Welcome to Northeastern University!

Next Steps

The following next steps are all MANDATORY for all NU - Toronto/Vancouver new international students who are actively registered and engaged in classes.

Purchase Health Insurance

Deadline: Prior to arriving in Canada

You should have purchased your health insurance before arriving in Canada. If not, you need to get your health insurance at least 1 business day before your first class, or by January 23rd for students approved for a late arrival.

Toronto Campus Students:

  • All students must purchase the MANDATORY New Students GuardMe insurance to cover you from January 1st, 2026 – August 31st, 2026.
    • The fixed dates for your health insurance will be January 1st, 2026 to August 31st, 2026. There are no changes allowed, this is the requirement.
  • If you are arriving in Canada prior to January 1st, 2026 – you must purchase an ADDITIONAL health insurance policy for Early Arrival. You can review the information and make you purchase on this page.

Remember that you must show a GuardMe health insurance policy that begins the same date of your study permit issuance (or the date of your arrival to Canada), or January 1st.

A hold will be placed on your account if you do not provide valid proof of the required health insurance. 

Vancouver Campus Students:

  • You are REQUIRED to purchase GuardMe insurance for the first 90 days that you are in Canada. Once you arrive in Canada, you can apply for the British Columbia provincial health plan, MSP. All international students are eligible for MSP when they arrive in BC.
  • For your first 90 days in Canada, you need to enrol for GuardMe. You can purchase the insurance here. The health insurance start date should be the day you arrive in Canada.
  • You can find more detailed information about MSP here.

A hold will be placed on your account if you do not provide valid proof of the required health insurance. 

Sample of GuardMe Health Card – you are required to submit this document:

Where can you download this document?

  • Login to your GuardMe account.
  • On your Dashboard scroll down to “My Active Policy”
  • You’ll see “Download Healthcare Access Card”, click the icon with an arrow to download the PDF. 
    • Please note that it can take a few minutes after you purchase your health insurance to see the download for the health card. You must wait until you can download the PDF of the health card. We cannot accept any other document as your proof of health insurance.

Complete the Canadian Arrival Questionnaire

Deadlines: The Arrival Questionnaire should be submitted 1 business day before your first class, or by January 23rd, for those approved for a late arrival. 

If documents are not submitted and approved by January 23rd, a hold will be placed on your account or you may be dropped from your classes.

PLEASE ONLY COMPLETE THE ARRIVAL QUESTIONNAIRE AFTER YOU HAVE ARRIVED IN CANADA

To ensure compliance with mandatory university and governmental requirements, we have to collect and have on file copies of the Study Permits and proof of Health Insurances of all our international students.

All International Students in Canada must have valid Study Permits and health insurances throughout their studies. Your Health Insurance policy should be continuous and there should be no gaps. 

Please submit the following documents to OGS Canada via the myOGS Portal by completing the Canadian Arrival Questionnaire. You will be asked to upload copies of your:

  • Study Permit – you would have received your study permit document at the port of entry from the CBSA officers upon your arrival into Canada.
  • Co-Op Work Permit (if applicable)
  • GuardMe, OHIP, or MSP Health Card/PDF. 

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE ARRIVAL QUESTIONNAIRE

If you have questions related to your study permit validity, please email [email protected] – Email us using your Northeastern student email address, include a copy of your study permit, your NUID, and your program of study in your inquiry.

Failure to submit your Study Permit and Health Insurance by January 23rd will result in account holds and you will not be allowed to register for your next semester/quarter until the documents are submitted and approved. 

Vancouver Students:

Once you receive your MSP Card, please upload it for approval here.

 

Complete the OGS Canada Canvas Course

Deadline: January 30th, 2026

The Comprehensive Guide for International Students in Canada is a mandatory, non-credit orientation course that serves as a reference and guide throughout your journey as an international student.You must complete all the quizzes and the acknowledgement by the deadline. Failure to complete the course by the deadline will result in your student account being placed on hold, and you will be restricted from registering for your upcoming courses.

Course Link: Comprehensive Guide for International Students in Canada

Events

OGS Canada Virtual Meet and Greet

Our Virtual Meet and Greet session will provide you an overview of Office of Global Services/ OGS Canada scope of services and introduce our team to international students who just about to start with NU Canadian campuses.

During the session we will talk about:

  • OGS Canada team’s scope of work
  • What services our team provides to the students
  • How to get in touch us
  • What resources are available for students
  • QA session

January 14th, 2026

2PM – 3PM EST | 11AM – 12PM PST

Register Here

GuardMe Information Session

Attend this virtual information session to learn about how to protect your wellness as an international student in Toronto, Canada with GuardMe health insurance!

January 9th, 2026 | 10AM EST

Register Here

Social Insurance Number (SIN) Workshop

A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is required for all international students before you begin any work in Canada. OGS Canada invites an officer from Service Canada to present on the process for applying for your SIN using the online application.

January 9th | 12PM – 1PM

Register Here

Questions or Clarifications?

Current Students ONLY:

Email OGS Canada at: [email protected] 

  • Use your Northeastern Student Email to contact us
  • Include your Full Name, NUID, Program of Study, and attach a copy of your study permit if your questions are related to study permit validity or compliance.

If you are an incoming student please use the OGS Inquiry Form.