Congratulations on being admitted to the ITHQ! Here are the steps to follow to obtain the necessary authorizations for studying in Québec, along with some tips to help you prepare for your arrival.
Immigration process
To be started as soon as you receive the admission confirmation email from the ITHQ!
- Depending on your country of origin, the immigration process can take up to 6 months.
- It is therefore essential to begin your procedures as soon as you receive the admission confirmation email from the ITHQ.
- To help you plan the next steps and meet the deadlines related to your immigration process, we encourage you to check the current processing times as soon as you receive this email.
- Make sure your passport is valid, as it will be required during your immigration process.
- Since the study permit cannot be issued beyond your passport’s expiry date, it is recommended that your passport be valid for the entire duration of your studies.
To obtain authorization to study in Québec, candidates must demonstrate that they have sufficient financial resources to cover their tuition fees, health and hospitalization insurance, transportation costs (round trip from their country of origin), installation costs for the first year, and living expenses for the duration of their stay.
- To help you estimate the financial resources needed for your stay, consult the estimate of living expenses established by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration du Québec (MIFI).
- To estimate the costs you will need to cover for your study program, refer to the Program fee calculator.
- Please note that international students are not eligible for the Québec government’s loans and bursaries program.
- The first document you need to apply for is the Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) for studies issued by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration du Québec (MIFI).
- In Québec, the CAQ also serves as the provincial attestation letter (PAL).
- For more information, visit the Applying for temporary selection for studies section of the Québec governement website.
Once you have received your Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ), you must apply for your study permit and a co-op work permit through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Entry requirements for Canada
Here are the official documents that you must present when you arrive in Canada:
- A valid passport
- Your Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) for studies
- Your study permit, your co-op work permit or an introduction letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) (if necessary)
- A temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA), if applicable
- Your official acceptance letter from the ITHQ
Insurance
- International students must have health and hospitalization insurance for the duration of their studies.
- If your country does not have a social security agreement with Québec, you will have to pay for the mandatory private insurance chosen by the ITHQ, as shown on your ColNET student account.
Housing
To find an apartment, roommate or spot in a student residence, refer to this list of useful resources about housing in Montréal.
Living in Montréal
The ITHQ international student service will invite you soon to participate in information webinars about your host city. You can also take part in orientation activities when you arrive.
In the meantime, here are some useful links to help you get to know your host city and province:
- Settle and integrate in Québec
- Immigrant Québec : Étudier au Québec (in French only)
- Guide de l’expatrié au Québec (in French only)
Support service for international students
- The ITHQ offers a free personalized service to all international students admitted to one of its programs, including support to facilitate the process to obtain the immigration documents required for your studies.
- Within a few days of receiving your letter of acceptance, a member of our team will contact you to tell you more about the services we offer.
- Our team is here to support you at every stage of your study project: don’t hesitate to call on us if you have any questions!