What to do before you come
Search
Plan your arrival
Congratulations, you have been accepted to the ITHQ! Below are the steps to prepare for your arrival.
Formalities for requesting a study permit in Quebec and Canada
When you receive a letter from the ITHQ confirming your acceptance to your chosen program, you must immediately start the formalities to request a study permit in Quebec and Canada. Please note that fees will be charged.
- First, you must submit a request for a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) for studies with the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration.
- You must also apply for a study and work permit for students (co-op and internship programs) and a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) with the Canadian visa office at the Canadian embassy of your country.
Formalities for entering Canada
When you arrive at your first Canadian border crossing (Montreal International Airport or other point of entry), you must present the following official documents:
- Passport valid for the duration of your stay
- Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) for studies
- Introduction Letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or Study and Work Permit (if necessary)
- Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), if applicable
- Official acceptance letter from the ITHQ
- Proof of health and hospital insurance
Make your arrival a snap!
Accueil Plus is a free service for new international students arriving at Montréal-Trudeau airport to study at a Quebec university or college.
This service offers:
- Streamlined procedures with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
- A reception service of the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion du Québec (MIDI)
- An information booth at the airport
Once you have your letter of approval to come to Canada and your plane ticket to Montreal, register online to make your arrival to the country that much easier.
Insurance
As an international student, you must be covered by health and hospital insurance for the duration of your studies. This insurance must provide coverage in Quebec and any other country where you may do an internship. If you do not have sufficient insurance, you will need to join the ITHQ group insurance plan for international students.
Financial aid
International students are not eligible for the Government of Quebec’s financial aid program. However, you can contact the appropriate officials in your country of citizenship or residence for information about scholarships or bursaries.
Living expenses
To get permission to study in Quebec, applicants must demonstrate that they have the required financial resources to cover their tuition, transportation costs (round-trip travel from their country of origin), their settling in expenses for the first year, and their living expenses for their entire stay.
Consult the table of estimated living expenses of the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion du Québec.
In addition to education costs, you must budget for the purchase of uniforms, travel for internships, health and hospital insurance, etc. For more details about education costs, refer to the “Costs” section of your chosen program.
Useful links
- Guide to Living in Québec
- Guide to Studying in Quebec (in French only)
- Guide to Immigrating to Quebec (in French only)
- The Montreal region at a glance
- Knowing the practical aspects of living in Québec
- Destination Quebec – An expat's guide (in French only)
Housing options in Montreal
The links below are for information purposes only. The ITHQ does not verify these agencies or classified ads sites and is not responsible for these services in any way.
Student residences
- Campus Rosemont Residences (in French only)
- Collège Ahuntsic Residences (in French only)
- UQAM Residences
Host families
Apartment rentals
Other sites
- Kijiji.ca
- Toutmontreal
- Logis Québec (Consult the blog for a ton of practical information. In French only.)
- Lappart.info (information site about Montreal’s rental housing market)
- Rent.ca
- LaCité
