Landing in Montréal: What to do first

When you approach customs, make sure you have the following documents:

• Passport
• Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)
• Letter of introduction for your study permit (sent to you from the government)
• HEC Montréal admission letter

Go to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) office in the airport, to collect your study permit from an agent.

They will help you navigate your first few days in Montréal. You can also use their Internet.

If you have not already done so, sign up for Accueil Plus.

The 747 bus is a very affordable way to travel to downtown Montréal.

A taxi is a safe and relatively affordable transportation option. A fixed rate of $40 will take you downtown.

Get your admission to HEC Montréal validated by uploading your immigration papers to HEC en ligne.

See academic calendar for deadlines

The hec.ca site is full of information to help make those first days at HEC Montréal less overwhelming.

Visit the Students portal and click on the following pages:

Newly Admitted Students

Campus Life

This applies only to students who are citizens or residents of one of the signatory countries that have an agreement with Quebec.

We strongly advise you to open a Canadian bank account for your financial transactions. Not only is it safe, it will also save money on bank fees.

How to do it

Before selecting a financial institution, compare student rates. Two banks, in particular, offer attractive packages to HEC Montréal international students:

• National Bank
• Desjardins (1 877 875-1118)

Using an ATM from a bank other than yours can be costly. The School has National Bank and Desjardins bank machines.

To open an account, you will need to provide the following documents:

• Passport
• Study permit
• Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)
• School admission letter
• Proof of address: lease, an invoice or attestation to prove that you are registered as a full-time student.

Things to know:

• You can make deposits at ATMs (cheques and cash).
• You can pay bills through online banking.
• Cheques are rarely used, except for paying rent.
• Receiving international wire transfers is subject to fees.
• Be aware that a deposited cheque can be held for between 5 and 30 days.
• Do not confuse a debit card with a credit card. A debit, or ATM card allows you to make deposits, withdrawals and purchases (through the Interac system). A Canadian Visa or MasterCard credit card lends you funds for purchases, often with very high interest rates.

• You might want to send funds to Canada in order to cover some of the fees and other expenses you may need to pay during your stay in Montréal.
• Exchange rate fluctuations can negatively affect your monthly budget. To keep on top of the current rates, visit the Bank of Canada’s exchange rates and currency converter page.

Canada does not have exchange controls but be aware that such controls may exist in your country.

How to do it

Transferring funds
You can transfer funds into a Canadian bank account. You can also have money sent to a Canadian bank before you leave your country, to have it deposited in your Canadian account once it is opened.

Bank drafts (certified cheques)
You can use bank drafts in your name, which can be cashed at a Canadian bank. Some banks wait up to 30 working days before granting access to your funds.

International money order
Using this is strongly discouraged.

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• Our guide to enjoying winter: clothing, health and activities
• I choose Montréal – International student portal
• Je-parle-quebecois.com (In French only)
• MTL Blog and cult mtl – news, culture and events