Apply for a Study Permit in Canada
A Study Permit is a written authorization to engage in academic, professional, vocational or other education or training in Canada that is issued by an officer to a foreign national. This authorization allows foreign nationals to study in Canada at Designated Learning Institutions.
How to apply for a Study Permit?
STEP 1. Apply and get accepted for study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
STEP 2. Obtain a letter of acceptance from the DLI
STEP 3. Apply for a Study Permit
How to apply for a Study Permit?
STEP 1. Apply and get accepted for study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
Designated Learning Institution (DLI) is generally a post-secondary learning institution that is designated by the province for the purposes of the IRPR on the basis that the institution meets provincial requirements in respect of the delivery of education. Be careful to check to see whether your school is a DLI and whether the specific program of studies that you want to take is eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP eligible). Also try to be accepted into a program of studies of at least 2 years in duration that is PGWP eligible because that will allow you to qualify for a 3 year PGWP. If you take a program of studies of less than 8 months you are not eligible for a PGWP. If you take a program of studies of one year, you will only be eligible for a PGWP for one year.
*All primary and secondary learning institutions in Canada are automatically designated. If you’re applying for a post-secondary education you must ensure that your school is on the Designated Learning Institutions List.
STEP 2. Obtain a letter of acceptance from the DLI
Students can establish acceptance to a course or program of study by showing officers the letter of acceptance from the DLI that they will be attending. IRCC has developed a guideline and strongly encourages all Designated Learning Institutions to use the new template letter of acceptance.
The letter of acceptance must include the following information:
full name, date of birth and mailing address of the student;
name of the institution and official contact;
DLI number;
telephone, fax, website and email information for the institution;
type of school or institution (e.g., private or public and, in cases where the institution is publicly funded but not a university, indication as to whether the institution is a post-secondary college, a post-secondary community college or a post-secondary technical college);
the field or program of study, level and year of study into which the student was accepted;
the estimated duration or date of completion of the course;
date on which the selected course of study begins;
the last date on which a student may register for a selected course;
the academic year of study that the student will be entering;
whether the course or program of study is full-time or part-time;
the tuition fee;
scholarships and other financial aid (if applicable);
an expiry date indicating the date until which the letter of acceptance is valid;
any conditions related to the acceptance or registration, such as academic prerequisites, completion of a previous degree, proof of language competence, etc.;
clear identification of the educational institution, normally confirmed through its letterhead;
for study in Quebec, the requirement of a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ); and
where applicable, licensing information for private institutions normally confirmed through letterhead.
*Conditional letter of acceptance
When the completion of a prerequisite course or programme, such as ESL or FSL, is a condition for enrolment in a main program, officers issue a study permit for the length of the prerequisite program plus 1 year. Students who successfully complete their prerequisite program will then need to apply for a new study permit and demonstrate they have completed the admission requirements.
STEP 3. Apply for a Study Permit
Before you start working on the Study Permit application you should first determine whether you can apply from within Canada, or if you must apply from outside Canada. The rule of thumb is that foreign nationals who are in-Canada visitors are not eligible to apply for a study permit from within Canada … See the breakdown below for more details:
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You must apply for a Study Permit from outside Canada, although there are few exceptions to this rule.
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You can only apply for the Study Permit at the border if you are a citizen or a lawfully admitted permanent resident of the United States, a resident of Greenland; or a resident of St. Pierre and Miquelon.
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You can apply for a Study Permit from within Canada only if you fall under one of the categories described in IRPR, s 215:
if you have a valid study or work permit;
if your spouse, common-law partner or parent has a valid study or work permit;
if you’re a minor child in primary or secondary school;
if you’re an exchange student or visiting student;
if you completed a course or program of study that is a prerequisite to your enrolment at a DLI.
* There are few other exceptions that can be found in the IRPR s 215.
If you’re currently in a visitor status in Canada and do not fall under exemptions under IRPR s 215, you must submit you application package online or to a VAC. If your Study Permit application is approved, you will have to obtain your study permit at a POE.
Next, you will need to fill out the application forms and collect the supporting documents. The documents checklist is country-specific and you must check the Visa Office instructions before you start filling out your application.
Among the documents that you need to submit with your Study Permit application you must provide:
proof of acceptance;
proof of identity;
proof of financial support;
letter of explanation stating your study plans, and confirming that you understand your responsibilities as a student;
documents mentioned in the country-specific documents checklist.
How long does it take to apply for a Study Permit?
Wondering when should you apply for a Study Permit? Well, we recommend applying for your study permit at least 5 months before your anticipated start date. Ideally, you should apply for your study permit as soon as you receive your letter of acceptance from your Designated Learning Institute (DLI).
What if the Study Permit is not approved in time?
If your study permit isn’t approved in time for your intake, you will need to defer your course to a later intake. Be careful to review your school’s policy regarding your tuition deposit and other fees to ensure that you don’t lose your money. DLI’s usually have multiple intakes in the year, although this really will depend on your school and the course you will be taking. The different intakes to plan for are winter (January), Spring/Summer (May) and Fall (September). Your DLI might be able to provide you with the relevant deferral deadline for your course and the alternative intakes. If you are worried your study permit might not be approved in time, you should speak to your DLI early on about these options to understand the relevant deadlines and plan accordingly.
Read our blog post to learn when you should apply for a Study Permit?
If you defer your application, you must obtain a new letter of acceptance from your DLI and provide a copy to IRCC, letting them know about your new course start date as soon as possible. You can do this by submitting a Webform request to IRCC, which can be found here.
Alternatively, if you decide you no longer want to pursue your studies, you can instead choose to withdraw from your course, however you should also speak to your DLI early on about this option, so you understand the process and deadlines for you to be entitled to a refund of any applicable tuition fees you have paid upfront. If you choose to withdraw from your course, you should also withdraw your study permit application, which you can also do by submitting a Webform request to IRCC.
How hard is it to get a Study Permit?
The likelihood of getting your Study Permit application to Canada approved depends on many factors. Unfortunately, it is hard to give a definite answer on whether a Study Permit will be approved or rejected without knowing all relevant and unique circumstances of the applicant. That is why it is highly recommended that you take educate yourself about the general application process, do a solid research of the potential Designated Learning Institutions and programs, and reach out for help from an immigration lawyer.
While overall the Study Permit application process might seems more or less straightforward, there are many reasons why your application may get refused. Make sure to consider the following common reasons for Study Permit refusals and please book an immigration consultation to discuss your particular situation:
Misrepresentation
You cannot show that you have sufficient finances to afford your Canadian studies
No logical connection between your prior education/ career and the program you are seeking in Canada
Your English or French language skills are low
Your marks were low in your last program of studies
You have siblings or family already in Canada
You want to bring your spouse and/or kids with you to Canada
You have submitted an Express Entry profile or submitted another PR application to Canada
You have a history of prior SP or TRV refusals
Long gap between your last period of studies and now
Have you already been rejected a study permit in Canada or abroad?
A previous refusal increases the chances of rejection. In some cases, you may want to reapply and try to overcome the reasons for refusal. For example, if you were refused for failing to demonstrate that you would leave Canada, can you provide more evidence of your ties to your country of origin? If there is a mistake in fact or law, you may want to consider a reconsideration or a judicial review.