Can I Travel Outside of Canada While Studying As An International Student?

CanadaStudy Permits

Traveling while on a student visa in Canada can be a confusing topic and many students wonder where/ when they are able to travel. The short answer to: Can I Travel While Studying In Canada As An International Student? is yes. However, your student permit does not function as a travel document. This means that you will have to obey the travel rules that apply to you. Essentially, you are able to leave Canada as you wish but in order to re-enter Canada to complete your studies you will need certain documentation.

Depending on your home country you may need the following to travel:

• A Visitor Visa
• A Temporary Resident Visa
• An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
• A valid passport

It is important to keep in mind that although you may have the proper documentation to travel, this does not guarantee that you will have the ability to re-enter Canada. Therefore, you should bring any documentation you need to demonstrate that you still hold a valid study permit and meet the entry requirements.

If You Are :

1. From A Visa Exempt Country you will need to have the following:
   1. A valid passport
   2. an eTA (only if you plan on traveling via plane). If you received your permit before August 2015 you need to apply for an eTA. If you received your permit after August 2015, you received an eTA with your study permit that is valid for 5 years.
2. A Lawful Permit Resident in the US you will need to have the following:
   1. A valid passport
   2. an eTA (only if you plan on traveling via plane). If you received your permit before August 2015 you need to apply for an eTA. If you received your permit after August 2015, you received an eTA with your study permit that is valid for 5 years.
   3. Proof of US status (Green Card)
3. From a Visa-Required County you will need to have the following:
   1. A valid visa (unless you are returning from the US or St. Pierre and Miquelon)
   2. A valid study permit
4. An US Citizen you will need to have the following:
   1. A valid US Passport
   2. Proper documentation
      1. NEXUS card or FAST identification if you are a member of either group.

VisaPlace Immigration News Contributor

Ella Bergquist

Hello! I am one of VisaPlace's many immigration news contributors. Comment below if you have any questions or comments about this article.