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Study Visa/ Study Permit

The study permit is a document that allows foreign nationals to study at designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada. Most foreign nationals need a study permit to study in Canada

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Your study permit is not a visa. It doesn’t let you enter Canada. You may also need a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA).

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Who can apply for Study Permit ?

You can study in Canada if you:

  • Are enrolled at a designated learning institution (DLI)

    • if you’re coming from outside Canada to study as an international student, your DLI will have to be on the list of DLIs with an approved COVID-19 readiness plan

  • Prove you have enough money to pay for your:

    • tuition fees

    • living expenses for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada, and

    • return transportation for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada

  • Obey the law, have no criminal record and get a police certificate (if required)

  • Are in good health and get a medical exam (if required), and

  • Prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your study permit expires

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Note: Requirements may vary, please contact our office for more information based on your situation.

What are the ways to apply for Study Permit ?

Generally, you must apply for a study permit before you come to Canada. Some people can apply for a study permit from within Canada. In some cases, you can apply when you arrive in Canada at the port of entry. Contact Us to know which option is available to you.

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There are two ways to apply for Study Permit: Regular Study Permit and Student Direct Stream.

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👉🏻Student Direct Stream (SDS): Depending on where you live, you may be able to get your study permit faster through the Student Direct Stream (SDS). IRCC process most SDS applications within 20 calendar days.However, some applications may take longer.

To get faster processing, you must

  • give your biometrics as soon as possible

  • meet all the eligibility requirements

 

Can I bring my spouse or partner and children with me to Canada ?

Yes!! Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children may also be able to get faster processing on a

  • visitor visa

  • work permit

  • study permit

If you complete and submit their applications at the same time as your own under SDS application process. If you don’t, IRCC will not process their applications faster.

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SDS Eligibility requirements:

To be eligible for faster processing through the Student Direct Stream, you must:

  • be a legal resident living in 1 of the following countries:

    • Antigua and Barbuda

    • Brazil

    • China

    • Colombia

    • Costa Rica

    • India

    • Morocco

    • Pakistan

    • Peru

    • Philippines

    • Senegal

    • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

    • Trinidad and Tobago

    • Vietnam

  • have an acceptance letter from a post-secondary designated learning institution

  • live outside of Canada when you apply

  • have proof you have paid your tuition for your first year of study

  • have a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of CAN$10,000

  • have a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) from the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration

    • This is only if you’re planning to study in Quebec

  • get a medical exam before you apply (if you need one)

  • get a police certificate before you apply (if you need one)

  • have your most recent secondary or post-secondary school transcript(s)

  • have a language test result that shows either:

 

If you live in another country (even if you’re a citizen of one of the countries above), or if you don’t meet the eligibility for faster processing, you may still be eligible for a study permit through the regular study permit application process.

Contact Us for more information.

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What is the application process ?

1. Choose a Program: Your program choice is one of the most important factors of your study permit application. You must present a strong case for studying in Canada in this particular program. We make program recommendations based on your work experience and education history. This will give you the best possible chance of submitting a successful application.

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2. Apply to the School: After deciding on a program, we will help you prepare and submit your application. You need to have a letter of acceptance from a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI) before you can apply for a study permit.

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3. Apply for a Study Permit: With your acceptance letter in hand, you’ll be ready to apply for your study permit. We will help you to prepare and submit your application to IRCC.

How long can I stay ?

A study permit is usually valid for the length of your study program, plus an extra 90 days. The 90 days let you prepare to leave Canada or apply to extend your stay:

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  1. If you’re taking prerequisite courses

    • If your school asks you to take courses before they accept you into the main program (you have conditional acceptance), your study permit will be valid for the length of those courses, plus 1 year. When you get accepted into the main program, you must then apply to extend your stay as a student.

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  1. If you’ll finish your studies after your study permit expires

    • If you don’t finish your courses before the date on your permit, you must apply to extend your stay as a student. If you don’t, you’ll need to stop studying and leave Canada.​

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  1. If you finish your studies before your study permit expires

    • If you finish your studies early, your permit will stop being valid 90 days after you complete your studies, no matter what day is printed on the study permit. ​You’ve completed your studies on the date your school first notifies you by completion letter, transcript, degree or diploma.

Can I Extend my Study Permit ?

If you want to keep studying, you must apply to extend your permit at least 30 days before it expires.

  • Make sure your passport doesn’t expire at the same time.

    • Your study permit cannot be extended beyond your passport’s expiry date.

  • If you apply before your permit expires, you can continue to study under the same conditions as your current study permit until IRCC make a decision. This only applies as long as you stay in Canada

Can I work while I'm on Study Permit ?

Yes! you may work On-campus or Off-campus or full-time during regular breaks, without a work permit, if your study permit lists a condition that says you’re allowed to work on- or off-campus. You can only start working in Canada when your study program has started. You can’t work before you start your studies!!!

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👉🏻You can work on your school campus, without a work permit, if you:

  • are a full-time post-secondary student at a:

    • public post-secondary school, such as a college or university, or CEGEP in Quebec

    • private college-level school in Quebec that operates under the same rules as public schools, and is at least 50% funded by government grants, or

    • Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law

  • have a valid study permit, and

  • have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

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‼️ Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) does not limit the number of hours you can work 'on campus'. Some employers may restrict the hours students can work ‼️

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“On-campus” means you can work at all the buildings on your school campus. If your school has more than one campus, you may only work at the campus where you’re studying in most cases.

You can work at other locations if

  • you’re working as a teaching or research assistant and

  • your work is strictly related to a research grant

In this case, you may work at a library, hospital or research facility associated with your school, even if they’re outside the campus

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Who you can work for

An “on-campus” employer can be:

  • the school

  • a faculty member

  • a student organization

  • yourself, if:

    • you run a business that is physically located on-campus (for example: you own a coffee shop that is located on campus)

  • a private business

  • a private contractor that provides on-campus services to the school

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👉🏻You can work off campus without a work permit if you meet all of these requirements:

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If you’re a part-time student

You can work off campus only if:

  • you meet all of the requirements above and 

  • you’re only studying part-time, instead of full-time, because:

    • you’re in the last semester of your study program and you don’t need a full course load to complete your program and

    • you were a full-time student in your program in Canada, up until your last semester

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If you’re on an authorized leave

If you’re on an authorized leave from your studies, or you’re switching schools and you’re not studying, you can’t work off campus. You can only return to work once you’re back to studying.

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During regular school terms/semesters

You can work up to 20 hours per week.

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During scheduled breaks in the school year

You can work full-time if you’re on a scheduled break, such as winter and summer holidays, or a fall or spring reading week. You’re free to work overtime or work 2 part-time jobs that add up to a higher than usual number of hours.

  • You must be a full-time student both before and after the break to work full-time

  • You can’t work during a break that comes before you start your very first school semester

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If your program doesn’t have scheduled breaks
You can work up to 20 hours per week. Working more than 20 hours per week is a violation of your study permit conditions. You can lose your student status for doing this, and may not be approved for a study or work permit in the future. You may also have to leave the country.

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Can I work in Canada temporarily after I graduate ?

Yes!! After you graduate from your program of studies, you may be able to work temporarily. You may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) if you graduated from a designated learning institution (DLI) and want to stay in Canada temporarily to work or even Live Permanently in Canada. Find out more information here.

Contact Us
Where our expertise helps

Our experts at Kingfisher Immigration can help you by:

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  • Conducting a FREE Assessment and determining your eligibility for a Study Visa/ Study Permit

  • Facilitating the Study Visa/ Study Permit Application Process

  • Advising what information the visa officer reviewing your application should know, and should review, before processing your application. We will be happy to assist you to ensure that the outcome is a positive one for you

  • Assisting you to extend your Study Visa/ Study Permit

  • Contact Us to explore endless options

 

In case your Study Visa/ Study Permit has been refused, don't worry, we can assist with representation and re-submission of the same

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