For students landing on a study permit ahead of their program start date:
- Aim to arrive within about 3 weeks (21 days) of your classes starting. Arriving much earlier than that can raise questions at the border about the purpose of your entry and may lead to added scrutiny or restrictions.
- If your health insurance only kicks in once your course begins (common when it's bundled with your university's program), be prepared to explain this gap to the border officer rather than assuming it will automatically be accepted — arrange interim coverage if you're arriving well before your course start, or time your arrival closer to the 3-week window to minimize the gap.
Timing your entry close to your program's start date is the simplest way to avoid both border questions and insurance coverage gaps.