Immigration
It is the responsibility of all international students studying at Concordia University to ensure that their immigration documents are valid and that they maintain legal status in Canada during the entire duration of their studies and stay in Canada.
The International Students Office (ISO) can assist you with:
All International Students will need upload their immigration documents (CAQ, Study Permit, Passport) through their MyConcordia as soon as they arrive to Canada or as soon as the documents are issued.
Make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months.
Current rules:
Due to COVID-19, if you want to study in Canada, you must
- get a study permit (even if you are studying for less than 6 months), and
- attend a designated learning institution (DLI) with a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by its province or territory
You won’t be able to travel to Canada if you don’t have a study permit or your DLI isn’t on the approved list.
Your study permit isn’t a visa
If your study permit application is approved, you will also automatically be issued either:
Which you get depends on your passport or travel document. This is what allows you to travel to and enter Canada. In contrast, the study permit authorizes you to study.
You don’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.
Rules during non-pandemic times:
As an exchange or visiting student admitted for 1 term only, you will not need to apply for a CAQ or study permit in order to study legally in Quebec.
However, you will likely need to apply for a temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA). Please see our TRV or ETA section at the bottom of this page for more information.
What documents will you need?
All students need a valid passport. Whether you need to apply for your immigration documents for the first time or renew them, please ensure your passport is valid for at least six months or more.
All students studying for more than six months need a CAQ and Study Permit and, depending on where you are from, an Electronic Travel Authorizaiton (eTA) or Temporary Resident Visa (TRV).
Below are instructions based on your current situation.
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 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.
View sample of a CAQ approval letter and a CAQ certificate
International students who wish to pursue university studies of more than six months MUST obtain a Study Permit which is the required authorization to study in Canada. The study permit is issued for the duration of the length of your program, e.g. generally three years for a Bachelor or Ph.D. program, two years for a Master's program. Most international students will require a Study Permit to study in Canada. You will need a Study Permit unless you fall under one of the exemption categories.
For detailed information, visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Website.
View sample of a Study permit
