Before arrival

Once you have an approved study permit and have purchased your ticket, you are ready to engage in further arrival planning. As your departure date approaches, having an arrival plan will make you feel in control and well-prepared. Your arrival plan does not need to be approved by UNB staff; it's simply meant to provide you with guidance for a smooth arrival to Canada.

Documentation, travel and settlement

Documents to bring with you to the airport:

  • Your letter of acceptance (available through UNB's application portal).
  • Your letter of enrolment (if enrolled in courses).
  • Your UNB tuition and fee statement.
  • Your unofficial transcript showing your specific course enrolment.
Services and information for students
  • The address and phone number of your contact person at your final destination in New Brunswick, if you have one.
Arrival and entrance recommendations

  • Research your luggage allowance on your flight into Canada (number of bags/suitcases and their maximum weight).
  • Determine what to bring and what to buy upon arrival.
  • Find out what you can bring in to Canada - "be aware and declare".
  • If you are living in residence, make a list of the items that are in your room and what you need to bring (bed linens, sheets, pillows, etc).
  • If you are not sure what is included in your residence, reach out directly:
  • Be sure to download the app for your airline. Most airline apps can check you in to your flight and provide your boarding passes, as well as give you immediate updates in case of flight delays.
  • A battery pack and charging cord to ensure that your phone is charged throughout your travel.
  • Your personal belongings.
  • Canadian dollars until you have a Canadian bank account and have transferred funds. Be aware of the specific rules if travelling with $10,000 CAD or more).

Flights into Atlantic Canada are sometimes delayed and there are often long line-ups at Canada's major airports. You could miss your connecting flight to New Brunswick.

You can consider purchasing trip interruption insurance to protect yourself financially against delays. We are not able to recommend specific companies or insurance plans, but rather recommend you to do your own research into the services and coverage that you would need.


New Brunswick's airports are small and regional and they have free wi-fi networks that you can access. Prepare to debark on the tarmac and walk outside to the arrival gate. There is usually only one luggage carousel and it is impossible for you to get lost or feel overwhelmed.

New Brunswick's various multicultural and newcomers centres may have welcome booths in the weeks leading up to the beginning of classes. If you see them, be sure to say hi as they may have a bag of informational materials and snacks for you.

Upon arrival to the airport

  • Call or email ahead to your New Brunswick arrival contacts (residence, off-campus housing, hotel, or AirBnB) to let them know that they should expect you to arrive shortly.
  • Taxis are waiting outside the arrival gate. You are expected to pay for the taxi ride from the airport to your final destination.

Be sure to carefully research if your cell phone will be working in Canada. You have several option to consider.

  • Contact your current carrier and ask for advice
  • E-SIM cards such as Airalo for instance.
  • You may have time to purchase a SIM card for a "pay as you go plan" in Montreal or Toronto airports.

You have many choices in terms of cell phone plans, so research which plan is best for you. Canada has some of the most expensive mobile data in the world and you may be surprised by how much you will need to pay for a simple plan.


Plan ahead for how you will be accessing money until you set up a Canadian bank account. You can meet with your bank in your home country, hear their advice and confirm how your bank cards will work in Canada in the event that you need to withdraw cash.

In many cases, you can schedule an appointment to open a bank account online. You should inquire at your local bank if any of them have collaborations with Canadian banks.

You may have to wait until you arrive to set up a bank account, but you can start looking at the different banks and decide which best suits your financial needs. Many Canadian banks offer a special account for newcomers.


Plan one: Guard.me health emergency plan

All incoming international students who are registered in classes at UNB are automatically covered under UNB's Guard.me health emergency insurance plan. This is a mandatory policy for all incoming international students regardless of your own personal additional coverage from your home country.

The Guard.me plan covers sudden and unexpected illnesses and accidents. Common exclusions are chronic conditions and pregnancies. You are strongly encourage to explore the details of this plan prior to your arrival so you are familiar with your Guard.me plan.

The plan is in effect the first day of each term (Sept. 1, Jan. 1 and May 1). If you arrive prior to these dates, we recommend that you purchase the early arrival option.

If you have family members coming to Canada to live with you, you can have them covered under this insurance.

Guard.me policyGuard.me summary

Contact international_insurance@unb.ca for any questions you have about this insurance plan.

Plan two: We speak student health plan

UNB's Student Union provide students with a health and wellness insurance plan which covers dental visit, eye care (glasses, contact lenses and eye exams) as well as prescription drugs. This plan is mandatory unless you have health and wellness coverage, for example if the spouse of an international student is working with a company that provides health or wellness plan for their family members.

If you are bringing family members and wish to have them covered under this insurance, you can purchase extra coverage.

For further information: undergraduate students, please connect with your student Union (UNB Fredericton, UNB Saint John, Graduate Student Association).


UCard is your official university ID and is an important piece of identification that you will be using throughout your studies.

You can upload your own photo online prior to arrival to UNB and pick up the card upon arrival.

You will receive notification in your UNB email address when your UCard is ready to be picked up and given further instructions.


There are several ways of paying your UNB tuition and fees and you can simply choose the way that is easiest for you.

You are able to pay your fees and tuition at any time after you have been admitted. Your tuition and fee charges will be posted to your UNB student account two to three weeks before each term.

If you want to pay right away, but don't know the exact amount, do you best to estimate the amount from the information in your letter of acceptance. An eventual overpayment will remain in your student account as a credit for you to carry forward to the next term. Alternatively, you can ask UNB's financial services to deposit the overpayment to your Canadian bank account.

The payment deadline is often in the second week of the term and can be found on the academic calendar of important dates.

Paying your first term's tuition fees prior to arrival will save you from spending time in the first week to set up a bank account and wait for the money to arrive from your home country.