The information on this page has been reviewed by International Student Advisors on September 8, 2025.
Travel to Canada
What documents should I carry when I travel to Canada?
All international students must carry supporting documents to ensure that they meet some basic requirements. These documents include but are not limited to:鈥�
鈽戯笍 A valid travel document, such as a passport
鈽戯笍 A valid study permit, or a鈥�痗onfirming that your study permit has been approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)鈥�
鈽戯笍 Depending on your country of citizenship, you may require a valid temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA) in addition to your study permit in order to travel to Canada. For more information, please visit the鈥�.鈥赌�
鈽戯笍 New students:鈥痑 valid Letter of Acceptance (offer letter) from SFU鈥痑nd鈥痑 current鈥�confirmation of enrollment letter鈥痜rom SFU鈥�(available once you have enrolled in classes for an upcoming term).
鈽戯笍 Current/returning students:鈥痑 current鈥�confirmation of enrollment letter鈥痜rom SFU.
鈽戯笍 鈥痑vailable to support you in Canada.
鈽戯笍 Proof of a valid鈥�, if required.
鈽戯笍 Any other documents the visa office told you to bring, if applicable.
馃抢&苍产蝉辫;Tip: Make sure your documents are up to date. For example, your Confirmation of Enrollment letter should reflect the current or upcoming term鈥攏ot a past one.
Note: While a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) is not listed as a required document for arrival, it is advisable to carry the one you used for your study permit application. Please be aware that a PAL only needs to be valid at the time you submit your study permit application鈥攏ot at the time of travel. You may also carry a copy of this in case a border officer requests additional information.
For more details, visit the page. You can also check out our Travelling to Canada webpage for tips on what to expect at the airport or border.
To learn which health products you can bring into Canada, please refer to the pamphlet provided by Health Canada.