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Letter of acceptance vs enrollment letter at the border: which one you need when entering Canada

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

Documents Needed

  • Letter of acceptance (LOA)

    Sufficient for a first-time entry before your classes have started.

  • Enrollment letter

    Needed if you're entering after your classes have already begun (including if you started online).

Step-by-Step

A student asked whether a letter of enrollment from the DLI is required when entering Canada, or if the letter of acceptance (LOA) is enough. The thread produced a clean rule of thumb:

  1. First-time entry, before classes start → LOA is enough. If you're landing before your program begins, the border officer expects your acceptance letter (plus the usual POE letter, passport/visa, and funds proof). There's no enrollment letter to show yet, because colleges only issue it once you've started classes.

  2. Entering after classes have started → bring the enrollment letter. If you're traveling after your program's start date, members were clear you need the enrollment letter, which confirms you're actively registered and attending.

  3. Started online from abroad? You need it even on first entry. The subtle case members flagged: if you've been attending classes online before traveling, your program has technically started — so even a first physical entry calls for the enrollment letter proving active enrollment.

  4. How to get it: the college issues the enrollment (confirmation of enrolment) letter once classes have begun, online or in person — request it from the registrar before you fly.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Tip: The rule: before classes start, LOA suffices; after classes start (including online attendance), carry the enrollment letter.
  • Do: If you studied online from abroad before traveling, request an enrollment letter from your registrar before flying — your program has already 'started' in the officer's eyes.

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