Study Permit Requirements

There are two sets of requirements you must consider when applying for a Canadian study permit: eligibility requirements, and requirements while studying in Canada.

Eligibility Requirements

You must meet these criteria in order to be eligible to apply for a study permit:

• Travel Document: Have a valid passport (or other lawful travel document)
• Acceptance Letter: You must have an acceptance letter from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in order to apply for a Canadian study permit.
• Proof of Financial Support:
• Demonstrate sufficient funds to meet the following requirements:
  1. Pay the student fees for your first year of study as outlined by the DLI.
  2. Meet all expenses for the first year of stay in Canada for the student and accompanying family member(s) in Canada.
  3. Afford transportation for the student and accompanying family member(s) from Canada to their home country.
  4. Funds should be demonstrated in liquid form, in the account under the name of the principal applicant, spousal applicant, a family relative, or a close friend.
• Medical Exam: In most cases, after a visa officer receives an application for a study permit they will request that the student and accompanying family member(s) complete a medical exam.
• Criminal Record: In some cases, after a visa officer receives an application for a study permit they will request police clearance certificates to ensure a person is not a risk to Canadian security.
• Other Supporting Documentation: Extensive supporting documentation must be submitted with all study permit applications. This documentation varies from country to country. In order to determine the documents required for a specific location, you can consult the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website, or you can contact our firm and one of our Educational Counsellors will contact you with assistance.

When you apply for your permit, the visa officer will confirm to ensure you meet the requirements. If the visa officer is not satisfied, they will refuse your application.

Requirements while studying in Canada

If your study permit is approved and you enter Canada as an international student, you must meet the requirements below in order to maintain the validity of your study permit. While studying in Canada under a study permit, a foreign national must:

• always be enrolled at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
• make progress towards completing their program
• respect any conditions listed on their study permit
• stop studying if they no longer meet the requirements and
• leave Canada when their permit expires

Application Process

There are four stages to obtaining a Canadian study permit:

1. Check your eligibility Ensure you meet the eligibility requirements for a Canadian study permit. You require an acceptance letter from a DLI, proof of financial support, as well as a range of documents which vary depending on your country of citizenship and residence.
2. Prepare your application If you meet all eligibility requirements then you can prepare your study permit application. Ensure that you have gathered all documents required for your country. Immigration officers reserve the right to refuse study permits if they feel an applicant has not met all requirements, so it is valuable to have a qualified immigration representative review your application prior to submission.
3. Submit your study permit application You have two options when submitting your application: Submit an electronic application: Create an account on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website and you can submit an application electronically using scanned or electronic copies of documents. Submit a paper-based application: Compile your application in hard copy and mail it to the Visa Application Centre (VAC) assigned to your country.
4. If your study permit is approved, come to Canada! Please note that you do not receive your Canadian study permit until you arrive at a Canadian Port of Entry (POE). If your permit is approved, the Canadian government will issue you a Port of Entry Introduction Letter. You must keep this letter and show it to the immigration official when you arrive in Canada in order to obtain your study permit.

Please note that your study permit is not a visa. This means that, depending on your country of citizenship, you may need a travel visa in order to come to the POE in Canada.

• Visa Exempt Countries: These countries do not require a visa to enter Canada. You can come directly to the Port of Entry to obtain your study permit. Please note that you may still require an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada.
• Non-Visa Exempt Countries: These countries require a visa to enter Canada. When your study permit application is approved, the visa officer should mail you a travel visa authorizing you to travel to Canada.

*If you are already in Canada legally, you may apply from within the country. If your study permit is approved it will be mailed to you.