FIND A DOCTOR, CLINIC, OR DENTIST
Starting January 22, 2025, a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) is required for most study permit applications, including those applying for graduate programs or changing schools (e.g., high school to post-secondary or transferring DLIs).
For more information on PAL exemptions, visit the IRCC website. For PAL related inquiries, visit our PAL FAQ page.
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.