THE STUDY PERMIT

The study permit grants an applicant  the legal authorization to study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada. There are however, eligibility requirements that mist be fulfilled when submitting the application. For this reason, it is best for an applicant to plan ahead so that his/her application is processed before the study begins. It is worth noting that the majority of Canadian post-secondary educational programmes commence study in September, January or May. There are also steps to applying for the permit.  There are also processing times that vary from country to country. 

To apply for a study permit, a foreign national must receive an acceptance letter. It is therefore, essential that applicants they check the start date and application process for their schools and programs of interest far early enough to ensure they have sufficient time to obtain the acceptance letter and complete the study permit application. This is also because most Canadian schools often impose different application deadlines for international students than for students applying from inside of Canada.

Some of the eligibility requirements that must be met to apply for a study permit include:

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: You must provide documentation proving that you have sufficient funds to cover the cost of tuition for your first year of study as well as the cost of living (housing, food, etc.) for yourself and any accompanying family members for your first year of study. Please note that these funds can be under your name or the name of a family member or close friend.

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.

 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 countries 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.

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. The document allowing international students to study in Canada is called a study permit rather than a study visa. The term ‘visa’ refers to a document which allows you to enter Canada, while a ‘permit’ allows you to participate in certain activities while residing in Canada, like working or studying.

Pursuing studies as an international student in Canada can be confusing and stressful. There are many schools and programs to choose and study permit applications are regularly refused for not meeting government requirements. Thankfully, the CITRN  International Student Program pairs potential students with one of our expert Educational Counsellors to provide guidance from start to finish.

Chukwuemeka Chuks-Ezike LLB, B.L, LLM, Ph.D.