Arrival in Canada

When to arrive?
What to bring?
How to travel to Bishop’s University?
Accueil Plus
How to get around?

When to arrive?

Students who will stay in our Bishop’s University residences:

• Check the Residence website or read your email to find the Moving Day date (Winter 2023 Moving Date = January 8, 2023).
• For students staying in Residences and arriving in Canada before January 8, 2023, you will have to arrange your own accommodation (hotel, Airbnb, etc.) before Moving Day.

*Students arriving on campus Saturday, Sunday or after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays who have confirmed a room in residence should go directly to the Security Office located in the Dewhurst Dining Hall building on the Bishop’s campus. A security guard will give you a key to your room so that you may move in that same night.

Winter 2023:

• International students will have until the add/drop deadline, January 24, 2023, to integrate their course. This means that, the deadline to arrive in Canada is January 23, 2023.

Students who will live off-campus:

• Depending on the date of start of your lease.

What to bring?

When you arrive, the border agent will ask you to show certain documents which may include:

***We recommend that you have these documents in paper format with you when you arrive in Canada.

• Valid Passport
  
• Letter of approval of your CAQ or a valid CAQ
  
• Letter of introduction confirming the approval of your study permit or a valid study permit
  
• Letter of Admission (3-pages and table with your information) for new students
  
• Verification of Enrolment for Winter 2023 (on myBU portal)
  
• In the exceptional case of online courses, late arrival letter from Bishop’s if you plan your arrival after January 24, 2023 (ask for it by contacting Bishop’s International at international@ubishops.ca)
• Proof that you have enough money for your stay (e.g.: you can bring with you the documentation you used for your study permit application);
• For new students and students who left Canada for more than 6 months, a valid immigration medical exam result (if you needed one).

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/prepare-arrival.html

How to travel to Bishop’s University?

Travel by air

Your closest international airport to Bishop’s University is Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) in Montreal.

From the Montreal airport to Bishop’s University, you have multiple modes of transportation available to you: 

Limocar

Limocar is the public bus service that connects the Montreal bus terminal (Gare d’autocars) to the Sherbrooke central bus terminal. This bus does not always stop at Bishop’s University (certain schedules only).  From the airport, you must take a taxi, an Uber ride or public transportation to get to the Montreal bus terminal (Gare d’autocars) before boarding the Limocar. The exact address of the bus station is 1717 Berri Street. Limocar website.

Getting to the Montreal bus terminal (Gare d’autocars) by taxi

You may get a taxi from the airport at the arrivals level at door 23, where a dispatcher will assist you. Reservations are not required.

Taxi fares from the Montreal airport to downtown Montreal are fixed at $41 CAD. Fares are by meter for all other destinations. The minimum rate for a trip from YUL Airport is $17.45 CAD.

Payment is allowed by Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit card, or in Canadian currency (Canadian Dollars).

If you wish to get further information about taxi services at Montreal Airport, please call: (514) 394-7377.

Getting to the Montreal bus terminal (Gare d’autocars) by Uber

You may use the Uber application to book a ride from the airport to the Montreal bus terminal. For more information regarding fares and requesting a ride, see: https://www.uber.com/global/en/cities/montreal/. Please note that an email address, a phone number and an internet connection are required to sign up and use the application.

Getting to the Montreal bus terminal (Gare d’autocars) by public transportation

The city bus number 747 operates between the airport and the Montreal bus terminal (Gare d’autocars).

See https://www.stm.info/en/info/networks/bus/shuttle/747-yul-montreal-trudeau-airport-downtown-shuttle for more information on schedules, fares, points of sale, and luggage transportation for the 747 YUL Montréal-Trudeau Airport / Downtown shuttle.

Getting to Bishop’s University from the Sherbrooke bus terminal:

You may take a taxi from the Sherbrooke bus terminal by calling the Taxi Sherbrooke company at (819) 562-4717 or (819) 562-3838. A direct phone line is also available outside of the Siboire building. Reservations are not required. The fare averages around $20-25 CAD for a ride from the bus terminal to the University.

You may also take the Sherbrooke city bus (line #2) to get to Bishop’s University. The fare for one trip per person is $3.30 CAD, which can be paid with exact change inside the bus.

For more information on schedules, see the STS website (French only).

Below you will find a map that indicates how to call the Taxi Sherbrooke company from outside the Siboire building, as well as where the Sherbrooke city bus stop Line #2 is located.

Taxi service

Some taxi companies may offer a ride from the Montreal airport to Bishop’s University. You may get a taxi from the airport at the arrivals level at door 23, where a dispatcher will assist you. Reservations are not required but recommended.

The fare is calculated as follow: $3.50 CAD initially + $1.75 CAD per kilometer + $0.65 CAD per minute of waiting time. The tip is included at your discretion. As such, a taxi ride could cost approximately $300 CAD (tip not included).

Payment is allowed by Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit card, or in Canadian currency (Canadian Dollars).

If you wish to get further information about taxi services at Montreal Airport, please call: (514) 394-7377.

Aeronavette

The Aeroshuttle is available 24/7 from Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Sherbrooke. The service works with your flight information to offer departure time that are specially suited to your travel itinerary and road conditions. There is a home service at no extra cost in Sherbrooke. This means the Aeroshuttle will drop you right on campus if necessary!

Fees are per person and each person is allowed two regular sized luggage bags. The cost is $102 plus tax for a one-way trip.

Upon making your reservation you will be asked to indicate your drop-off location. The address for the University can be found here if needed:

2600 rue College
Sherbrooke, QC
J1M 1Z7

It is important to note that you will not be able to complete your reservation online if your departure date and time is in less than 72hrs. If this is the case you must phone at 1‑855‑NAVETTE (628-3883) to make your reservation.

Car rental

Several car rental companies operate from, or nearby, the Montreal airport. The following 3 companies may offer drop off in Sherbrooke. Restrictions and conditions regarding age, driver’s license, etc. apply to car rentals in the province of Quebec, as such please make sure to read the terms and conditions carefully for each company. Reservations are required ahead of time.

Enterprise

There is a possibility of renting a car at the Montreal airport and dropping it off in Sherbrooke (additional fees are incurred when drop off is at a different location than pick up). Availability and prices depend on dates.

Directions from terminal: The counter is located in the Car Rental Centre. The vehicles are within walking distance.

For more information or to make a reservation with Enterprise, please click this link.

Enterprise FAQ

Discount (Location d’autos et camions)

There is a possibility of renting a car at the Montreal airport and dropping it off in Sherbrooke (additional fees are incurred when drop off is at a different location than pick up). Availability and prices depend on dates.

Shuttle instructions to get to the Discount location from the airport: When arriving at the Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, please dial 1-888-335-5683 in order to signal your presence. Please make your way to door 9 on the departure area of the airport as the Discount shuttle will pass by.

For more information or to make a reservation with Discount, please click this link.

Discount FAQ

Budget

Availability, prices and possibility of drop off in Sherbrooke depend on dates. As of July 21st, there is only availability for pick up and drop off at the Montreal Airport, there is no availability to drop off in Sherbrooke. This information could change due to cancellations.
Directions from terminal: Follow signs for “car rental” Once outside the terminal, follow walkway to the exterior parking located on the ground level floor. As you enter the multilevel exterior parking lot, follow signs to the Rent a Car Building. Upon entering the building, you will see the counter in front of you.

For more information or to make a reservation with Budget, please click this link.

Budget FAQ

Travel by land

The closest U.S. port of entry is the Derby Line situated in Derby VT/Stanstead QC. It is around 40 minutes from Bishop’s University.

Accueil Plus

If you arrive at Montreal-Trudeau Airport between December 25 to January 9, 2023, you could take advantage of the Accueil Plus service to facilitate your arrival. We strongly suggest that you register for this service.

This free service has 2 components:

• Streamlined procedures with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
• Information booth for international students

Who can register?
All students arriving in Canada for the first time and whose port of entry to Canada is Montreal-Trudeau airport can register for the Accueil Plus service. For students coming to study in a program of study of 6 months or less and who will arrive as a visitor, it will be possible to benefit from the information given at the information booth. If you receive your first study permit upon arrival at Montreal-Trudeau airport, you will be able to take advantage of the 2 services offered by Accueil Plus.

When to register?
As soon as you have received your letter of introduction from IRCC confirming the approval of your study permit (if you need a study permit to enter Canada), along with the details of your flight.

Where to register?
On the Accueil Plus website at https://www.accueilplus.ca/inscription/?lang=en.

When can you benefit from the Accueil Plus service?
At your arrival at Montreal-Trudeau Airport between December 25 to January 9, 2023

Webinar

In order to participate in the virtual information sessions animated by one of our agents, we invite you to register online.

By participating, you will enjoy a warm welcome where one of our agents will be presenting an arrival guide specific to the region where your establishment is located and by taking the time to answer your questions.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email and a link that will give you access to the virtual information session.

WELCOME TO ESTRIE!
Local time in Montreal
Time Zone: (UTC-05:00) East (É.-U. et Canada)

When: Sunday, January 8, 2023
Time: 9AM to 10AM

Click here to register

How to get around?

Campus Map

Off-campus Map