Checklist for International Students Going to Canada

As an International student, there are multiple things you need at the time of going to your desired Canadian university. Packing suitable clothing according to Canada's diverse climate and carrying important documents like passport, student visa, and academic documents is essential. In short, having a checklist is required for at the time of packing.

Checklist for Students Going to Canada: After receiving the offer to study in Canada from your desired university or college, it is important to be ready with the proper set of documents required to arrive in Canada. However, the decision to go to Canada starts way too early before actually receiving the acceptance letter from the university. It is wise to keep a tab on the finances and accommodation required while studying there. In this article, we are going to discuss the documents along with the other essential things that are required by a student while travelling to Canada.

Canada is one of the most popular study destinations for international students. The country offers affordable higher education, internationally acclaimed institutions, and a welcoming environment for students. These are some of the reasons that attract international students to study in Canada. According to the figures published by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), there are over 6,22,000 foreign students in Canada, with Indians around 217,410.

Related Reads:

• Checklist for Indian Students Going Abroad
• First Time Travel in Flight As International Students
• Student Discount Flights Offers

Checklist for students going to Canada

Now that you have decided to move to Canada, it is the moment to strike off some of the important things from the checklist of essentials required to travel to Canada. Check the details given below to know what can be the possible steps to arrive hassle-free in Canada.

• First of all, accept your offer to study in Canada
• Then, apply for a new passport or make sure that your current passport is valid for at least 6 months after your return date to your home country
• Next, apply for a study permit or travel/work visa
• After this, buy your airline ticket to Canada
• Then, purchase health and travel insurance
• Next, get copies of your medical and immunization records
• After collecting all the documents, look for housing options
• Next, arrange transportation to and from the airport at home and in Canada
• Then, plan your banking needs. Consider setting up your bank account in advance or buying travellers’ cheques. Also, get a small amount of Canadian cash before departure and do not forget to carry your credit card
• Next, try to plan out your baggage limitations and customs requirements so that you can plan your packing
• Then, make photocopies of all the necessary documents to pack in your baggage, leave at home, and send to your email address
• Also, download the ArriveCan mobile app
• Get to know more and more about Canada and the town where you will be studying and living
• Lastly, contact your Canadian school, university or college and ask any questions for which you want your doubts to be cleared such as enrollment in classes, your first week, accommodation, etc.

Canada Student Visa Document Checklist

Canada study permit is the most important document that you need as an international student before you arrive in Canada. You require the following documents to apply for a study permit:

• Proof of acceptance from your desired Canadian educational institute
• Proof of identity
• Proof of financial support
• A letter of explanation in order to understand you and your goals
• Quebec acceptance certificate (if you want to study in Quebec for more than 6 months)
• A custodian declaration (for minors only)

Documents Required to Travel to Canada for International Students

Ready to go to Canada? Given below is a list of documents required to travel to Canada. It is also advised to keep the photocopies of the documents given below.

• Valid passport (Valid for at least six months after the return date on your ticket)
• Travel and health insurance
• Airline tickets
• Acceptance letter from your Canadian college or university
• Bank statements depicting proof of funds
• Letter of prescription from your doctor for the medicines you are carrying
• Vaccination and medical records
• Travellers’ cheques
• Academic history and university transcripts
• Some Canadian currency

Read: Canadian Visa Document Checklist 

How to plan your luggage when going to Canada?

Here is a list of things to carry to Canada for students from India.

• Know how much baggage your airline allows and know the baggage limits
• There are some things that are not allowed into Canada in your luggage. There are restrictions on alcohol, guns, tobacco, food as well as animal and plant products. Also, travellers cannot bring prescription drugs that are not approved in Canada
• Only include liquids in containers that are less than 100 ml
• Also, attach an address tag to every piece of your luggage with your name and address of your destination in Canada
• At the airport check-in, confirm whether your baggage will go directly to your destination in Canada, or whether you should claim and transfer baggage at stops along the way
• Put all important documents, medications, and expensive items like laptops, jewellery, cameras, phones, cash, and credit cards with you in your purse or carry-on bag, rather than packing them in your checked luggage

Packing List to study in Canada: Must-Haves

Below is a list of the basic clothes that one must have while travelling to Canada.

• Casual outfits
• A quality winter jacket
• Gloves, scarf and hats
• Thick socks
• Warm sleepwear
• A rain jacket and umbrella
• Waterproof boots
• Thin long-sleeve shirts to layer under sweaters
• A business outfit
• Toiletries

Also read:

• Intakes in Canada
• Top Scholarships in Canada for International Students