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Documents to carry at the airport when arriving on a study permit

Canada • Study Permit • study 0 views
By VisaBuddies Communityvia community — compiled from public visa forums

Documents Needed

  • GIC confirmation

    Guaranteed Investment Certificate proof, relevant for SDS-stream applicants.

  • Original educational documents

    Transcripts, certificates, etc.

  • Port of Entry (POE) letter / BVL

    Received via your GCKey/IRCC portal after your permit is approved/stamped; mandatory for airport immigration.

  • Offer letter

    From your school.

  • Passport

    Valid travel document.

  • Fee receipt

    Proof of tuition/program fee payment.

  • Updated bank statement

    Showing extra funds, especially if applying under the non-SDS stream.

  • ArriveCAN app confirmation

    Historical note: ArriveCAN was a COVID-era entry requirement and has since been discontinued — confirm current entry requirements before travel.

  • Vaccination certificate

    Historical note: check current entry health requirements, as COVID-era rules have changed.

Step-by-Step

A member asked for the full list of documents needed at the airport when arriving in Canada on a study permit.

Core documents to carry:
  1. GIC confirmation, original educational documents, offer letter, passport, and fee receipt.

  2. An updated bank statement showing extra funds — particularly important if you applied under the non-SDS stream, which has stricter proof-of-funds expectations than SDS.

  3. Your Port of Entry (POE) letter — this is generated in your GCKey/IRCC portal once your study permit has been approved and "stamped," and it is the mandatory document a border officer checks at the airport for immigration purposes.


Time-bound items: ArriveCAN and vaccination certificates were required during the COVID-19 period. These specific requirements have since changed — always check IRCC's current entry requirements before travel rather than relying on this older thread for pandemic-era rules.

Keep both physical and digital copies of everything, and make sure your POE letter matches the study permit approval you received — this is the document officers specifically ask for on arrival.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Do: Print and carry your Port of Entry (POE) letter from your GCKey/IRCC portal — this is the mandatory document checked at the airport.
  • Do: Bring an updated bank statement showing extra funds if you applied under the non-SDS stream.
  • Tip: ArriveCAN and vaccination certificate requirements were COVID-era rules and have changed — verify current entry requirements before you travel.

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