.healthinsurance@concordia.ca
* Once you enroll for the additional 4 months, you are locked-in for those 4 months and no adjustment will be processed.
International students who are covered by Concordia international health insurance through Blue Cross can sign up for telemedicine services through getmaple.ca/medavie. This service allows users to meet doctors, nurses or other health professionals online.
Although the RAMQ offices are still processing RAMQ requests, the offices themselves are not open to the public. Find out how to submit your RAMQ request.
Other services for students
Whether you’re looking for a student mentor, help with planning your finances, or emotional support during the stress of exams, Concordia’s community is here for you. Find out more about the many resources that are available for Concordia students.
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