McGill University

Visiting your child at McGill means flying into Montreal (YUL); the downtown campus is a 747 bus ride to Berri-UQAM and a short metro hop away. Plan the Canada visitor visa well ahead.

Getting from YUL to campus

Visitor visa for parents

Indian parents need a Canada visitor visa (a Temporary Resident Visa, or TRV) - they are not eligible for the eTA that visa-exempt travellers use. It is filed online through the IRCC Secure Account (form IMM 5257), with biometrics required. Most TRVs are issued as multiple-entry visas valid up to 10 years (or until the passport expires), each visit up to 6 months.

• Processing only starts AFTER biometrics are given - add 1-2 weeks and book the biometrics appointment early.
• *Official IRCC times are dynamic; third-party trackers often cite 6-10 weeks, so apply at least 3 months ahead - Fall admits should submit by mid-May.
• A complete, well-documented file (strong home ties, travel history, clear funds and purpose) is the single best way to avoid delays and refusals.
• Super Visa (5-year stays) is only for parents of Canadian citizens or PRs - students are neither, so the standard visitor visa is the route for now.

Just admitted to McGill? Here's your arrival checklist.

Arrival checklist

• Book your flight into Montreal (YUL) early for the best August/September fares.
• 747 bus from YUL to downtown - the fare includes 24h of metro, so ride to McGill station.
• Quebec leases often run July 1 - line up first-week housing around that.
• Carry your study permit letter, proof of funds and acceptance letter in your cabin bag.

Montreal is the most affordable of Canada's big student cities - about CAD 1,200-1,800 a month all-in sharing and cooking, thanks to a long history of rent control. The STM metro and bus network with a reduced-fare OPUS card for students makes it very walkable and transit-friendly; some French helps day to day, though McGill and Concordia operate in English.

Monthly cost of living in Montreal (a student estimate)

That's roughly C$14,000-22,000 a year for living costs, on top of tuition.

Finding accommodation

Montreal has Canada's most affordable big-city rents; students share apartments in the Plateau, Cote-des-Neiges and near campus.

• Students get a reduced-fare STM OPUS card for the metro and buses.
• Most leases in Quebec run July 1 (moving day) - plan around it.
• Some French is useful day-to-day, but McGill and Concordia teach in English.

Working part-time

On a study permit you can work off-campus up to 24 hours/week during academic terms (a permanent limit as of 2025) and full-time during scheduled breaks if you are full-time before and after. On-campus work has no set hourly cap. After graduating from an eligible program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), you can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) - master's graduates can qualify for up to three years. Stay within the work limit: over-working can cost your status and PGWP eligibility.

Safety & student support

Montreal and its McGill, Concordia and UdeM areas are generally safe by Canadian standards; use normal awareness at night.

• McGill, Concordia and UdeM runs campus safety services (walk-home programs, alerts) - save the campus safety number.
• The campus and main student areas are busy and well-populated.
• Montreal is among the safer big cities in North America; normal awareness at night is enough.

Indian community & food

Montreal's South Asian community centres on Parc-Extension and Cote-des-Neiges, with established desi grocers across the city.

Indian grocery stores

• Marche Victoria (6324 Victoria Ave, in the Plamondon/Cote-des-Neiges area) - one of Montreal's oldest Indian grocers.
• Supermarche Punjabi and Punjab Foods for a wide South Asian range.
• Marche Lavaniya and the grocers around Parc-Extension for everyday staples.

Student community

• McGill and Concordia have active Indian and South Asian student associations running Diwali and Holi.
• Montreal has Hindu temples and gurdwaras and a lively desi cultural calendar.

• Plenty of Indian restaurants around Parc-Extension and the downtown campuses.

Cost & living figures for Montreal last verified Jun 2026. Figures are estimates and change over time.