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Are you a student coming to Canada to complete your education?

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Apply for a Study Permit


Obtain an Application Form

You will need to obtain study permit forms in your country of origin from the Canadian Embassy, High Commission or Canadian Education Centre. Applications and documentation must then be submitted to the nearest visa office. A person may apply for a study permit at a Canadian port of entry only if that person is a national of the United States; a permanent resident of the United States; a resident of St. Pierre and Miquelon; or a dependent of a person who is in Canada on an employment or study permit.

In most cases, depending on your country of origin, your application for a Temporary Resident Visa as well as a Study Permit will be processed together, a separate application will not be required.

Gather the necessary documents

It is crucial that students submit ALL documentation requested with their applications. Missing documentation will delay the authorization process.

Although the documents listed below are normally needed to support your application, local requirements may also apply. Visit the Web site of the visa office responsible for your region to check that you have all documents you need before submitting your application.

  • Proof of identity. This includes photocopies of a valid passport or travel document or identity document that guarantees re-entry to the country that issued it; and two recent passport-size photos (2" x 2.5") for each family member, with the full name and date of birth recorded on the back of each photo. Visa officers may also wish to see the actual passport or travel document and will inform you if this is the case.

  • Proof of financial support that shows you will have enough money during your stay in Canada to cover tuition fees, return transportation and $10,000 CDN per annum for living expenses (additional funds may be required if there are other family members accompanying you). Documentation for this requirement could be proof of a Canadian bank account or a bank draft in convertible currency, bank statements for the past four to six months, or proof of payment of tuition and residence fees. (As a guideline, $10,000 CDN plus to tuition fees per academic year is generally viewed as sufficient.)

  • A medical examination in your country of origin. Medical exams are required if your stay is longer than six months and you come from a country with high health risks or will be studying or working in a place where protection of public health is essential. Please note that medical processing will add several weeks to the time necessary to obtain a study permit. In some cases, you may need a medical examination even though your course is less than six months in duration. In these instances, a visa officer will determine whether you will require a medical examination and will send you the appropriate medical forms and instructions.

  • Proof of acceptance by an approved educational institution. The following information must be included in letters of acceptance: name, date of birth, mailing address of student; the course for which the student has been accepted; the estimated duration or date of completion of the course; the date on which the course begins; the last date on which the student must register for the course; the academic year which the student will be entering; whether the course is full or part-time; the tuition fee; any conditions related to acceptance; clear identification of the educational institution; and licensing information for private institutions. This letter must be signed by an authorized representative of the institution.

  • If you are a minor (typically less than 18 years but this can vary from province to province), proof of custodianship in Canada is required. You must provide a notarized declaration signed by your parent or legal guardian in the country of origin AND a notarized declaration signed by the custodian in Canada stating that adequate arrangements have been made for the custodian in Canada to act in place of a parent in times of emergency, such as when medical attention or intervention is required. For younger children, a broader declaration may be required. Broad declarations must state that the custodian is not only responsible in times of emergency but also for day-to-day care and supervision.



  • Applying to study in the province of Québec

    If you are applying to study in Quebec, you will also need a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (Quebec Certificate of Acceptance, or CAQ) issued by the Ministère des Relations avec les citoyens et de l’Immigration (MRCI). Please contact Marlene Gallyot or visit http://www.dynamic-immigration.com/ for more information.

    Complete the Application

    Fill in the forms carefully and completely.

    Follow the instructions
  • Use a typewriter 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.

  • Sign and date your application forms.



  • Application Fee

    There is a processing fee to apply for a Study Permit. For current rates, and acceptable methods of payment, please contact Marlene Gallyot or visit http://www.dynamic-immigration.com/ for more information.

    Additional Information

    You may be required to supply additional information or documents when the Visa Office requests it. This may include:

    Medical Examination Results:

    You must pass a medical exam, if you:
  • come from a country with high health risks; or
  • if you will be studying or working in a place where protection of public health is essential



  • A Visa Officer will advise you if you need to take a medical examination, and will provide you with instructions on how to proceed. If you need a medical examination, processing your application could take at least three extra months.

    Police Certificates/Certificate of Good Conduct:

    A Visa Officer may request a police certificate to prove to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Officers that you are a responsible person and that you do not have a criminal record.Police agencies may do a criminal or security background check. These checks may be done on anyone 18 years of age and over applying for a Study Permit.

    IMPORTANT!
    If you move or change your address, your telephone or FAX number before your application has been processed, you must advise CIC of this new information. Contact the Visa Office where you submitted your application.

    When you apply for your Study Permit, there is no guarantee of acceptance. You should not take any final steps, such as purchasing plane tickets or quitting your job, until your Study Permit is approved.


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    After you Apply

    The Status of Your Application

    The Visa Office will review your application to make sure you have completed it correctly and that it contains all of the required documents.After reviewing your application, an Officer will decide if an interview is necessary. If so, the Officer will inform you of the time and place.If Citizenship and Immigration Canada does not accept your application, they will notify you of the reasons for refusal in writing. Study Permit applications may be refused for the following reasons:

  • You have not shown proof of financial sufficiency;

  • You have not passed the medical examination;

  • You have not satisfied the Officer that your primary intention in Canada is to study;

  • You have not satisfied the Officer that you will leave Canada at the end of the period of study. Please note: you are allowed to apply to study in Canada even if you are applying or considering applying to immigrate permanently to Canada now or in the future. However, the Officer must still be satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of the period authorized for your stay (in the event that your permanent resident application is refused).


  • If you have questions about your refusal, you must contact the Visa Office that issued you the refusal letter.

    If your application is approved, you will receive:

  • A letter of introduction confirming the approval. This letter is not your Study Permit. Bring this letter with you to show to immigration officials when you enter Canada.

  • A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) in your passport, depending on what Country you are applying from. Check the Temporary Resident Visa (if applicable) that the Officer puts in your passport. It will tell you the date by which you must enter Canada, and how many times you can enter Canada. You must arrive in Canada before your TRV expires.



  • Changing Conditions or Renewing Your Study Permit

    While in Canada, you may need to renew your Study Permit or change the conditions on your Study Permit.

    Renewing your Study Permit:

    Check the “valid until” date on your Study Permit. Make sure you apply early if you need to renew it. Apply to change your permit at least 30 days before your current permit expires.If your Study Permit expires and you have made an application to renew it, but have not had a decision yet, you can continue studying until you receive a decision.You must leave Canada once your permit expires or if you have not followed the conditions of your permit. In some cases, you may apply for a restoration of status.You should apply to renew your Study Permit visa if you intend to travel outside Canada and it will expire during that time.

    Changing conditions:

    Are you changing schools or programs of study? Check the terms and conditions listed on your Study Permit to see if you need to apply to change the conditions.If you are a post-secondary student with a valid Study Permit, you can transfer between programs of study and institutions without applying to CIC to change the conditions of your Study Permit.

    Applying for a new temporary resident visa (if needed):

    Renewing your Study Permit will not affect your Temporary Resident Visa. To get a Temporary Resident Visa, you must apply outside of Canada. If you travel outside of Canada, it is your responsibility to ensure your Temporary Resident Visa remains valid to re-enter Canada.

    For information regarding the application process, please contact Marlene Gallyot or visit http://www.dynamic-immigration.com/.


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    Who Needs a Study Permit?

    Most foreign students will need a Study Permit to study in Canada. There are some exceptions:

  • If you wish to study in a short-term course or program:
    You do not need a Study Permit if you are planning to take a course or program in Canada with a duration of six months or less. You must complete the course or program within the period authorized for your stay in Canada.

  • If you are a minor child already in Canada:
    You do not need a Study Permit if you are a minor child already in Canada, and your parents are not “visitors” in Canada.

  • Foreign representatives to Canada:

  • If you are a family or staff member of a foreign representative to Canada accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, you do not need a Study Permit to study.

  • Benefits of Having a Study Permit

    You should apply for a Study Permit before you come to Canada if you think you may wish to continue your studies in another program after you complete the short-term course or program.

    If you do not have a valid Study Permit and wish to continue your studies, you will have to leave Canada in order to apply for one!

    To apply for your Study Permit, please contact Marlene Gallyot or visit http://www.dynamic-immigration.com/.


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