The study permit grants legal authorization for a person to study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada. When applying for a study permit, a foreign national should be aware that there are eligibility requirements which must be met when submitting the study permit application. As well, there are certain conditions which must be met throughout the student’s time in Canada.

There are many steps involved with applying for a study permit and the processing times vary greatly from country to country, so it is best to plan ahead to ensure your permit will be processed before your study period begins. The majority of Canadian post-secondary educational programs commence study in September, January, or May, though a number of programs do offer intakes outside of those dates.

Since foreign nationals cannot apply for a study permit without an acceptance letter, they should check the start date and application process for their schools and programs of interest far in advance to ensure they have sufficient time to obtain the acceptance letter and complete the study permit application.

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:

Pay the student fees for your first year of study as outlined by the DLI.

Meet all expenses for the first year of stay in Canada for the student and accompanying family member(s) in Canada.

Afford transportation for the student and accompanying family member(s) from Canada to their home country.

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.

There are four stages to obtaining a Canadian study permit:

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.

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.

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.

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.

Not all foreign nationals require a permit in order to study in Canada. The following are the most common exemptions from the study permit requirement:

Short-Term Studies

A foreign national does not require a study permit if they are completing a program of study which has a duration of six months or less. If the foreign national takes longer than six months to complete such a program, they must secure a study permit before the initial six months has passed.

Minor children in Canada

Minor children, those under the age of 18 or 19 (the age for minor children varies by province), do not need a study permit to attend kindergarten, pre-school, primary or secondary school if they meet one of the following conditions:

They (or their parents) are refugees or refugee claimants

They are in Canada accompanying a parent who is authorized to work or study

Members of foreign armed forces

A member of a foreign armed force who is in Canada on active duty does not require a permit to study. However, their family members may require study permits. If you are unsure whether or not you require a study permit for Canada, please complete our free student assessment and one of our Educational Counsellors will contact you to discuss your options.