Travelling outside Canada
As an International Student, if you plan to travel outside of Canada during your period of studies, it is important that you ensure that your documentation is valid for your return to Canada.
We recommend booking an appointment with an International Student Advisor before you travel.
If you are planning to leave Canada to visit another country during your period of studies, it is important that you ensure that your documentation is valid for your return to Canada.
You should travel with:
- Your valid passport
- Valid study permit
- Valid travel authorization (Temporary Resident Visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization)
We also suggest that if you travel outside of Canada and will return, that you print off a “Verification of Enrolment letter” from the Bridge to carry with you when you travel back to Canada to show that you are a current, registered student as an extra level of insurance.
If you have any questions, please contact the International Student Advisors for assistance.
Foreign nationals from visa-required countries need a valid temporary resident visa (TRV) to show they have met the requirements for re-entry to Canada as a temporary resident.
- A TRV is an official counterfoil document (a special type of sticker) issued by a visa office and is placed in your passport.
- Most TRVs allow for multiple entries into Canada and are usually valid for the same length of time as your study permit.
If you have had to extend your study permit, you will not be automatically issued a new TRV. This means that if you plan to travel outside of Canada, you must apply for a new TRV in order to be able to return. We recommend planning well in advance to make sure that you have all the documents required for travel. Processing times can be found here and you can begin the TRV application process from inside Canada here.
Foreign nationals from visa-exempt countries, travelling to Canada by air need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) for re-entry to Canada. The authorization is electronically linked to your passport and is valid for five years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
If you apply to extend your study permit, a new eTA will be issued to you automatically. Always ensure that you have a valid eTA before making travel plans. You can apply for the eTA here.