More than 130,000 students come to study in Canada every year and even more
come to Canada to learn English or French. Foreign students bring a rich culture
to our classrooms. Your knowledge and skills are welcome in our schools.
The provinces regulate education and schools in Canada. For more detailed
information on living and studying in a specific province or territory, contact
the school where you wish to study.
Studying in Canada: Study permits
To study in Canada, you may need a study permit or a temporary resident visa,
though not everyone must have these documents.
Who can apply
In most cases, you must obtain a study permit if you want to study in Canada.
To be eligible to study in Canada
You must have been accepted by a school, college, university or other
educational institution in Canada.
You must prove that you have enough money to pay for your:
tuition fees
living expenses for yourself and any family members who come with you
to Canada and
return transportation for yourself and any family members who come
with you to Canada.
You must be a law-abiding citizen with no criminal record and not be a
risk to the security of Canada. You may have to provide a police
certificate.
You must be in good health and willing to complete a medical examination,
if necessary.
You must satisfy an immigration officer that you will leave Canada when
you have completed your studies.
Exceptions
In some cases, you do not require a study permit to go to school in Canada.
If you wish to study in a short-term course or program
You do not need a study permit if you plan to take a course or program in
Canada that lasts six months or less. You must complete the course or
program within the period authorized for your stay in Canada.
Even if you do not need a study permit, it is a good idea to apply for a
permit before you come to Canada. If you decide that you want to continue
your studies in another program after you complete your short-term course or
program, you must apply through a Canadian visa office outside Canada for a
study permit if you do not already have one.
Foreign representatives to Canada
If you are a family member or staff member of a foreign representative to
Canada accredited by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, you may
not need a permit to study in Canada. You should contact your embassy in
Canada. Your embassy can contact the Office of Protocol at Foreign Affairs
and International Trade Canada to find out whether you need a study permit.
Members of foreign armed forces
If you are a member of a foreign armed force under the Visiting Forces
Act, you do not need a permit to study in Canada. If your family
members, including minor children, want to study in Canada, they must meet
the requirements.
How to apply?
There are 10 steps to apply for a study permit:
1. Check the application processing times in the Quick Find
section on the right-hand side of this page. This will give you an idea of how
long it will take to process your application.
2. Obtain and print the application kit.
You can download and print the forms you need from the Related Links section at
the bottom of this page.
Depending on your citizenship or where you live, you may need a temporary
resident visa as well as a study permit. Check the List of designated
countries in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page. If you
are from one of the designated countries, a visa officer will process your
application for a temporary resident visa at the same time. You do not need a
separate application.
3. Determine where you will submit your application.
You must submit your application to the visa office that is responsible for the
country or region where you live. You can find a list of visa offices in the
Quick Find section on the right-hand side of this page.
4. Collect the documents you need to apply.
You can find a list of the documents you will need to apply for a study permit
in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page. You can find
information on fees and other local requirements on the website of the visa
office serving your country or region.
5. If studying in Quebec, check the provincial guidelines.
This step only applies if you want to study in the province of Quebec. If you
apply to study in Quebec, you need a certificate of acceptance or CAQ. You can
find a link to the website of Quebec’s ministry overseeing provincial
immigration in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page. Your school
can also provide you with information about applying to study in Quebec. You
must have received the certificate of acceptance before you apply for a study
permit.
6. Complete your application for a study permit.
Fill in the forms carefully and completely.
Type or print clearly, using black ink.
Add appropriate characters for languages that do not use the Latin
alphabet, such as Chinese, Arabic, Cyrillic, Japanese, Hebrew, etc.
Answer all questions carefully, completely and truthfully. Incomplete
application packages will not be processed, but will be returned to you.
7. Pay the correct processing fee.
There is a fee to apply for a study permit. For information about current rates,
go to Fees in the Quick Find section on the right-hand side of this
page. In many countries, the processing fee can be paid in the local currency.
You should check the website of the Canadian visa office serving the country or
region where you live for additional information on fees, including how to pay
them. The processing fee will not be refunded, even if your application is not
accepted.
8. Check your application.
Make sure your application is complete and that you include the necessary
documents. Use the document checklist that is included in the application kit.
Consult the website of the Canadian visa office serving the country or region
where you live to determine if you need to fill out any additional forms or
provide any additional documents.
9. Submit the application form.
Sign and date the application form, and be sure you include the receipt for the
processing fee. Submit the application form to the Canadian visa office that
serves the country or region where you live. You can find a list of visa offices
in the Quick Find section on the right-hand side of this page.
If you are from the United States, Saint-Pierre et Miquelon or Greenland, you
can apply at the point of entry when you arrive in Canada.
10. Supply additional information or documents.
After the visa office receives your application, it might request more
information or documents. These may include the following:
Medical information
In most cases, you will need a medical examination. A visa officer will send
you instructions if you need a medical examination. This may add more than
three months to the processing time of your application. You can find more
information about medical examinations in the Quick Find section on the
right-hand side of this page.
Security information
If you want to study in Canada, you and any family members who come to
Canada with you, and who are 18 years of age and over, may have to provide
police certificates. You can find more information about the security checks
that may be required in the Quick Find section on the right-hand side of
this page.
After applying
The status of your application
Processing times vary depending
on the Canadian visa office where you submitted your application. You can check
processing times in the Quick Find section on the right-hand side of this page.
The visa office will review your
application to make sure you have completed it correctly and have included all
the required documents. If your application is incomplete, it will not be
processed—it will be returned to you.
If your application is complete, the visa office will review it and decide if
an interview is necessary. If so, the officer will inform you of the time and
place.
Change of address
If you move or change your address, telephone number or any other contact
information after you submit your application, you must notify the visa office
where you submitted your application.
If your application is approved
If your application is approved, you will receive the following:
A letter of introduction will be sent to you confirming the approval. This
letter is not your study permit. Bring the letter of introduction with you
to show to immigration officials at the point of entry when you arrive in
Canada.
A temporary resident visa (TRV) will be issued if you are from a
designated country for which Canada requires a visa. (You can find a list of
designated countries in the Related Links section at the bottom of this
page.) The TRV will be in your passport. The expiry date on this visa
indicates the date by which you must enter Canada. You must enter Canada
before your TRV expires. The TRV will also indicate if you can enter Canada
only once (a single-entry visa) or if you can enter Canada multiple times (a
multiple-entry visa).
If your application is not approved
If your application is not approved, the visa office will send you a letter
explaining why your application has been refused. An application might be
refused for several reasons:
You have not shown proof that you have enough money to support yourself
while studying in Canada.
You have not passed the medical examination if one was required.
You have not satisfied the visa officer that your primary intention in
Canada is to study.
You have not satisfied the visa officer that you will leave Canada at the
end of your period of study.
If you have questions about your refusal, contact the visa office that issued
the refusal letter.
Arriving
When you arrive in Canada, you will be met by an officer from the Canada
Border Services Agency (CBSA) at a point of entry, such as an airport. The CBSA
is responsible for border and point of entry activities in Canada. You can find
more information about the CBSA in the Related Links section at the bottom of
this page.
The documents you need to enter Canada
The CBSA officer will ask to see your travel documents when you arrive in
Canada. Make sure they are not packed in your luggage, and that you have them
with you. This will help speed up your entry to Canada.
You should be ready to show the following documents:
a valid passport or travel document
the letter of introduction from the visa office that you received when
your study permit was approved (this letter contains your permit reference
number and the CBSA officer needs this letter to issue your study permit)
a valid temporary resident visa (if required)
a copy of the letter of acceptance from the school at which you are
permitted to study
proof that you have enough money to support yourself during your stay in
Canada and
letters of reference or any other documents recommended by the visa office
where you applied.
Carry these items and all other valuable papers, cash and traveller’s
cheques with you at all times. Do not put them in your checked luggage.
You may not be allowed into Canada if any of your documents are missing or if
any of the information on your application or letters of reference is incorrect.
Possession of these documents does not guarantee entry. All persons must
establish that they meet all the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee
Protection Act and Regulations before being authorized to enter or re-enter
Canada.
If there are no problems at the point of entry, the officer will let you
enter Canada and will issue your study permit. You should:
check the study permit to make sure your personal information is accurate
and
check the expiry date on your study permit. You must leave Canada by this
date.
Citizens or residents of the United States, Saint-Pierre et Miquelon and
Greenland
Citizens and permanent residents of the United States, Saint-Pierre et
Miquelon and Greenland do not need a passport or a temporary resident visa to
enter or return to Canada. However, you must provide proof of citizenship or
permanent residence, such as a national identity card or an alien registration
card.
Disclosure of funds
If you arrive in Canada with more than C$10,000, you must disclose this
information to the CBSA officer. If you do not disclose this information, you
could be fined or put in prison. These funds could be in the form of:
cash
securities in bearer form (for example, stocks, bonds, debentures,
treasury bills) or
negotiable instruments in bearer form, such as bankers’ drafts, cheques,
traveller’s cheques or money orders.
What you can bring into Canada
You can find customs and border information on the CBSA website. See the
Related Links section at the bottom of this page.
Understanding the terms and conditions of your study permit
The conditions listed on your permit tell you:
at which institution you can study
if you are allowed to work in Canada
whether you need to report for a medical examination, observation or
treatment
if your travel within Canada is restricted; and
when you must leave Canada.
If you wish to change any of the terms and conditions on your study permit,
you must submit a completed Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay
in Canada. The application can be found in the Related Links section at the
bottom of this page.
If you are a post-secondary student with a valid study permit, you do not
need to submit an application if you want to change your program of study or the
institution where you are studying.
It is an offence under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act if
you do not comply with the conditions imposed on you when your entry into Canada
was authorized, or when your study permit was issued.
You may voluntarily leave Canada, or you may be subject to an admissibility
determination or hearing. This could lead to your removal from Canada. You will
lose your temporary resident status and any permit you have, if you break any of
the conditions of your stay.
Leaving and coming back to Canada
If you leave Canada and want to return, you must have:
a valid passport or travel document
a valid study permit if you are returning to study in Canada and
a valid temporary resident visa, if you are a citizen of a designated
country for which Canada requires a visa. The list of designated countries
can be found in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.
Note: If you are a citizen of a designated country and you
travel to a country other than the United States, Greenland or Saint-Pierre et
Miquelon, you need a multiple-entry visa to re-enter Canada. If your temporary
resident visa has expired, or if your visa was only valid for a single entry,
you will have to re-apply for a temporary resident visa at a Canadian visa
office outside Canada if you want to re-enter Canada.
Health insurance
The Government of Canada does not pay for the medical costs of foreign
students. Health coverage for foreign students varies among the provinces.
Contact the school to which you are applying to receive more information about
medical coverage and health insurance.
Extending your stay
Renewing your study permit
If you want to extend your stay
in Canada as a student, you must complete the Application to Change Conditions
or Extend Your Stay in Canada. Check the expiry date on your study permit, and
make sure you apply before that date. You should apply for renewal at least 30
days before your current permit expires.
If you apply for a renewal of
your study permit, and the permit expires before you receive an answer, you can
continue to study in Canada under the same conditions until you receive a
decision.
You should apply to renew your study permit if you intend to travel outside
Canada and your permit will expire while you are travelling.
You cannot extend your study permit beyond the expiry date on your passport.
If your study permit has expired, and you have not applied for an extension,
you must leave Canada.
Restoring your status
In some cases, you may apply to restore your status as a student within 90
days of losing it. You may only apply if you have continued to meet the
requirements under which you were allowed to enter and stay in Canada and you
have met all the conditions imposed on your permit.
After you apply to restore your status, you may stay in Canada until a
decision is made on your application but you are not allowed to study until your
status has been restored.
There is no guarantee that your application to restore your status will be
accepted. On your application, you must provide full details of all the facts
and circumstances that caused you to lose your status.
In addition to a fee for renewing your study permit, there is also a fee for
restoring your status. The fee is required for each family member who has lost
status. To find out about application fees, go to Pay a processing fee
in the Quick Find section on the right-hand side of this page.
An officer will evaluate your request for restoration of status and will
process an application for a study permit. Citizenship and Immigration Canada
will advise you of any further action to be taken.
( Source:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/EnGLIsh/study/index.asp )
