Pre-Arrival
iCent App
Ottawa Airport
Important documents to bring
Arrival Services
Next Steps
iCent App
iCent is a free app for Algonquin College International Students to access resources and services, online portals, and to receive important notifications from the International Education Centre. The app has multiple tools that are designed to help students acclimatize to their new environment within their smartphone.
Ottawa Airport
Ottawa and the surrounding areas are served by the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport. Visit the site for details on airlines and flights.
Important Documents to Bring
When traveling to Canada, you must have the following documents printed and available to show to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Officers:
- A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
- A valid passport
- The Letter of Introduction the visa office sent you when they approved your study permit (this letter has your permit reference number which a CBSA Officer will use to issue your study permit)
- A Letter of Acceptance from Algonquin College
- Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from Algonquin College
- A detailed list of all the personal or household items you are bringing with you or have shipped separately
- The address of where you are going to live
- Financial documents including any receipts for payments made to Algonquin College
Carry these items and all other valuable papers, cash and traveler’s cheques with you at all times. Don’t put them in your checked luggage.
Additional information that may be helpful to you:
- You may be asked questions not related to your studies. Try not to stress too much and be honest at all times.
Please visit the Government of Canada’s website for additional pre-arrival information.
Free Arrival Services
Free Arrival Services are available to international students arriving in Ottawa between December 1, 2024, to January 6, 2025. Request for arrival services must be made as soon as possible.
Arrival Services include:
- Pick-up at the Ottawa International Airport (YOW), Ottawa bus station or Ottawa train station
- Assistance finding accommodation
- Help with getting your start-up groceries
- Help with opening a bank account
- Optional hotel accommodations for $149/night plus tax, including complimentary breakfast
- Perth Students: Transportation to Perth
- Pembroke Students: Transportation to the bus station for travel to Pembroke. The costs of the bus ticket will be at your own expense.
Algonquin College provides our free arrival services through SAC Services. After you fill out this form, SAC Services will contact you to arrange airport pick-up and settlement services. Should you have any questions, please contact SAC Services Ottawa by email at sacservicesottawa@gmail.com or by phone at 1-613-355-6874.
Note – an email with the International Student Orientation details will be sent to the personal email address identified in your Algonquin College admission portal. If an agent or representative has submitted an application on your behalf, please ask your agent or representative to update your personal email address so that you receive important information from the International Education Centre (IEC).