International Student Handbook: Preparation & Arrival

Arriving at Northern College

Before arriving at Northern College, it is important that you upload your study visa on international OCAS or email it to international@northern.on.ca. Your visa must be submitted to save your seat in your program.

Please refer to your welcome email or events tab for your registration and orientation date. It is important to come in person before the first day of class to register. The official registration date for all international students is available on Northern’s Academic Calendar. When you register, please have your study permit and offer letter.

You must be here for the first day of orientation and bring: 

Letter of Acceptance

Fee receipt

Passport

Study permit (and work permit when applicable)

Pre-arrival orientation course test result

If you have already registered and are looking for your timetable visit the Northern College student portal here, log in using your ID and password that can be found on your confirmation of registration. Your timetable can be found by clicking “timetable.”

Social Insurance Number (SIN)

What is a SIN?

The Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a unique 9-digit number that you use to identify yourself. To work in Canada, you must have a SIN from Service Canada, and you must meet the various requirements to work in Canada.  Please refer to the conditions on your study permit.

Where can I apply?

The Service Canada offices are located:

Timmins: 120 Cedar St S, Timmins, ON P4N 2G8
Kirkland Lake: 8 Oakes Avenue, Kirkland Lake, P2N 3R3
Haileybury: 280 Armstrong St N, New Liskeard, ON P0J 1P0 

How to apply:

You are eligible to apply for a SIN with your original passport and study permit; your study permit must include one of the following conditions:

• May accept employment on the campus of the institution at which registered in full-time studies
• May work 20 hours per week off-campus or full-time during regular breaks if meeting criteria outlined in section 186(v) of Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR)
• May accept employment on or off-campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186(f), (v) or (w). Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria

If your study permit does not have one of the above conditions, you must submit a mailed request for an amendment to your study permit before you can apply for a SIN. There is no fee for this request. The estimated processing time can be found on the IRCC website.

Applying for an amendment is not the same as applying to change conditions of/extend your study permit. The expiry date of your study permit will stay the same in an amendment application. You will still need to apply to extend your study permit before its expiry date.

If 'This permit does not permit the holder to engage in on or off-campus employment in Canada' is printed on your study permit, and you have since become eligible to work on-campus or off-campus, you must apply to change conditions of/extend your study permit.