Download the Student Handout information sheet for Inviting Friends or Family Members to Visit here.

If you are a returning international student and you wish to book an appointment with an International Student Advisor regarding immigration matters, etc. please use our appointment booking link to book a virtual meeting or face-to-face meeting.

Most Up-to-Date Information

For the most up-to-date information about Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), please refer to the IRCC website at: canada.ca/immigration or call them at 1-888-242-2100.

It is your responsibility to know the rules and regulations that apply to you as an international student.

Friends or Family Visiting

If a family member or friend would like to visit you in Ottawa, they will need to apply to visit Canada. You can provide supporting documentation to help support their application to visit Canada, namely:

1. Proof of Enrollment Letter
2. Letter of Invitation
3. Convocation details (optional)

1. Proof of Enrollment Letter

You can print your own Proof of Enrolment letter from your ACSIS account. You will need to know the expected graduation date of your academic program when requesting your letter. If you are not sure, check with your program coordinator, and make sure to add two months. For example, if you are in your final semester and complete your final exams in:

  • April – choose June as your expected graduation date
  • August – choose October as your expected graduation date
  • December – choose February as your expected graduation date

If you are unable to download the proof of enrolment letter, you can request a letter here.

IRCC’s Help Centre website provides helpful information as well.

On the site above, if your friend or family wants to visit Canada, they must apply to the Visa Office responsible for his or her country or region. A visa officer will review the application and decide whether to issue a visa/permit. See the Canadian Visa Office here.

2. Letter of Invitation

You can help your friend or family member by writing a letter of invitation. It should explain how you will help the person. A letter of invitation can help, but it does not guarantee the person will get a visa/permit.

See more about the letter of invitation that you would write.

Note that the IEC does not prepare invitation letters or letters that include information about the Convocation Ceremony. This is information that you can include in the invitation letter that you write yourself and provide to your family member(s) or friend(s).

3. Convocation Ceremony

If you are graduating and you would like to invite your family member(s) or friend(s) to attend your Convocation Ceremony, you can include the details of your Convocation Ceremony on your invitation letter.

See more about your Convocation Ceremony here.

If you do not see information about your Convocation ceremony and you would like to include the details on your letter of invitation, contact the Registrar’s Office (RO) in the Student Central here.

International Education Centre (IEC)

The IEC is located in room C021. Our on-campus services are by appointment only. Current international students can use our appointment booking link to book a virtual meeting or face-to-face meeting with an International Student Advisor. You may also wish to visit our events calendar to register for upcoming immigration workshops and more.

Work Hours
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 pm (excluding holidays – unless otherwise specified)