Winter Holidays with YI - York International

Congratulations on making it through the fall term and best wishes for the holiday season!  Check out some resources available during the winter break no matter where you are in the world.

Note that York University will be closed from Wednesday December 24, 2025 to Friday January 2, 2026. The university reopens on January 5, 2026. Classes begin on January 5, 2026 for most programs.

On this Page:

Key Resources

Emergency Contacts	On-campus: +1-416-736-5333 Off-campus: 9-1-1 Off-campus non-emergency or anyone calling from outside of Canada: +1-416-808-2222 Visit the Community Safety website for more info and download the York U Safety App.
Mental Wellness Student Support	In Canada and anywhere in the world GuardMe Student Support Program (support is available in several languages)	Within Ontario Good2Talk (support is available in several languages)
Student Online Self-Service Tools	My Online Services
Immigration* University Health Insurance Plan* Global Learning & Safety Abroad*	iadvisor@yorku.ca uhip@yorku.ca safetyabroad@yorku.ca
*These emails will be monitored regularly for emergency situations over the Winter Break. For emergencies please include "Urgent" in the subject line. We will respond to all non-emergency emails when the University reopens.

Holidays in the Community

York International Holiday Activities

Are you staying on or near campus this holiday break? Looking for something to do? Join us at our festive events, taking place throughout the break!

Distillery District Winter Village
Monday December 29th, 2025 (12:00pm – 5:30pm)

In this winter activity, the group will travel to the Distillery District Winter Village. Walk through the cobblestone streets under the canopy of lights to hear the festive sounds, see the shops and vendors to experience this Christmas market. The intent is to arrive before 4:00PM for FREE entrance.

If you are staying in residence over the winter break, be sure to connect with the on-site Dons for their planned activities and community builders.

What's Happening in the City?

Looking for something to do this holiday season? Here are simple, student-friendly ideas for getting out (or staying in) without the stress.

Explore Toronto

Check out the newest events on BlogTO and TodoToronto for markets, pop-ups, concerts, and free activities around the city. Even a quick walk around your neighbourhood can be a nice way to enjoy the season.

Holiday Highlights

Casa Loma: See the castle dressed for the season with beautifully lit rooms and historic spaces to explore.
Winterfest at Canada’s Wonderland: Skating, seasonal food, and live entertainment make this an easy pick for a fun evening with friends.
Holiday Hills at STACKT Market: Shop local vendors, explore creative installations, and enjoy a modern outdoor market atmosphere.
International Holiday Meals: Restaurants across Toronto offer special dishes and traditions from around the world, perfect for trying something new.
Merry Marketplace: A relaxed community market featuring handmade goods and warm seasonal treats.
St. Lawrence Winter Market: A festive version of the historic market with specialty foods, crafts, and holiday favourites.
Cavalcade of Lights: Nathan Phillips Square lights up for the season with a large tree, skating, and evening light displays.
Outdoor Skating Rinks: City rinks like Nathan Phillips Square, Mel Lastman Square, and the Harbourfront rink offer free or low-cost skating throughout the winter.
Allan Gardens Conservatory: A warm indoor escape with tropical plants and seasonal floral displays, free and open daily.

Looking to stay cozy indoors? 

York students have access to a wide selection of movies through the Libraries’ electronic resources. Sign in with your Passport York to explore Criterion on Demand, plus additional streaming options available through the YU Library.
If reading is more your speed, browse digital and in-person collections through York University Libraries or Toronto Public Library. TPL also shares creative ways to make the most of the library from home.

Essential Information

Immigration Considerations

Get useful information on your immigration status and what you need to know about your study permit.

Use this page to check document validity, and understand re-entry rules. Always review official Government of Canada resources before you go.

1) Pre‑departure checklist

Passport - must be valid well beyond your planned return to Canada. Also check your passport validity before applying for any Canadian immigration documents as they cannot be issued beyond passport validity.

I recently renewed my passport. What happens to my study permit and visa that were in my old passport?

You can continue using your valid study permit and visa even if your old passport is cancelled. If you need to travel, be sure to carry both old and new passports with you.

Study permit - confirms your authorization to remain in Canada and to study at the school named on the permit. It is not a travel document and does not authorize re-entry.
TRV (visitor visa) or eTA - required for most travellers to enter Canada, depending on citizenship.
Proof of enrollment at York University – get your proof of enrollment letter here. Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) Officer may ask to see you are actively pursuing studies at the school named on your permit.
Proof of financial support – it is important that you can demonstrate your ability to pay for your school and living expenses (without working) for at least one year when you are asked. See a list of examples of proof of funds.

2) Travelling outside Canada & re-entering

You may re-enter Canada as a student if you have a valid study permit or approval for an extension, plus a valid passport and the correct entry document, either a valid TRV or a valid eTA.
- Exception: If your TRV or eTA is expired but you only visited the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon, you may return with your valid study permit.
Renew documents before leaving Canada where possible. Plan accordingly. Check IRCC processing times and use IRCC’s status tracker to monitor applications.
Avoid travel while extensions are in process. If you apply to extend your study permit and then leave Canada, your “maintained status” ends with your departure from Canada. If your previous study permit is no longer valid at the time of your return, you may only be admitted as a visitor, and cannot study/work again until the new permit is issued.
CBSA officers make final entry decisions at the port of entry. Carry proof of enrolment and funds to demonstrate you meet requirements.

Travelling to the United States

Be sure to secure the correct entry document before your travel. Most international students will need a U.S. visitor visa (B-1/B-2) unless eligible for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Check if your country is on the VWP list and apply for ESTA if eligible.
If you leave Canada and only visit the U.S., you do not need a valid TRV to re-enter provided you return before your current study permit expires.

3) Travelling with dependants

Ensure each family member has appropriate travel authorization and identity documents. Minors travelling alone or with one parent/guardian only may require consent letters.

Employment during the winter break

International students may work on-campus and off-campus during the winter break if meeting IRCC work authorization requirements. Here’s what you need to know:

You can work on-campus and off-campus without a work permit if you have a valid study permit or maintained status.
You have printed conditions on your study permit allowing you to work on campus and off-campus.
You are enrolled as a full-time student at York University both before and after the break.
You have a social insurance number (SIN).

I am a…	Can work on campus during winter break?	Can work off campus during winter break?	Notes
Current student at York and I will be continuing my studies after the winter break.	YES	YES	You must be enrolled as a full-time student before and after the winter break.
New student starting in January 2026 (I was holding a study permit for high school)	NO	NO	You cannot start working until you receive your study permit containing work authorization and until your program has begun.
New student starting in January 2026 (I was holding a study permit for another DLI, previous program completed)	YES	YES	You may be able to work full-time between completing your last program at a different DLI and your new program at York if meeting eligibility criteria.
New student starting in January 2026 (I was holding a study permit for another DLI, previous program incomplete)	NO	NO	You cannot start working until you receive your study permit containing work authorization and until your program has begun.
New student starting in January 2026 (I am on my first study permit)	NO	NO	You cannot start working until you receive your study permit containing work authorization and until your program has begun.
Graduating after Fall 2025 Applying for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)? Check out York International’s PGWP Application Resources Guide.	YES*	YES*	You can use the work authorization on your study permit until your graduation status is confirmed. Check your graduation status here.

IRCC and CBSA do not call, text, or email demanding urgent payments or personal data (SIN, banking) to avoid deportation.
Paying someone to handle your visa application? Verify any paid representative by following this IRCC guide. Avoid “guaranteed visa” or “fast-track” promises.
Report scams to the Canadian Anti‑Fraud Centre and IRCC; seek help from local police if you lost money.

IRCC: International students travelling outside Canada and re‑entering — canada.ca
IRCC: Prepare for arrival (documents to bring) — canada.ca
CBSA: Travel & identification documents — cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
IRCC: Protect yourself from immigration fraud — canada.ca

Health, Wellness & Safety

For clinic or emergency room visits, bring a paper copy of your valid University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) card with you and ensure that you only receive services that would be eligible for coverage through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) if you had that card. Whenever possible, use a healthcare provider that accepts UHIP. Note the tips below regarding health care providers:

Preferred provider: you can find the list of clinics and hospitals that accept UHIP on the UHIP Preferred Provider Network website. These providers can bill Cowan (the insurance company that administers UHIP) directly.
Non-preferred provider: if you visit a non-preferred provider that doesn’t accept UHIP, you can file a claim*. For information regarding how to submit a claim, please follow the instructions on the UHIP website.

To access your UHIP card, visit the Cowan e-card download page and enter your first name, last lame and date of birth along with your UHIP Certificate Number (emailed to your @yorku.ca or @my.yorku.ca email address directly by the insurance company) or YU+your student number (ex. YU123456789). Here are instructions on how to activate your YorkU email address if you have not done so yet.

Is your UHIP card not available for download yet? Don't worry because you can visit an urgent care centre or hospital emergency department without it, pay for the service, and then file a claim within 6 months of receiving the service. For information on how to submit a claim*, please follow the instructions on the UHIP website.

If you visit the emergency room, you must email uhip.ramu@cowangroup.ca when you arrive at the hospital. Tell Cowan your full name, that you are a York University student, your York University student number, the name of the hospital, your hospital or medical record number, the reason for your visit, and if you will be hospitalized. You may only be hospitalized in a standard ward. If you need help obtaining some details (ex. your MRN or hospitalization information), please ask the hospital's triage nurse for assistance.

*Note regarding claims: You may not get 100% of your money back and you may incur some out-of-pocket expenses. You can contact Cowan directly for more information about this via 1-833-377-8447 (phone) on weekdays from 9am-5pm (ET) or uhip.ramu@cowangroup.ca (email).

As a complement to basic health insurance (that's UHIP for international students), student unions offer extended health insurance benefits to active degree-seeking students. If you need to use extended health insurance benefits during the holidays (ex. buy medication or vaccines, get vision or dental care, or receive paramedical services), be sure to download your student union's extended health insurance card on the GreenShield Canada portal. If you are not sure whether your extended health insurance policy is active, please contact GreenShield Canada at:

Undergraduate students: 1-888-711-1119
Graduate students: 1-888-525-7587

If you have any questions about your extended health insurance policy, please email your student union at yfshp@yfs.ca (undergraduate students) or health@yugsa.ca (graduate students).

Holiday Blogposts

Things to do in Toronto on Christmas and Boxing Day

Our team has put together a list of fun activities in this blog post – check it out!

Unwind and relax this holiday season!

Exam season was stressful! Lots of sleepless nights and far too much coffee…well, it’s time to unwind now, you deserve it! Take a look at some tips and tricks on ways to de-stress this holiday season.

Boxing Day - what is it?

December 26th is not just the day after Christmas! Here in Canada, we celebrate Boxing Day – check out this blog post to learn all about this holiday and what you can do to celebrate.