INTERNATIONAL CURRENT STUDENTS
ENTERING or re-entering CANADA
All travelers to Canada must meet entry requirements at the border. This may include presenting a valid passport or other travel documents and answering questions from a border services officer.
When entering Canada, you may need to go through customs and pay duties on certain goods you bring with you. It is important to check the specific rules and regulations regarding customs and duties before you leave home to ensure you can comply upon entry.
Entry and re-entry document checklists
As an international student, you must have the following documents when you enter or re-enter Canada.
At the first Canadian city your flight stops in, you meet with a customs and immigration official who will ask to see the documents you’ve gathered for entry into Canada:
- A valid passport or travel document
- A valid Letter of Introduction from IRCC/Study permit approval
- A temporary resident visa (TRV) or eTA, if applicable
You may also be asked to show:
- Proof that you have access to adequate funds for the duration of your stay
- University documents
- MacEwan IRCC Letter of Acceptance (LOA)
- Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)
- Verification of Enrollment or Term Enrollment and Account Summary for the upcoming term
- A valid medical exam, if applicable
- Medical records and prescriptions
- Any other relevant documents from your immigration application
Do not put original documents in your checked luggage; carry these documents with you at all times.
If you leave Canada after your arrival, you require the following for re-entry:
- A valid passport or travel document
- A valid study permit or approval for a study permit or study permit extension.
- A temporary resident visa (TRV) or eTA, if applicable. However, having a study permit, TRV or eTA doesn't guarantee re-entry into Canada.
You may also be asked to show:
- University documents to show you are attending a designated learning institution (DLI)
- MacEwan IRCC Letter of Acceptance (LOA)
- Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)
- Verification of Enrollment or Term Enrollment and Account Summary for the upcoming term
Visa exemptions for re-entry
If you travel exclusively to the United States or St-Pierre and Miquelon and return to Canada with a valid study permit, and are from a TRV-required country, you may be TRV exempt based on your purpose of entry to Canada under R190(3)(f).
TRV or eTA?
To enter Canada, you may need a valid Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Which one do you need? It depends on your country of origin. Check the list of visa-required and visa exempt countries supplied by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Then follow the steps below to apply for the document you need.
Apply for an entry document
After you have confirmed the type of entry document you require, follow the steps below to complete and submit your application. Pay careful attention to the processing times and plan to submit your applications so that you receive your documents in time to travel.
We strongly recommend that international students keep their TRVs and eTAs valid at all times.
TRV
If you are from a visa-required country, IRCC will issue a TRV at the same time as your study permit approval. You don’t need to apply separately or pay another fee.
If you are from a visa-required country, you can apply for a TRV from inside Canada if you meet all of these criteria:
- You are already in Canada
- You hold a valid study or work permit
- You want to leave and return to Canada in the near future, and
- You have an existing TRV that’s expired, or is about to expire, or that was valid for only one entry
To apply for a TRV from inside Canada, follow this step-by-step guide developed by MacEwan International.
Step-by-step guide: How to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) from within Canada
Please remember that this information may change and this guide is not a legal document. It is reviewed and updated by MacEwan International’s Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) and Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) in compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Regulations (IRPA & IRPR). Always refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the most up-to-date information.
If you are from a visa-required country, you must obtain a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) before your departure. You cannot obtain one upon arrival in Canada.
IRCC // Applying for a visitor visa (temporary resident visa)
eTA
If you applied for a study permit, an eTA will be issued automatically and will be listed on your Letter of Introduction.
If you require an eTA and you were not issued one with a study permit, you must complete an online application form and pay a processing fee. The application process typically takes a few minutes, and most eTAs are approved within minutes of submission.