Your first winter break away from home is a big deal. Here is the simple checklist for booking the right dates, carrying the right papers, and getting back to campus without a hitch.
At a glance: international students flying home to India from Canada
Book in October. Fall terms at most Canadian colleges and universities end in mid-December and winter terms start in early January, so everyone wants the same two weeks. Carry a valid passport, a valid study permit, your visa or eTA if you need one, and a current enrolment letter. Keep your Indian passport or OCI card handy for arrival. Join MannPass for free and take CAD $25 off eligible return flights.
Why October is the month to book
Here is what we see every year from Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Edmonton and Winnipeg. Exam week ends, and thousands of students want to leave within the same three or four days. The cheaper seats on those dates go first, often by late October. By early December, what is left is usually expensive with awkward connections.
So book now, even if your exact exam timetable is not out yet. Most colleges publish the last day of exams in advance. Book the earliest realistic date after that, with a day of buffer in case an exam moves.
Choosing your dates around exams and the winter term
Three rules make this easy:
- Do not book a flight on the day of your last exam. A moved exam can mean a missed flight. Fly the next day or the day after.
- Come back at least three days before classes start. Jet lag is real, and January weather delays flights. Give yourself time to settle in and sleep.
- Avoid the busiest days if you can. The days just before Christmas Day, Friday 25 December 2026, and the first weekend of January are the peak. A few days either side often costs less.
If your winter term starts a little later, you may be able to come back in the second week of January on a quieter, cheaper day. Check your academic calendar first.
Documents for leaving and re-entering Canada
This is the part students worry about most, and it is simpler than it sounds. Rules can change, so check the official Government of Canada site at travel.gc.ca before you fly. In general, students returning to Canada should carry:
- A valid passport. Check the expiry date now. If it expires soon, renew it before you travel.
- A valid study permit. Make sure it is still valid for the date you return. If it is close to expiring, speak to your international student office before you book.
- A valid visa or eTA, if you need one. Depending on your passport, you may need one or the other to board your flight back to Canada. Check which applies to you on travel.gc.ca.
- A current enrolment letter. Ask your registrar for a letter confirming you are enrolled for the winter term. Carry a printed copy and a digital copy.
We are travel agents, not immigration advisers. If anything about your permit or visa is unclear, talk to your international student office before you book.
Documents for the Indian side
If you hold an Indian passport, that is all you need to enter India. Make sure it is valid and is the same passport your study permit is linked to. If you hold a Canadian or other passport and an OCI card, carry both together. A Canadian passport holder without OCI needs an Indian visa; apply through the official Indian visa website in good time.
Your winter-break departure checklist
When | What to do |
Now (October) | Check passport and study permit dates. Confirm your last exam date. Join MannPass and book your return flight. Tell your employer your dates. |
Four weeks before | Request your enrolment letter. Check visa or eTA status for your return. Buy travel insurance. Check your airline’s baggage allowance. |
One week before | Pack within the weight limit. Save digital copies of every document to your phone. Share your flight details with family in India and a friend in Canada. |
Day of travel | Arrive at the airport at least three hours early. Carry passport, study permit, visa or eTA confirmation, enrolment letter and your Indian passport or OCI in your hand luggage, never in checked bags. |
Before you fly back | Re-check the same documents. Check travel.gc.ca for any updates. Weigh your bags. Re-verify MannPass for the next term if you plan another trip. |
6 practical tips for students flying home this winter
1. Baggage: gifts out, winter clothes back
Most students go home with bags full of gifts and come back with pickles, spices and sweets from mum. Check your airline’s allowance before you pack; it varies by airline and fare type. Chocolates and maple syrup are light, easy gifts. On the way back, remember Canada has strict rules on fresh produce, meat and dairy. Declare everything.
2. Wear your winter coat on the plane back
It saves a kilo of baggage weight, and you will want it the moment you step outside at Pearson or YVR in January.
3. Sort out your part-time job before you leave
Tell your manager your dates early and agree your leave in writing. Keep any hours limits on your permit in mind, and check travel.gc.ca if you are unsure. A good employer would rather know in October than in December.
4. Fly with friends on one booking
Travelling with classmates? Put everyone on one booking. You sit together, share the same connection, and if something changes it is one phone call for the whole group instead of five.
5. Stay safe and insured
Your provincial or college health plan may not cover you outside Canada. Buy travel insurance. Keep a photo of your passport and permit separate from the originals. Share your flight numbers with family, and keep a card that works in India for the taxi home.
6. Use MannPass
MannPass is free to join for verified students and education staff in Canada. It takes CAD $25 off eligible return flights between Canada and India. Verification is valid for 30 days, students re-verify each term, and it cannot be combined with other promotions. Join now, then book while your verification is active.
What do flights home cost right now?
Our website shows live fares from Vancouver. Use these as a reference and call us for your city.
Route | From, per person |
Vancouver–Delhi | from CAD $989 per person, checked 7 October 2026, prices change daily |
Vancouver–Mumbai | from CAD $996 per person, checked 7 October 2026, prices change daily |
Vancouver–Bengaluru | from CAD $1,030 per person, checked 7 October 2026, prices change daily |
Vancouver–Ahmedabad | from CAD $1,186 per person, checked 7 October 2026, prices change daily |
Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Hyderabad fares | Quoted on request. Call (604) 265-9000 |
Studying in the GTA and heading to Hyderabad? Read our new guide to flights from Toronto to Hyderabad, which compares the one-stop routes.
Why book your winter-break flight with Mann Travel?
Mann Travel has more than 18 years of trust helping students and families across Canada get home to India. Our Surrey, BC team speaks Hindi, Punjabi and English and is available 24/7, so if a flight is cancelled in a January snowstorm you have a real person to call. We are group and family specialists, so booking you and four friends on one ticket is normal for us.
Let’s take you home this winter break.
Search live fares at manntravel.ca/flights or call our team on (604) 265-9000. Join MannPass first and save CAD $25. Questions? Send us a message any time.
frequently asked questions
When should international students book winter-break flights to India?
In October. Exam-week departures in mid-December fill up first, and fares climb through November. Book the earliest realistic date after your last exam.
What documents do I need to re-enter Canada as a student?
In general: a valid passport, a valid study permit, a valid visa or eTA if your passport needs one, and a current enrolment letter. Check travel.gc.ca for current requirements before you travel.
Can I fly home if my study permit is about to expire?
Speak to your international student office before you book. We cannot give immigration advice; the official rules are on travel.gc.ca.
How does MannPass work for students?
It is free for verified students and education staff in Canada and takes CAD $25 off eligible return flights between Canada and India. Verification lasts 30 days, students re-verify each term, and it cannot be combined with other promotions.
Can my friends and I book on one ticket?
Yes. We put groups of students on one booking so you sit together and share the same connections. Call us with everyone’s names and dates.
Fares and availability change daily and depend on the airline, date and fare type. Always check live prices before booking. Mann Travel does not provide immigration or legal advice. Entry, permit and work rules are set by the Government of Canada; check travel.gc.ca and your college’s international student office for current requirements.
