International Students

On March 17, the Government of Canada announced the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel, a new temporary residence pathway for Ukrainians seeking safe refuge in Canada and allows them to work, study and stay in Canada. Review the guidelines and visa details here.

If you submitted a complete study permit application before May 15, 2023, IRCC will decide and communicate their decision to you by August 6, 2023. A complete study permit application needs to include your biometric and medical exam results.

Study permit applications submitted after May 15 will still be processed, but IRCC cannot guarantee that they will decide before the beginning of the Fall 2023 term. If you do not have a study permit by the beginning of the Fall term, you may begin studies online from your home country, but you will not be able to travel to Canada.

For complete information on the process and how to apply for a study permit, go here.

Check that you have all the required travel documents; valid study permit or Letter of Introduction (POE), TRV or eTA.

Valid documents include a Study Permit issued on any date OR a Letter of Introduction

You will also need to have one of the following: a TRV (Temporary Resident Visa) or an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) * US citizens are exempt.

For the most up-to-date information on how the COVID–19 is impacting international students in Canada, visit IRCC’s page here.

See our COVID-19 website for the latest information and updates.

More information on BC’s COVID-19 requirements is available on the BC Ministry of Health website.

When you arrive in Vancouver, you will have many options to get to wherever you need to go. You can take services to get to your hotels, such as taxis, Uber or Lyft, or the CanadaLine SkyTrain. The Canada Line goes from Vancouver International Airport to downtown Vancouver. We recommend planning your trip from YVR to your destination ahead of time, so you are familiar with the route.

You can use Translink Trip Planner. You can also visit the Translink site to familiarize yourself with Vancouver’s zoning system and fare prices, as well as the U-Pass BC program. The U-Pass BC Program is a subsidized transit program for students studying at a post-secondary level.

You can work as an international student in Canada if your study permit lists a condition that says you’re allowed to work on- or off-campus.

The post-graduation work permit allows students who have graduated from a participating Canadian post-secondary institution to gain valuable Canadian work experience.

The BC MSP program covers residents of British Columbia for essential medical services provided by insured doctors. It is a mandatory provincial program required of all residents and temporary residents who plan on being in BC for longer than six months.

Apply as soon as you arrive in British Columbia and have a mailing address (a residence). There is a three-month waiting period from the time you apply to when your coverage begins.

For example: if you arrived in British Columbia on July 20 and immediately applied for BC MSP, you will be eligible for coverage in November.

As of January 2020, BC MSP costs for international students are $75.00 per month. These fees are subject to change. To check for the latest updates on the BC MSP program, go here.

By being enrolled in the program, you can see a range of doctors and physicians free of charge once you present your BC MSP card.

For a complete list of benefits covered by the program, go here.

To see what benefits are not covered, go here.

As a study permit holder in Canada, Emily Carr requires international students to have continuous medical insurance coverage before landing in Vancouver. Before arrival, students need to arrange for private health insurance for a minimum of three months. This will ensure that students waiting to have active BC MSP enrollment are covered for any potential medical needs.

If you are looking for a temporary health insurance plan, we recommend you sign-up with Guard.Me. They are a Canadian health insurance provider for international students. Go here for more info and to sign-up: www.guard.me/ecu (using the link above, you will not be asked for an access code!)

MSP will send you an invoice in the mail. You begin paying after you have received this invoice. More information on payment options here.

You must keep personal information up to date.

Let BC MSP know if you have moved, changed your name, need to add a dependent, or have left BC.

You can do all this through your MSP account page—information on how to manage your account here.

Yes. The BC MSP program is a provincially mandated, mandatory program required of all BC residents. The Emily Carr Student Union administers the Greenshield health insurance program. Greenshield is extended health insurance coverage. An opt-in health insurance plan covers students for additional medical services that the BC MSP plan will not or will only cover part of the cost.

Together the BC MSP and Greenshield act to provide students with more comprehensive coverage. The cost of the Greenshield health insurance program is built into your tuition automatically. For more information on the Greenshield health plan provided by the Emily Carr Student Union, go here.

For more information on the BC MSP program and how it impacts international students, visit the FAQ page from Health Insurance BC.

Contact Health Insurance BC with questions on the BC MSP program and enrollment:

Lower Mainland: 1-604-683-7151

Elsewhere in BC: 1-800-663-7100

Health Insurance BC Mailing Address

Health Insurance BC

PO Box 9035 St Prov Govt

Victoria, BC V8W 9E3