Travelling to Canada
Preparing for Your Journey to Lakehead
Preparing for your journey to Lakehead University and Canada is an exciting and important process. Information on this page will help ensure a smooth transition from your home country to your new home away from home at Lakehead University.
Before You Travel
Planning your travels to Canada is a big part of your student journey and requires a bit of preparation. We want to ensure you are feeling organized, confident and prepared prior to your departure. Please thoroughly read through this next section which details things you will need and things to consider during your planning phase.
Documents You Need |
Immigration DocumentsHere is a list of documents that will be required during your travels and at the port of entry in Canada:
We recommend you review IRCC’s Prepare for Arrival webpage before planning your entry to Canada. Lakehead University DocumentsHere are the documents that you need to have as a Lakehead University student.
Please note that for all the Lakehead University Documents, you can download them on your Lakehead MyPortal Account. Important notes:
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Picking the Best Arrival Date |
Lakehead University advises all students to arrive in Thunder Bay or Orillia before orientation starts. We advise that you arrive in Canada no more than one month prior to the start of your classes. This will help avoid any concerns at the port of entry about arriving too far in advance. You are not allowed to work on or off campus until you begin full-time studies in Canada and meet all the requirements. You will meet a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer at the airport or border crossing and the officer will make the final decision on whether or not to admit you to Canada. Travelling By AirMost students travelling internationally will be arriving in Thunder Bay or Orillia via air transportation. There are three international airports that you can arrive through if you are coming by plane: Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto, which is the most common one. Your port of entry is important as this is where you will go through customs and receive your physical study permit. For those students coming to the Thunder Bay campus, it’s important that you have a connecting flight to Thunder Bay booked ahead of time. Please allow for plenty of time (at least 4 hours) between your connecting flight to Thunder Bay as customs can take several hours. Lakehead University advises all students to check the local rules if they are transiting other countries en route to Canada. Please refer to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) page for guidance on international visa and passport requirements. It is strongly recommended that students purchase refundable tickets when travelling by air. Travelling by LandIf you are travelling from the United States by land transportation, you will need to refer to the list of border crossings and hours. Please also refer to the temporary importing of a vehicle if you are travelling with a rental car. |
Book Your Airport Transportation Service |
As a new incoming Lakehead international student, arriving at our Thunder Bay, Orillia, or Barrie (1st year LUGC students only) campuses, you may be eligible for our airport transportation service. The airport service is a single-trip use from the airport to your accommodation (on or off campus) and the process varies slightly for both campuses. Eligibility:
Thunder Bay CampusOur transportation providers (Roach's Taxi or Diamond Taxi) will transport new students directly from the airport to their accommodations. You must have your taxi voucher printed, as they will not accept electronic copies. If you do not have your printed voucher with you, you will be responsible for paying for the taxi out of pocket. Having the voucher provides you with a complimentary taxi ride directly to your on or off-campus housing. Please provide the address to the taxi driver. When you arrive at the Thunder Bay airport you will collect your luggage and head outside. There is a taxi wait line just outside the exit doors. You will wait there for the next available Roach's or Diamond Taxi. Provide the driver with your voucher and the address of your accommodation. This transportation service does not allow stops along the way. It is a direct route from the airport to your accommodation. Orillia/Barrie CampusThe airport pick-up shuttle service to Orillia (or Barrie, for Lakehead-Georgian students) is only for students arriving from Toronto Pearson International Airport. Lakehead University uses Simcoe County Airport Service, they are a member of the Ground Transportation Association of Ontario and are licensed by the Greater Toronto Airport Authority. You will meet your driver at the airport terminal. The drive from Pearson International Airport will take approximately 90 minutes to Orillia and 75 minutes to Barrie, depending on traffic. Your transportation will be pre-booked and prepaid. You will check in with the transportation company at the airport. You will receive a copy of your booking confirmation and detailed information on where to meet your driver from the Lakehead International Orillia office. Please be sure to check your Lakehead email account for this. Apply for your Airport Transportation ServiceOnce you have submitted your transportation request, we will verify your details and reach out to you if we need more information. For those arriving in Thunder Bay, please ensure you provide the flight and arrival information for Thunder Bay. You will receive an email from the Lakehead International Team with your printable voucher and detailed instructions. Click Here to Submit Your Transportation Request Online |
Pre-Arrival Checklist |
Here is a helpful checklist of things to consider when planning your departure and packing up your suitcases:
Packing your Luggage:We advise you to check with your airlines’ restrictions on checked baggage and weight restrictions. Please ensure that anything you need to access during your travels is packed in your carry-on luggage such as documents, laptops, chargers, adapters, and other important items. Do Pack:
Don't Pack:
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Arrival in Canada
So you have arrived, now what?! Here are some things to expect when you are entering Canada as an international student.
Arriving at the Port of Entry (POE) |
All students who are studying in Canada for more than six months will need to go through customs to get their study permit at the Port of Entry (POE).
If you travel by land transportation, there are no Primary Inspection Kiosks. You will be directed to a secondary examination for your study permit. Follow the CBSA officer's instructions. |
Arriving at Lakehead University |
Once you arrive at the Thunder Bay or Orillia campus, here are a few things you should plan to get done within your first few weeks.
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