Arrival in Canada
What to expect when you arrive in the country.
Arrival at the airport
As soon as you arrive in Canada, go through customs where an officer will:
- Check your passport
- Verify your visa to enter Canada (if required)
- Refer to your Letter of Introduction
- Ask you a few questions about the purpose of your visit to Canada
Have all pages of your Offer of Admission and supporting documents printed and ready to show the customs officer. Get your passport stamped and go to the immigration office.
After clearing customs, go immediately to the Canadian immigration office near the customs area where a Canadian immigration officer will ask to see your:
- Passport
- Letter of Introduction
- Print-out copy of the Offer of Admission from Concordia University (all pages)
- CAQ Approval Letter (print-out of electronic version) or CAQ certificate (if received)
- Proof of sufficient funds for your studies in Canada
After verifying these documents, the immigration officer will issue your study permit.
Take a moment to review your study permit and ensure that all the information is correct!
By taxi, personal car or Uber
Give the address of your temporary accommodations to the driver. Taxi fares to different parts of Montreal will vary. Other taxi services, such as Uber, may have different rates.
Public transit
Another option is the 747 bus which runs 24 hours a day between Montreal Trudeau International Airport and the Berri-UQAM metro station near downtown Montreal.
The STM information counter is located in the International arrivals area at the airport. The agent there can tell you:
- When and where the next bus is leaving
- How to purchase a ticket in advance
- Which stop is closest to your destination
- Whether additional buses or subway rides will be necessary
Arrival via a land border from the U.S.
When you cross the border into Canada, the agent will ask to see your documents. Have them ready:
- Passport
- Letter of Introduction
- Print-out copy of the Offer of Admission from Concordia University (all pages)
- CAQ Approval Letter (print-out of electronic version) or CAQ certificate (if received)
- Proof of sufficient funds for your studies in Canada
After verifying these documents, the immigration officer will issue your study permit.
Take a moment to review your study permit and ensure that all the information is correct!
Reviewing your study permit
Check the following:
- Your personal information: make sure i.e. your name, date of birth, etc. are correct.
- Permission to work (if you want to work in Canada): make sure that your study permit indicates that the permit holder ‘may accept employment’ or ‘may work’ in Canada.
If you think there is an error on your document, tell the agent right away so that changes can be made before you leave the immigration office; it may take several months to have your document amended.
