Canadian Study Permit

Canada is one of the most popular study destinations in the world for international students, with over 93,000 study permits issued in the first four months of 2023 alone. The country is mainly popular due to the high quality of education it provides, along with the opportunity international students have to stay back in the country and work after completing their education. It is also one of the most affordable study destinations compared to places like the UK. Candidates can easily be admitted to the universities here, after which they can apply for a study permit.

The Government of Canada issues the study permit, which is not considered a visa. Candidates will mainly require a TRV or an eTA (electronic travel authorization), which is issued along with the study permit. The study permit issued by the country is provided only to candidates who have enrolled in a program at one of the designated learning institutions in the country for international students.

Difference Between Study Permit and Student Visa

In Canada, there is no specific student visa available. Instead, international students are required to obtain a study permit to pursue their education in the country. It is important to note that a study permit alone does not grant entry into Canada. After securing a study permit, international students must also acquire a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter the country.

Who Needs to Apply for the Canadian Study Permit?

To apply for a study permit for Canada, one must be fully vaccinated as long as they are above 18. Candidates must also be enrolled in a designated learning institution for foreign nationals since they must produce proof of admission acceptance as part of the study permit application.

All students must have a study permit to study in Canada as long as they are not Canadian citizens. Candidates will require an eTA or TRV and their study permit to enter the country. Those who require only an eTA are people from the following countries-

Andorra Australia Austria Bahamas Barbados Belgium British citizen Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Chile Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Hong Kong Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel, must have a national Israeli passport Italy Japan Republic of Korea

Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Mexico Monaco Netherlands New Zealand Norway Papua New Guinea Poland Portugal Romania (electronic passport holders only) Samoa San Marino Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan United Arab Emirates Vatican City State

Cost of Canadian Study Permit

Candidates who wish to apply for a study permit must pay a fixed amount as the processing fee. Costs associated with a Canadian study permit are as follows:

Service	Cost (in C$)
Processing fee	$150
Restoring student status	$229
Extension of study permit	$150
Biometrics	$85
eTA	$7
Visitor Visa/ TRV	$100

Steps to Applying for a Canadian Study Permit

Candidates can apply for a study permit by visiting the visa application center in their country or online by visiting the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. Since the processing time of the study permit is around three months, candidates will ideally have to apply for it as soon as they are accepted into a university.

The steps to applying for a Canadian Study Permit are as follows-

Apply to a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada

The first step to applying for a study permit is to get accepted into a university in Canada based on the program they wish to enroll in. Canada has a list of Designated Learning Institutions that foreign students can apply to. Only candidates accepted to one of the universities on this list can apply for a study permit in the country. They will have to receive the acceptance letter officially and submit it as part of their study permit application.

To apply to an educational institution, they will require their educational transcripts, letters of recommendation, proof of language proficiency, and a statement of purpose, along with other additional requirements specified by the university. From December 1, 2023, post-secondary students applying from outside Canada are asked by their school to confirm the validity of their acceptance letter with IRCC. The student's application will be returned, and their fees will be refunded if their school cannot comply with the specified timeframe.
NOTE: Students who intend to study in Quebec are required to present legitimate proof of the Quebec Acceptance Certificate's (CAQ) issuance.

Language Proficiency Requirement

Since most of the programs offered in Canadian universities will be taught in either French or English, students must prove their proficiency. Most universities will have a specific grade the student has to achieve for enrolling. All students will require proof of English proficiency, which can be IELTS or TOEFL. These tests should be taken separately before one applies to a university of their choice.

Proof of language proficiency must be submitted to both- the educational institution and as part of the study permit application.

Financial Resources to Cover Cost

Another factor that students will have to deal with is stating their financial resources, which can prove that they can sustain themselves during their stay in the country. The student will have to prove that they have the essential funds for their education and accommodation in the country, irrespective of whether they get a part-time job there. The amount they have to show will be around C$21,000 per year, apart from the tuition they must pay. The documents they can provide as proof for the same include-

• Proof relating to student/education loan
• Receipt of tuition and housing fee payment
• Scholarship details from within Canada

Letter of Explanation

Students must submit a letter of explanation along with their study permit application. This letter can include the reasons for choosing to study in the country along with a declaration that the student recognizes their duties as a student in the country. It will be ideal for candidates to convince the officers of their intention to not permanently stay in the country since permits are often refused for not indicating reasons for leaving the country after completing one’s education.

Apply for Study Permit Online

Once all these documents have been collected, the candidate can apply for the study permit online by filling out a new version of the study permit application form (IMM1294) through an IRCC secure account starting from December 1, 2023. Candidates must upload all necessary documents and pay a processing fee of $150 and a Biometrics fee of $85. They will then be able to check the status of their application. The processing time for the study permit application depends on the country from which the candidate has applied.

Candidates who have disabilities, possess a document proving their identity or a travel authorization for foreign nationals, refugees, or stateless people, or those who cannot access the online portal due to technical difficulties will be able to apply offline, though this can take more time in being processed.

Getting the Visa

Upon the approval of the study permit, applicants will receive either a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to facilitate their travel to Canada. The type of document issued depends on the applicant's nationality and the mode of travel.

A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is a document placed in the applicant's passport that allows them to enter Canada for a specified period. It is typically required for individuals from countries that are not visa-exempt. The TRV serves as an official endorsement from the Canadian government, indicating that the applicant has met the requirements to enter the country to study.

On the other hand, an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is an entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals traveling to Canada by air. The eTA is electronically linked to the traveler's passport and is valid for up to five years, or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

Documents Required to Apply for Canadian Study Permit

Candidates can apply for a Canadian study permit either online or by submitting the paper application along with the necessary documents. They will be able to apply either while they are outside the country, inside the country, or at the port of entry, depending on the option for which they are eligible.

Documents Required to Apply for Canadian Study Permit

• A valid passport or other Identity Proof
• Passport-size Photographs
• Letter of Introduction- issued by the visa office
• A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC)
• Letter of Acceptance from an educational institution
• IELTS/TOEFL Certificate- with a band score of 6 in IELTS
• Educational Transcripts
• Proof of Financial Support
• Declaration from Custodian, if the candidate is a minor
• Letter of Explanation, if any important document cannot be submitted
• Police Clearance from country of origin
• Receipt of Visa Fee Payment

Arriving in Canada

Once candidates receive approval, they need to organize their travel to Canada. Upon arrival, they must present the Letter of Introduction to the Canada Border Services Officer at their initial entry point and request a study permit. Before departing from the officer’s desk, it is essential to verify that the information on the study permit is accurate and includes the phrases 'may work' or 'may accept employment'. Candidates should politely ask for these terms to be included if they are missing. Failure to do so may result in a delay of several months in obtaining the right to work while they seek a correction.

Upon arrival in Canada, several important steps must be undertaken, including applying for the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP), maintaining student status, and obtaining a Social Insurance Number (SIN).

Appealing Study Permit Refusal

If a candidate has applied for a study permit and was refused, they will not have any set ways of appealing to reconsider the same. In such cases, candidates can apply for a Judicial Review that includes enquiring whether the Federal Court can review the decision. However, this does not often guarantee they will eventually get a study permit.

The best course of action is to reapply for the study permit by cross-checking the application for any errors that could have caused the rejection.

Validity of Study Permit

Candidates who have been issued their study permits will not have to reissue them during their stay in the country. A study permit will be valid throughout the entire educational program they have enrolled in. In addition, the permit will be valid for another 90 days, during which candidates can procure a job or leave the country.

Those who have received conditional acceptance from universities and require prerequisite programs before enrolling in the original program will be provided with a study permit for the duration of the course. They will also have an additional year before they get accepted as students. These candidates must extend their study permit upon enrolling in the official program.

Steps for Renewing Study Permit in Canada

A study permit that the government of Canada issues will be valid for the entire duration of the program they have enrolled in, along with an additional 90 days during which they will be able to enroll in other educational programs or seek jobs. Those who wish to study further can apply for an extension of their study permit at least 30 days before their current study permit expires.

The extension will be processed within 60 days. Candidates whose study permits have expired will also have the option of applying for a new study permit or restoring their status as temporary residents. The steps involved in extending one’s study permit include-

• Create an account at the IRCC website- Candidates will have to apply online in most cases unless there are technical difficulties with the online application or if one has a disability. In such cases, they will be able to submit a paper application. While applying online, one must create an account on the IRCC website or sign into the account they already have by providing their basic details.
• Collect scanned copies of all necessary documents- Since the application has to be made online, the official website will require candidates to upload all essential documents
• Enter Personal Details- The application will require candidates to provide their personal information which has to be filled in without any errors.
• Pay the Extension Fee- Once all the documents have been uploaded and the information has been provided, candidates will be prompted to pay the fee online. The fee for this purpose is C$150. They can use a valid credit or debit card for the same.
• Submit Application- The application will be ready for submission once the candidate has paid the processing fee for the study permit extension. To submit the form, students need to respond to a few questions. They create a customized document checklist for each student based on their responses. The candidate will be able to check the status of their application by logging into their account.

Working While Studying in Canada

Candidates with a study permit can take part-time jobs while staying in the country. They can take up both on-campus and off-campus jobs based on availability, with most candidates procuring jobs in the service industry. A study permit will have the details regarding the work one can do while studying, which can differ for different people. The main condition for being able to work while studying is that students will be able to take up part-time jobs only if they are currently studying. Those on authorized leave will not be able to work in the country.

Starting August 30, 2024, students are restricted to 24 working hours per week. Some candidates will not be eligible for work while studying, especially if they have enrolled in language programs or are taking prerequisite or general interest programs. Candidates who still wish to work must apply for a separate work permit. Candidates cannot take up full-time jobs while studying unless they have a separate work permit.

Changes in 2024

• The announcement was made by the Canadian government to impose an intake cap beginning in 2024. Compared to 2023, there will be a 35% decrease in intake; the cap is anticipated to result in about 360,000 approved study permits.
• Each province and territory will receive a portion of the cap from the IRCC, which they will distribute among the approved educational institutions. Beginning on January 22, 2024, each study permit application filed with the IRCC must also include an attestation letter from a province or territory to implement the cap. By March 31, 2024, provinces and territories must set up a procedure for providing attestation letters to students by the latest.
• Upon graduation, international students enrolled in study programs that are part of a curriculum licensing arrangement will no longer be eligible for a post-graduation work permit as of September 1, 2024.
• Graduates of master's degree programs will soon be able to apply for a 3-year work permit.
• Only spouses of international students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees can obtain open work permits.

These short-term measures are set to last for two years, and at the end of this year, a new evaluation will be conducted regarding the quantity of study permit applications that will be accepted for 2025.
NOTE: The current holders of study permits in Canada won't be impacted by these changes.

Some Things to Remember

• The Student Direct Stream is a system introduced recently by Canada for students from countries like China, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam to apply directly for a study permit. The requirements for applying through this system can differ from the general study permit requirements, especially regarding language requirements.
• A Canadian Study Permit is generally processed within 90 days after the application has been submitted. This duration depends on the candidate's nationality, but the duration will mostly be 90 days or less if there are no missing documents in the application.
• Candidates are required to apply for the Canadian Study Permit upon issuance. Depending on their nationality, they will also be provided with either a visitor visa or an eTA. They will not have to apply for these additional documents separately.
• Foreign nationals who wish to study in Canada can apply for a study permit only if they are between 18 and 35 years old. This requirement is only for programs that have a duration exceeding six months.
• The year gap universities in Canada accept can vary from one university to another. However, generally, students with a year gap of 2 to 5 years can get admission and a study permit depending on their chosen program and academic merit.
• A letter of acceptance is not required if the student is a family member of someone who has a work permit or study permit application that has been approved in writing before the student arrived in Canada.