FIND A DOCTOR, CLINIC, OR DENTIST
On November 6, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced several changes to the International Student Program for 2026:
- PAL Exemption: Starting January 1, 2026, incoming graduate students (Master’s or PhD) studying/attending at public institutions will be Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) exempt. Further details are available on IRCC's graduate student website. Applications submitted before January 1, 2026, must still include a valid PAL. Learn how to receive your SFU PAL.
- Faster Processing for Doctoral Students: PhD students and their accompanying family members applying from outside of Canada may qualify for expedited study permit processing, if they apply within the same application. Applications may still be subject to background checks, which may delay processing times.
- 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: IRCC has set a target of 155,000 new international student arrivals for 2026. This target applies to study permit applications made from outside Canada and does not include study permit extensions or in-Canada applications. Learn more about the 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap here.
- Life as a Graduate Student: Prepare yourself for life in Canada by learning about housing options, study costs, employment opportunities, and more.
We encourage students to monitor IRCC’s website for the most up-to-date information and will update our News and Updates page as additional details become available.
Find a doctor or clinic
In general, people in Canada either have a family doctor or general practitioner (GP), whom they make appointments to visit, or go to a walk-in clinic and see the physician on duty.
- Visit the BC College of Physicians website for more information.
- You are under no obligation to commit to the first doctor you visit so take your time to find someone who makes you feel comfortable. It may be possible to find someone who speaks your native language if it is commonly spoken in the Lower Mainland.
- If you do not have a family doctor, it can be beneficial to visit the same walk-in clinic every time you have a medical issue, as the clinic will keep a record of your medical history.
- Many students use the health services on campus at Health & Counselling Services at the Burnaby campus.
Find a dentist
To find a dentist, contact the BC Dental Association.
Dental services are not covered through the BC Medical Services Plan, but SFU students do have some coverage via the SFSS/GSS Extended Health and Dental Plan. Visit the plan website for details. If you're enrolled with a different extended health insurance provider (as is the case for some graduate Teaching Assistants), check with your provider for details of your coverage.