Arranging travel to Waterloo

Travel preparation

When booking your flight, keep in mind:

• Review packing for documents that you need and if you can not find the information on the website, connect with an immigration consultant.
• If you arrive before you can move into residence or off-campus housing, there are many options for booking short-term accommodations.  

• If you're travelling with a lot of luggage, you should notify your transport company beforehand so that they can make provisions for you. 

Arriving at the airport

Most international students arrive at Lester B. Pearson International Airport (code YYZ) in Toronto, Ontario, the closest major airport to Waterloo. Visit the Government of Canada's website for a detailed explanation of the steps to follow once off the plane and how the CBSA Declaration Card works. As an alternative to the CBSA Declaration Card, you could instead do an Advanced Declaration by using the free ArriveCan app.  Using ArriveCan to make an Advanced Declaration can you save you time at the border. 

When you arrive at the airport, you'll speak to a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer at Primary Inspection. They must be satisfied that you're a bona fide student for you to be allowed entry into Canada. Be prepared as they will review the following in order to issue a study permit: 

• Passport
• Letter of Acceptance
• Letter of Introduction
• Other documents in the packing webpage

It is recommended that you have all these documents printed out and pack them in your carry-on luggage so that it can be easily accessible at Primary Inspection. 

If you've sent anything ahead of time to Canada, inform the CBSA officer and present your shipping records. If you're entering Canada with more than $10,000 in your possession in cash, bank drafts, traveller’s cheques, etc., you must report this either on the CBSA Declaration Card or through the ArriveCan Advanced Declaration. You can expect that the process will take approximately three hours, but it also depends on the time of year and on a case-by-case basis.   

Arranging transportation to Waterloo

To arrange travel from the airport to the University, there are some transportation options*. For example, several taxi and limousine companies, but these tend to be more expensive options.

While at the airport, beware of drivers who solicit passengers inside the terminals. These are unlicensed taxis and limos that charge more than the regulated rates. Look for signage throughout the airport to identify verified transportation services. 

*For our door-to-door airport pickup service, eligible students will receive an email with more information. Exchange students are not eligible for this program.

Airways Transit

Travel from another Canadian city

There are ground travel options available for you if you are planning to arrive to Waterloo from another Canadian city: 

	Bus FlixBus and GO Transit are two popular options. Book your ticket at least two months before you plan to travel. Most companies limit the amount of luggage you can carry, so check with them ahead of time to ensure that your luggage falls within the limits.​ If you are a current undergraduate or graduate student, you can look into Fed Bus which is offered by the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association. It provides an affordable route to get to and from Toronto, Hamilton, and London on the weekends. Fed Bus schedule can be found here. Unfortunately, the service is not available to exchange students.
	Rental Car Canadians drive on the right-hand side of the road. To rent a car, most rental companies in Canada require you to be at least 21-years-old. If you are under 25, you may have to pay for additional insurance.
	Train If you’re located more than four hours away, consider taking the train to Waterloo. VIA Rail is Canada’s passenger train network. Go Transit has limited train service to Waterloo from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).