Prepare for Your Arrival in Canada
Coming to Canada as a student takes months of careful preparation, from the moment you’re admitted to your arrival in the country. Let us walk you through the steps you need to take to properly prepare for arrival in Canada.
When to arrive in Canada
You should plan to arrive at least 5 days before the start of the semester in order to facilitate your installation in Montréal, attend orientation activities and finalize your registration by presenting your immigration documents to the Registrar’s Office. If you prefer to arrive earlier, there is no official immigration deadline. However, if you decide to arrive several months before the official start of your semester, a Border Services Officer may question your intentions and refuse to your entry into Canada. Additionally, you must obtain private health and hospitalization insurance coverage for this period. If your study permit authorizes you to work during your studies, please note that you are not authorized to work before the start of your program.
When you arrive on Canadian soil
You’ll need to show certain documents upon arrival in Canada :
- Your letter of acceptance.
- Your Québec Certificate of Acceptance (CAQ)*.
- The letter of introduction for your study permit* Should you be eligible for a co-op work permit and made sure to indicate this in your study permit application, the permit should be issued upon arrival. Otherwise, do not hesitate to explicitely request it to the Canadian Border Services Officer.
- Recent bank statements as proof of financial resources.
- Your registration and billing statement, available for free approximately 3 weeks before the semester start date on your MonÉTS portal or through the online request for official proof of registration.
* Exchange students (program 0469), being exempt from the requirement to obtain a CAQ and study permit, will not have to provide a CAQ or an introduction letter for a study permit, but must have a temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA).
The Canadian Border Services Officer can ask you questions to determine whether you request to enter Canada as a genuine international student. If you are unable to prove that you still have the financial means to study in Canada, the Border Services Officer might conclude that you no longer meet entry requirements and refuse your entry. Please also note that you should be able to access your MonÉTS portal in case this is requested by the border officer. If it is determined that you meet the eligibility criteria, your study permit and coop work permit, if applicable, will be issued upon your arrival in Canada.
It is strongly recommended that you confirm that all the information indicated on your study permit is correct (i.e., name, date of birth, country of birth, country of citizenship, passport number, etc.). Should you notice a mistake on your study permit, mention it to the border agent immediately! Otherwise, you will have to submit a Request to Amend Valid Temporary Resident Documents by mail.
When you arrive at ÉTS
Official documents
You must send the following official documents to documentsimmigration@etsmtl.ca or take them in person to the service counter at the Registrar’s Office (A-1120) as soon as possible and no later than the first day of the semester:
- Passport
- Québec Certificate of Acceptance (CAQ)
- Study permit*
*Send the actual study permit issued by the border officer and not the IRCC introduction letter confirming that your study permit has been approved.
Exchange students (program 0469) must only provide their passport.
Co-op work permit (bachelor’s degree and M.Eng only)
Work experience is an integral part of several ÉTS programs:
- Bachelor’s degree: three compulsory paid internships
- Master’s degree with project: possibility of an industry internship (STA800, STA802, or MGA902)
In order to complete an internship, you must obtain an IRCC co-op work permit and send it, along with your social insurance number, to the Cooperative Education Department at stages@etsmtl.ca.
Conditional admission
If your admission is conditional, you must meet the requirements within the timeframe indicated in your admission letter. Your MonÉTS portal will be updated once the condition has been met.
Important: If you cannot meet the requirements for admission, you will not be able to attend!
Student record
You must update your mailing address. This is a small (but necessary) step to make sure all your ÉTS documents are sent to the right place:
- Log in to the MonÉTS portal
- Go to “Mon dossier (My Account)” > “Renseignements (Information)” and add your Montréal address
Insurance
You must have health and hospitalization insurance throughout your stay in Québec. There are different options depending on your country of citizenship. We invite you to explore the insurance and healthcare options for international students and to learn more about the necessary arrangements with ÉTS.
Tuition fees
You must pay your tuition fees on time, so it is important to find out how and when to make payments.
Other matters
You must have a social insurance number (SIN) if you plan to work in Canada. Your employer will ask for it, and you need it for other things too.
