New Arrivals

If you are travelling to Canada, please make electronic and/or paper copies of all your important documents and keep them in your carry on baggage. It is a good idea to make a list of all your valuable items just in case they get lost or stolen.

You will need ALL the following documents to board your flight and enter Canada:

• Valid Passport;
• Letter of Introduction (Study permit approval letter) or valid study permit) and;
• Valid Temporary resident visa(TRV)/ eTA*

Other Important Items:

• Airline tickets
• Credit cards
• Emergency contact information
• Medicines and prescriptions
• Birth certificate (copy)
• Transcripts and educational documents (extra copies)

In addition to regular packing requirements, please also arrange to travel with the following:

• Pack your essential items (external link, opens in new window)  which include but are not limited to:
  • Certain categories of prescription medicine or special medical items should be carried together with a medical note signed by a physician certifying that you require the medication or the items for a medical condition.
  • Toiletries should also be carried in sufficient quantity for the entire visit unless their availability at the travel destination is assured. These will include items for dental care, eye care (including contact lenses), skincare and personal hygiene.

When you meet the border services officer, you may have to show them:

• A valid passport or travel document.
• The letter of introduction (external link)  the visa office sent you when they approved your study permit. This letter has your permit reference number, which is used to issue your study permit. 
• A copy of a valid letter of acceptance from Toronto Metropolitan University.
• Proof that you have enough money to support yourself during your stay in Canada.
• Letters of reference or any other documents the visa office told you to bring and either a valid Electronic Travel Authorization (external link)  (eTA) or visitor visa (temporary resident visa (external link) ). If you have a valid eTA, it will be linked to the passport you used to apply for your study permit
• Children under 18 should have valid identification with them. The documents a minor child needs to present depend on whether the child is travelling alone or with someone. Find out about the requirements for minor children at this link. (external link) 
• Disclose your funds of CAD$10,000 or more.
• Self-isolation site contact information, including cell phone number for the driver.
• International Student Support contact information (issask@torontomu.ca).
• Print out of Self-Isolation Plan (if required quarantine).

To assist with a smooth arrival at Toronto Pearson International Airport, ISS is offering Uber vouchers for students arriving in Canada from Monday, December 16 until Monday, January 13. The voucher is only available to a maximum of 30 students and is offered exclusively to incoming students going to the TMU campus from Toronto Pearson International Airport. If this number is exceeded, you will be put on a waitlist, so please sign up early as spots are limited!

If you are arriving at the YYZ airport from Monday, December 16 until Monday, January 13, please fill out the registration form by Friday, December 13.

• Activate email.
• Register with Cowan  (external link)  to access your UHIP coverage card online.
• Ensure personal information is up-to-date in MyServiceHub.
• Obtain Toronto Metropolitan University OneCard Online.
• Attend ISS orientation events and Campus-wide orientation events.
• Apply Online for your Social Insurance Number (external link)  (SIN).
• Open a Bank Account Online. You’ll need your personal information, Social Insurance Number (external link) , and a Canadian residential address to apply. Most banks offer student accounts for no or limited monthly fees. Major banks near Toronto Metropolitan University (350 Victoria)
  • Bank of Montreal (external link) , 2 Queen Street East, Telephone: 416 867 5596
  • CIBC (external link) , 1 Queen Street East, Telephone: 416 980 3085
  • Scotia Bank (external link) , 392 Bay Street, Telephone: 416 866 5700
• Attend a Virtual Campus Tour
• Check Useful Quick Links for ServiceHub & Significant Dates 

Living On-Campus

There are multiple room styles options between the residence buildings that you can choose from based on your preference. Learn more about on-campus housing.

Off-Campus Housing

There are off-campus residences near the university. To learn about how to look for off-campus housing, you can visit the Off-Campus Housing website.

It is highly recommended that you secure housing prior to arriving in Toronto. While private housing may be found in Toronto after arrival, housing suitable for students is limited, particularly during the back-to-school period in late August and early September. The duration of a standard private residential lease is 1 year. Keep in mind that most landlords will require you to pay first and last month's rent upfront.

How do I get to Toronto Metropolitan University from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)?

• Union Pearson (UP) Express Train (external link)  - $12.35 (one way) for students and takes about 25 minutes to get to downtown Toronto’s Union Station. Once you reach Union Station, you can either a public transit, walk, or taxi/Uber/Lyft to Toronto Metropolitan University
• Taxis (external link) , Uber or Lyft - ~$55 and takes about 30-60 minutes.
• Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) (external link, opens in new window)  - $3.25 and takes about 60-90 minutes.
  • Take the 900 Airport Express to Kipling Station. From Kipling station go  “Eastbound” to Bloor/Yonge station  (PDF file) subway line (external link, opens in new window) , then “Southbound” to Dundas station which is about 5 minutes away from Toronto Metropolitan University’s campus.

Toronto Pearson is close to many public transit (external link)  routes which can take you to several areas in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is responsible for providing public transit in the City of Toronto. The TTC serves this area with a grid network of:

• four subway lines (train)
• 11 streetcar routes; and
• more than 140 bus routes

GO Transit

GO Transit is a network of train and bus lines that keep people moving around the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

How do I pay to use the GO?

1. Presto Card (external link) 
2. Buy tickets online or at the GO station (external link) 

Operators on the bus/streetcar/train do not sell fares or carry change.

1. Exact cash
2. Tokens: A fare is good for one continuous trip on the TTC, including transfers between routes.
3. Presto card: Your PRESTO card works on transit agencies in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and Ottawa.
4. Metropass: Metropass provides unlimited travel in a specific month on all regular TTC services. Extra fare required for Downtown Express routes or contracted routes operated by the TTC outside the City of Toronto.

There are two types of metropasses that you can purchase:

• Adult Metropass
• Post-Secondary Students Metropass (external link) 
  • Students must carry their TTC Post-Secondary Photo ID when using their monthly Post-Secondary Metropass

You can find out how much each Metropass costs (external link) .