You will require a Canadian study permit, which functions as a student visa for the period of your stay, in order to enroll in school there. If your course or program lasts six months or less, you do not require a Canadian study permit. Even so, it could be a good idea to apply for a permit before you travel to Canada; otherwise, you’ll have to leave the country and go through the visa application process if you decide you want to continue your studies in another program.
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If you choose to continue your studies after receiving a Canadian study permit, you can seek to have it renewed from within Canada. You may work part-time on campus if you are a full-time student enrolled in a recognized higher education school and have a study permit. You might also be able to work off campus, participate in your program’s co-op or internship, remain in Canada as a permanent resident, or find employment once you graduate.
How to apply for a Canadian Study permit
Both an online and paper application for a Canadian study permit are available on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website. It is generally advised to check the processing timeframes well in advance because paper applications often take nearly twice as long as electronic ones. You’ll need a credit/debit card and the capacity to make electronic copies of your supporting papers in order to apply online (i.e. using a scanner or camera). Depending on where you are, the visa office in your nation will provide you detailed instructions on the documents you must submit. You can seek assistance at the closest visa application facility if you need it (VAC).
Below are the process to applying
- A standard letter of acceptance from a reputable higher education institution is required first. Students in Quebec must also submit an application for a CAQ, or certificate of acceptance, from the Quebec government. Before you are allowed to submit an application for a study permit, you must have this. You can get this information online, by printing out a form, or by asking your university for a paper form; your university will also offer assistance on this topic.
- The next step is to get an application package for a Canadian student visa, either through the CIC website, your local visa office, the Canadian embassy or consulate in your place of residence, or both. If you are from one of the designated countries, you might also need to apply for a temporary residence permit. However, this won’t cause too much trouble because it will be processed at the same time as your study permit application.
- On the CIC website, you must respond to a few questions about yourself in order to receive your application packet. These inquiries will establish your eligibility to submit an online application for a Canadian student permit and the supporting documentation you must submit.
Check the website here
- If your eligibility is confirmed, you will be given a personal checklist code that is good for 60 days and that you will need in order to complete your online application. Print down the paper with your code so you have it handy. The page will also have instructions for your next steps, a list of the documents you must submit with your application, an estimate of the tuition costs, and an application guide.
- When you are prepared to apply, register for a MyCIC account and enter your unique checklist code there. Your unique document checklist will then be sent to you, enabling you to upload and transmit your supporting documentation to CIC. To do this, you’ll need a printer or a scanner.
- You can submit your finished application to CIC whenever you have all of the required paperwork available, along with your fee payment.
Additional prerequisites for Canadian student visas
- Before submitting their application, some candidates would additionally need to undergo a medical examination and/or a police check. If you have a criminal past, you will not be granted a study permit; you may be required to show a Police Clearance Certificate as proof.
- You must demonstrate that you have a current passport that allows you to return to your home country when your course is over, unless you are from the US or St. Pierre and Miquelon. You must also provide two photographs the size of a passport that are signed on the back with your name and birthdate.
- There are additional requirements for Canadian student visas, such as financial assistance documentation. In addition to your tuition expenses, this is now estimated to be CA$10,000 (about US$7,650) for each year of your stay (or CA$11,000 (around US$8,400) if you’re applying to study in Quebec). Make sure you have enough money to pay for transportation back home as well.
You will be given a Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction if and when your application for a student visa to Canada is granted, while students from nations that need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) and/or a temporary residence visa will be given these if necessary. Your passport will be connected to the eTA. Traveling with the passport you used to apply for your study permit is crucial. The eTA is valid for five years or until the expiration of your passport, whichever occurs first.
Present these to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in Canada along with your passport, documentation of your financial stability, your letter of acceptance, and any other documents you have been advised to bring. The CBSA will then issue you a Canadian study permit and grant you entry into Canada.
