COVID-19 FAQ for international students
Last updated: January 13, 2021, 12:31 p.m.
New travel guidelines
We are pleased to announce that Concordia is on the list of designated learning institutions (DLI) with a COVID-19 readiness plan.
This means that you may begin making plans to travel to Montreal, should you wish to do so. You may also wish to remain in your home country until the end of the term; this decision is yours to make.
As of January 7, 2021, all air passengers five years of age or older must present to the airline prior to boarding written or electronic documentation showing a negative PCR test (COVID-19 molecular polymerase chain reaction) result taken within 72 hours. Get more information.
Travel, immigration and documentation
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 PCR test.
- 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.
As of January 7, 2021, all air passengers five years of age or older must present to the airline prior to boarding written or electronic documentation showing a negative PCR test (COVID-19 molecular polymerase chain reaction) result taken within 72 hours. Get more information.
Once you arrive in Canada, a 14-day quarantine means you cannot leave your home nor let anyone in, and therefore, 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.
Your spouse and/or children may be able to come with you to Canada, provided they have obtained the appropriate immigration documents.
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.
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 accomodation, 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.
New students
New international students studying from outside Canada:
All new international students admitted for the Winter term who will be studying from outside Canada must provide the university the following documents in order to be enrolled for the Winter 2021 term:
- Proof that you have obtained the CAQ and your study permit, or
- Proof that you have obtained the CAQ and have applied for your study permit before starting your program - January 12, 2021 (please keep in mind that a CAQ approval letter is required for a study permit application to be approved), or
- Proof that you have applied for the CAQ by December 15, 2020 and have applied for your study permit before the starting your program - January 12, 2021 (please remember that a CAQ approval letter is required for a study permit application to be approved)
The deadline to submit the above-mentioned documents is January 26, 2021.
Students who are in Canada must have a valid CAQ and Study Permit. Once courses return to an in-person format, valid immigration documents will be required in order to complete program requirements.
Find out what these documents look like.
New international students studying from within Canada:
All new international students admitted for Winter 2021 term who are currently inside Canada will need to provide the university the following documents in order to be enrolled:
- A valid CAQ
- A valid study permit
The deadline to submit the above-mentioned documents for students starting their studies in Winter 2021 is January 26, 2021
Your immigration documents must be submitted by January 26, 2021 (DNE deadline) for students starting their studies in Winter 2021.
Your documents can be uploaded from your Student Center by following these instructions.
If you defer your admission from fall 2020 to winter 2021, your immigration documents will remain valid. However, if you defer to a new academic year (for ex., summer 2021) you must apply for new immigration documents.
International students with immigration-related issues should contact the International Students Office (ISO) at iso@concordia.ca or join one of our ISO Virtual Drop-In sessions.
Your CAQ remains valid for the Winter 2021 term as per the instructions from Immigration Quebec.
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).
Current students
Your immigration documents must be submitted by January 26, 2021 (DNE deadline) for students starting their studies in Winter 2021.
Following the government of Canada’s announcement that borders will re-open to welcome international students, we are pleased to announce that we have been approved and are now on the list of designated learning institutions (DLI) with a COVID-19 readiness plan.
This means that that if you have valid immigration documents, you may begin making plans to travel to Montreal, should you wish to do so. You may also wish to remain in your home country until the end of the term; this decision is yours to make.
We have prepared several FAQ sections and a checklist to answer questions about what to expect as you prepare to travel. All travelers arriving in Canada from abroad are required to quarantine in isolation for 14 days; here is more information on quarantine requirements
You will also need a valid Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada.
If you have to transit through other countries, please check their travel restrictions because they may be different from Canada’s.
Remember that you will need to self-isolate for 14 days upon your arrival to Canada, independent of any previous self-isolation you may have done in another country.
You can apply to extend your immigration documents in Canada and should make sure to maintain your status in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) has come up with new guidelines that allow international students whose Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) expires after April 30, 2020, and before December 31, 2020, to be extended to December 31, 2020. This only applies to students who will be completing their studies by December 31, 2020.
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.
This is great news for students who plan to complete their studies by December 31, 2020. However, if your studies will continue after fall 2020 term or you plan to extend your immigration documents beyond December 31, 2020, you will need to extend your CAQ as normal. Visit Immigration Quebec’s website under ‘Foreign Students’ for more information.
Note that the extension only applies to the CAQ and not the Study Permit; be sure to renew your Study Permit on time as per the expiration date indicated on your current Study Permit. Contact the ISO at iso@concordia.ca or join one of our ISO Virtual Drop-In sessions should you have concerns or require assistance in renewing your immigration documents.
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.
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 Travel & Self-Quarantine section of Concordia’s Student Housing webpage.
Read more about our health and safety protocols.
Student who are living in Montreal or traveling to Montreal must take into consideration the following:
Montreal is currently in a COVID "Red Zone" and those living or traveling to this area must follow the measures put in place by the Gouvernement du Québec and Quebec Public Health
Additionally, from December 17, 2020 to February 8, 2021 inclusively, those in the ‘Red Zones’ will be further restricted:
- indoor and outdoor private gatherings will be prohibited
- a limited number of stores are authorised to remain open (grocery stores, pharmacies and hardware stores) and they are only permitted to sell ‘essential goods’.
If you are arriving in Montreal during this period, it is important to consider that all goods excluded from this list (for example: clothing, furniture, household items), will not be sold in stores nor will they be available for ‘curbside pick up’. You must bring these items with you or be prepared to purchase them online.
Employment and income
Returning students
The Fall 2020 ends on December 23, 2020 and the Winter 2021 term will begin on January 13, 2021. This means that from December 24, 2020 to January 12, 2021 (inclusive), and only if you were registered for Fall 2020 and are registered for Winter 2021 and your study permit allows you to work off-campus, you can work as much as you wish during that period only.
The deadline for a refund which can be confirmed is the DNE deadline – January 26, 2021. 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 (March 29, 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), 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
From December 7, 2020 to January 26, 2021, students who remain outside Canada this up-coming Winter 2021 term may request a refund of the Winter 2020 Term Insurance fees. You will be required to complete the Health Insurance Exemption Contract and any previously paid fees will be refunded to your Student Account.
When sending to contract:
- Please include your student ID in the subject line
- Make sure that both pages are correctly filled out
- Send both pages as one PDF attachment to your email
- Send to iso.healthinsurance@concordia.ca
It is important to note that Immigration Quebec regulations require that all international students be covered by a health insurance plan that meets government standards, while studying in Quebec. If you arrive in Canada during the Winter 2021 term (January 1, 2021 to April 30, 2021), you will be required to re-enroll in the Concordia issued International Health Insurance Plan - personal health insurance plans will not be accepted.
Health insurance exemption contracts received after January 26, 2021, 11:59pm (EST) will not be processed.
If you are unsure as to when you will arrive to Canada during the Winter 2021 term, you should request the exemption. The reason for this is that should your travel plans change to a later date, you will have missed the exemtpion deadline (January 26, 2021).
Please remember that should you request the Winter 2021 health insurance exemption and arrive to Canada at any point between January 1, 2021 and April 30, 2021, you will be re-enrolled into the Blue Cross plan for Winter 2021.
To find out who is eligible for a health insurance exemption, please click here.
If you qualify for an exemption but must be in Canada in order for this exemption to be validated (such as is the case with the Quebec Medicare Card - RAMQ), please request a Blue Cross health insurance exemption while you are outside Canada.
From December 7, 2020 to January 26, 2021, students who remain outside Canada this up-coming Winter 2021 term may request a refund of the Winter 2020 Term Insurance fees. You will be required to complete the Health Insurance Exemption Contract and any previously paid fees will be refunded to your Student Account.
When sending to contract:
- Please include your student ID in the subject line
- Make sure that both pages are correctly filled out
- Send both pages as one PDF attachment to your email
- Send to iso.healthinsurance@concordia.ca
It is important to note that Immigration Quebec regulations require that all international students be covered by a health insurance plan that meets government standards, while studying in Quebec. If you arrive in Canada during the Winter 2021 term (January 1, 2021 to April 30, 2021), you will be required to re-enroll in the Concordia issued International Health Insurance Plan - personal health insurance plans will not be accepted.
All health insurance exemption contracts received after January 26, 2021, 11:59pm (EST) will not be processed.
Please note: once you get to Canada and can fulfill the requirements for a RAMQ exemption or any other exemption listed here, please make sure to notify iso.healthinsurance@concordia.ca
Yes, you must request this exemption every term if you will be studying from outside Canada, even if there is no health insurance fee on your Winter 2021 account.
Please see question above for the link to the exemtpion contract.
Should you come back to Canada at any point between September 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020, you will be retroactively re-enrolled in the Blue Cross plan for international students for the Fall 2020 term.
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.
International 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.
Remote learning
Concordia’s Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 terms will be delivered almost entirely online.
Resources for students, including libraries, academic advising, counseling services, and student organizations are all accessible online. Here’s how to access the world of Concordia online.
Some activities, such as labs and studios, are being held in-person. As the public health situation evolves, it’s possible that more on-campus access will be granted. Find out more about the guidelines for accessing campus.
Please note that the start of the winter 2021 term is delayed. Learn more.
I need an official letter indicating that the winter 2021 term dates have changed.
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 personalized resources that are available remotely for Concordia students.
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) See the latest updates
