Study Permit
What is a Study Permit?
A study permit is a document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that allows international students to study at a designated learning institution in Canada.
Once you obtain a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution such as a university or college, you need to submit an application to IRCC to obtain a study permit.
Most international students require a study permit. You do not need a study permit if your program in Canada is for six months or less. In addition, minor children and other individuals may be exempt from requiring a Canadian study permit.
How to Obtain A Study Permit: List of Documents
In order to be eligible to submit an application for a Canadian study permit, a prospective student must:
Obtain and provide your letter of acceptance from the designated learning institution (DLI) that you have been accepted into.
Convince the immigration officer that you will in fact exit Canada upon the conclusion of your studies
Valid passport – ensuring that it is valid throughout the duration of your stay
Evidence the fact that you are financially capable of paying your tuition fees, covering your room and board expenses, as well as your day to day living expenses for the entirety of your stay
Not be inadmissible under criminality grounds pursuant to IRCC provisions
Not pose a risk to the safety and security of Canada or its civilians
Not be inadmissible under medical grounds (you may have to undergo a medical examination)
The applicant may also be required to submit the following supporting documents:
Passport for the applicant and every family member included on the application;
Two passport photos for the applicant and each family member included on the application, with the full name and date of birth written on the back;
Photocopy of marriage certificate, if applicable; and,
Any further documents required by specific visa offices.
Financial Support
Applicants for a Canadian study permit are required to prove they have enough money to cover the first year of tuition fees. They also need to have the financial resources to support themselves, and any accompanying family members, each year.
Financial resources may be proven with the following information:
Canadian bank account statements in the applicant’s name, if money has been transferred to Canada
Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating financial institution
Proof of a student or educational loan from a financial institution
The applicant’s bank statements from the past four to six months
A bank draft in convertible currency
Proof of payment of tuition and accommodation fees
A letter from the person or institution providing you with money; and/or
Proof of a scholarship or funding paid from within Canada
Family or friends of the applicant may also submit letters confirming that they will support the applicant during his or her studies.
How Much Money Do I Need to Have?
The amount of funds you need to show depends on the number of people, and which province you will go to. For all provinces and territories other than Quebec,
Single student: You will need to have funds for tuition plus $10,000 for a 12-month period.
Single student + one accompanying family: You need additional $4,000 for a 12-month period (that is $333 per month)
Single student + one accompanying dependent: You need additional $3,000 for a 12-month period (that is $255 per month for one dependent child of any age)
What Happens After Approval?
If an application is approved, the prospective student will receive:
A Letter of Introduction (LOI) confirming the approval. This letter is not the study permit. The prospective student will need to present the Letter of Introduction to the immigration official when arriving in Canada. The immigration official may then issue the study permit to the student.
An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) if he or she is from a country whose citizens need an eTA. In such cases, the eTA is indicated on the Letter of Introduction.
As the eTA is linked to the applicant’s passport, the applicant must travel with the passport used in the study permit application.
A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), if he or she is from a country whose citizens need a TRV.
The TRV will be in the passport. The holder must enter Canada before the expiry date on the TRV.
The TRV will also indicate if the holder can enter Canada only once (a single-entry visa) or multiple times (a multiple-entry visa). All applicants are automatically considered for multiple-entry TRVs.
An individual submitting an application for a study permit does not have to submit a separate application for a TRV. If the application is approved, the TRV will be issued along with the Letter of Introduction.
Study Permit Conditions
While on a study permit in Canada, it is important that you understand the conditions of your study permit. Failure to satisfy your study permit conditions can result in losing your status as a status and may force you to exit Canada.
All study permits have the following conditions:
Maintain enrolment (full time or part time) at your Designated Learning Institution
Demonstrate that you are successfully passing your courses and making all efforts to successfully complete your program
All study permit holders must not take a leave of absence longer than 150 days
Inform Immigration Canada if you are changing post-secondary schools
If you fail to meet any of your conditions as a study permit holder, you must immediately stop attending school
You must exit Canada at the time your study expires
Study Permit Renewal
After obtaining a study permit, students may need to renew or change the study permit during the course of their studies in Canada.
If a student at a post-secondary institution wishes to change institutions, study program, or level of study he or she does not need to apply for a new study permit. However, he or she is required to update IRCC upon changing institutions.
Options after Graduation
Study permits expire 90 days after graduation, regardless of the date printed on the study permit itself. It is extremely important that international graduates update their status with IRCC within 90 days of graduation, or they risk losing status in Canada.
Depending on your studies, you may be eligible to apply for a Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP). The PGWP allows the holder to work for any employer anywhere in Canada for up to three years after graduation. Work experience gained on a PGWP may help facilitate an application for Canadian permanent residence, especially through programs such as the Canadian Experience Class and certain Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams.
If an international graduate does not apply for a PGWP, he or she may do the following to maintain legal status in Canada:
Apply to change status to a visitor;
Obtain another work permit if they are eligible for one (e.g., an employer-specific work permit);
Apply for another study permit to continue a different study program. For example, a graduate may wish to continue on to a Master’s degree program after graduating with a Bachelor degree; or,
Leave Canada.
Study in Canada without A Study Permit
In order to study in Canada at any level, a foreign national is usually required to apply for and receive a Canadian study permit. However, there are circumstances in which a foreign student is exempt from this requirement.
Short Term Study in Canada
Individuals do not require a study permit in order to pursue a program of study for six months or less. Courses may consist of any subject(s), and may be taken on a part- or full-time basis. In order to be deemed exempt from the requirement for a study permit, the course of study should be completed within the six month period. A visa extension will not be granted for the sole purpose of completing a short-term program.
Foreign nationals in Canada without a study permit who wish to enroll in an educational program must apply for a study permit from outside Canada. An exception may be made if the course is short-term in nature and can be completed within the original period of stay specified upon their entry to Canada.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada recommends that foreign nationals seek a study permit for a program of six months or less if they intend to work on campus or continue their studies in Canada after completion of the initial program.
Minor Children in Canada
Any minor child residing in Canada may study at a pre-school, primary or secondary level without a study permit. This applies to the children of temporary students or workers, as well as Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
This exception does not apply to children of temporary residents who are not authorized to work or study in Canada (i.e. visitors).
Family Members and Private Staff of Diplomats
Family members or members of the private staff of foreign diplomats and foreign accredited representatives do not require a permit to study in Canada. For purposes of this exception, a family member is defined as:
A spouse or common-law partner;
The dependent child of the individual or their spouse/common-law partner; or
The dependent child of a dependent child.
Members of Foreign Armed Forces in Canada
Members of the armed forces of a country that is a designated state under the Visiting Forces Act do not require a permit to study in Canada.
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