Prepare to travel

Do not pack documents or money in the luggage you plan to check-in at the airport. Instead, carry these items with you in a money/safety belt or in your carry-on luggage. These documents include, but are not limited to:

• Your offer of admission (all pages and printed)
• Your CAQ approval letter or CAQ certificate (printed)
• Your proof of financial support (printed)
• Your Vaccine Records: it is important for every university student to have this vital information easily accessible. Don’t leave home without it!
• There is a $10,000.00 cash limit when travelling to Canada but we do not recommend travelling with that much money. If you feel uncomfortable travelling with cash, make sure that your credit/debit card will work in Canada to get you through your first few days while you set up your bank account.
• Appropriate seasonal clothing: if you arrive in August or early September, it will still be warm enough to give you time to buy winter clothing. If you arrive in December or early January, you will need appropriate winter clothing upon your arrival as temperatures from November through March are often well below zero Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). Your winter wardrobe should a: winter coat, scarf, mittens/gloves, pair of winter boots, etc.

Don’t over pack as you can buy most things in Montreal at reasonable prices, including a wide variety of products for cooking and small appliances (remember: electric appliances in Canada run on 120 volts with a 60-cycle alternating current). Airport fees for overweight luggage can be expensive. You should check airline regulations about:

• The number of suitcases you’re permitted to check
• Allowable dimensions and maximum weight per suitcase
• The cost (per kilo) of exceeding the authorized weight

Also, make sure you look into any baggage restrictions for all segments of your trip.

Arrange to ship your belongings, if needed. If you plan to ship your belongings to Montreal, compare the costs to what you would pay if you were to purchase them new in Montreal. Do cost comparisons for various stores online. Make sure that you can obtain a reasonable delivery date for your shipment to arrive in Montreal.

If you will arrive to Canada after the start of term:

• September 16, 2024 if you are beginning your studies in Fall 2024 
• January 27, 2025 if you are starting your studies in Winter 2025

you should have proof of enrollment for your travels in the form of a letter of attestation. In order to request this letter, make sure that you are registered for the upcoming term (ideally full-time registration). You can then follow these instructions to request your letter of attestation.

Tips on requesting an attestation letter:

• If you are registered in courses, you can generate the letter yourself using the Instantaneous letter option
• If you are registered as Continuing in Program (CIP), you will have to request the Conventional letter option

You can also print your unofficial transcripts as an additional proof of registration. (The link to view you unoffical transcript can also be found on the Student Hub's My CU Account page.)

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 an Canadian immigration officer will ask to see your:

• Passport
• Letter of Introduction issued by a Canadian visa office
• 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 complete and issue your Study Permit.

Take a moment to review your Study Permit and ensure that all the information is correct. If you think there is an error tell the agent right away so that changes can be made. Alternatively it may take several months to have your document amended.

• Be sure that the information on your Study Permit is accurate, i.e. your name, date of birth, gender, etc.
• If you are planning to work, make sure that your Study Permit indicates that the permit holder ‘may accept employment’ or ‘may work’ in Canada.
• If you notice any typographical errors on your document, ask the officers to make the corrections before you leave the immigration office.

Do not leave the airport without having your Study Permit issued.