International Arrival
From the airport to your first day.
Arriving in a new country to start school happens one small step at a time. Here is what to expect, and what we will do alongside you, in the weeks before and after you land.
What to Expect
We walk you through your arrival.
By the time you arrive in Canada, the most important conversations have already happened, with admissions, with your custodian, and with the homestay coordinator. The checklist below covers the practical things underneath: the paperwork to carry, the documents to send ahead, and the small appointments that settle you into the school year.
Most international students complete every stage in the four-week window between booking flights and the first day of class. We’ll prompt you for each step as it comes due, so nothing is left to remember on your own.
Two weeks before your flight
Pre-arrival preparation
Before you fly, three pieces of paperwork should be complete: health insurance in place for the full duration of your stay, the Student and Parent Agreement signed by both student and parent and returned to admissions, and your arrival information (flight number, arrival date, and pick-up arrangements) sent to your custodian and to the school.Allow an hour or more at customs
Travel and customs
Pack a reasonable amount of clothing, books, and personal items per Canada Customs regulations. Carry your arrival documents in your hand luggage, never your checked bag; the full list to keep on hand is below.About 2 hours, within days of landing
First day in Woodbridge
Within the first few days of landing, visit Vaughan College for your assessment and orientationappointment, accompanied by your custodian. The assessment confirms course placement; the orientation walks through the building, the daily schedule, and the teachers you’ll work with. Bring your study permit and submit a copy to admissions on the day.Through the first weeks of term
Settling in
In the first weeks of class, two practical tasks remain. Confirm that your custodian and homestay arrangements are working as expected; your homestay coordinator will check in with you. Open a Canadian bank account if you haven’t already, and note the walk-in medical clinics nearest your homestay. The rest is school: classes, tutoring, the rhythm of the term.
What Settles First
The first week is quieter than you expect.
Most international students tell us the first week is quieter than they expected. The room is small, the teachers know your name on the first morning, and the coursework picks up where you left it at your previous school.
The harder adjustments tend to be the weather, a new transit route, and the pace of a Canadian classroom. We’ll walk you through those next.
Documents to Carry
What to keep in your hand luggage.
Customs officers may ask to see any of these on arrival, so carry them together in your hand luggage rather than your checked bags. A checked bag that goes missing is an inconvenience you can recover from, but an acceptance letter you cannot produce at the border can hold up your entry.
- Original Letter of Acceptance from Vaughan College.
- Valid passport, with at least six months remaining beyond your study-permit end date.
- Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), if your country of citizenship requires one.
- Letter of Introduction issued by the Canadian embassy, high commission, or consulate that processed your study permit.
- Proof of financial support: bank statements, scholarship letters, or sponsor documentation.
- Any additional documents requested by your local visa office; requirements vary by country.
Submit a copy of your study permit to admissions during your orientation appointment. We keep it on file for the registrar.
Before You Travel
Send us your arrival details.
Once your flight is booked, share the date and time with admissions and with your custodian. We’ll confirm your orientation appointment and have everything ready for the first day.