Study Permit

​​Learn about the process of getting a study permit for Canada

Home > Study in Canada > Study Permit

Depending on your nationality, you may need to give your biometrics:

• Starting July 31, 2018 – applicants from Europe, Middle East and Africa.
• Starting December 31, 2018 – applicants from Asia, Asia Pacific and the Americas.

Most foreign students need a Study permit to study in Canada. This article will let you know what are the exceptions of getting a Study Permit, and learn more about the application process and the processing times.

Do you need a Study Permit?

The study permit is a document issued by the government of Canada that allows you to study at a Designated Learning Institution. 

Depending on your case, there may be conditions on your study permit such as:

• the level of studies you can attend,
• if you are allowed to work in Canada,
• if you can’t travel within Canada,
• the date you must stop studying.

There a few exceptions to getting a Study Permit to be able to study in Canada, namely if:

• you are going to study for a short-time period, less than 6 months, and are not part of a longer-term program,
• you are a family member or staff member of a foreign representative to Canada accredited by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). Your embassy can contact GAC to find out if you need one,
• you are a member of a foreign armed force in Canada on official duties,
• you are a citizen of another country who has Registered Indian status in Canada, or
• you are a minor child and (i) are in kindergarten, (ii) are a refugee or a refugee claimants, (iii) have parents who are refugees or refugee claimants, or (iv) want to go to pre-school, primary or secondary school, and are already in Canada with a parent who is allowed to work or study in Canada.

If your school asked you to take some courses (English or French classes) before accepting you (conditional acceptance), you will only be issued a Study permit for the length of these courses. When you get accepted into the main program, you can apply to extend your stay as a student from within Canada.

If you want to Study in Quebec, you will need to apply for a "Certificat d'Acceptation du Québec" before applying for the Study Permit.

Validity of the Study Permit

A Study Permit is usually valid for the length of your study program, plus an extra 90 days. This extra time lets you prepare to leave Canada or apply to extend your stay (Post-Graduate Work Permit, or as a Visitor for example).

If you can’t finish your courses before the date on your permit, you must apply to extend your stay as a student.

If you finish your studies earlier than expected, your permit will stop being valid 90 days after you complete your studies (either (i) on the date you get the first notification from your school, or (ii) when you get your degree, diploma or certificate).

What's the Difference between Study Permit and Visa?

It is important that you understand that your Study Permit is not a visa. You will not be allowed entry to Canada without an eTA or Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), and your Study Permit. When you first apply for your Study Permit, you will be issued, either an eTA or a TRV depending on your situation, and you will not have to pay additional fees. However, you will need to check the validity of your eTA and TRV, and if they are single-entry or multiple-entry, so you can renew it if you want to leave Canada and re-enter during your studies

How to Apply

You have two options to apply for a Study Permit from outside Canada, either (i) online, or (ii) on paper.

• To apply online, you need to have access to a scanner or camera, and a credit/debit card. You can begin your application here. You will have to create a GCKey account (make sure you memorize your 4 questions and answers you choose, as each time you connect to your account, you will be asked one of these questions after entering your login and password). You will need to fill in the forms, sign them, scan them and upload them. You will also have to upload all required supporting documentation.
• To apply on paper, you will need to fill in the forms and sign them. Then find your country's Visa Application Center (Vfs.Global) and bring them with all required supporting documentation.

Honestly, applying in paper is way easier and reassuring than online for the following reasons:

• Visa Application Centers can answer questions in local languages and make sure that applications are complete.
• Visa Application Centers can provide application photographs and photocopies for a fee, thus making sure your photographs are acceptable.
• You can pay in cash in Visa Application Centers.
• If applying online and need a Temporary Resident Visa, you will still need to bring your passport to the Visa Application Center (for them to send it to the Canadian Consulate) and pay a fee almost the same as when applying directly with them. You will just be able to save a few bucks (less than $5), it is not worth it.

Biometrics

Depending on the country of nationality on your passport, you may need to provide biometrics (fingerprints scanning and photograph) to a Visa Application Center, for a fee of $85. You can check here if you need to provide them.

Medical Examination

You will need to wait for instructions to pass a medical exam if you have lived more than 6 months in a country in this list. When so, you will have to choose a panel physician that is authorized by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). You can find the list, by country, here.

When you go to your appointment, you must bring:

• proper identification,
• eye glasses or contact lenses, if you wear them,
• any medical reports or test results that you have regarding to previous or existing medical conditions, and
• the Medical Report form. The visa office will send you this form.

You’ll also have to bring four recent photographs if the panel physician does not use the eMedical electronic system. Contact the panel physician before your appointment to find out.

Your medical exam results are valid for 12 months only. You may need to have another exam if you do not come to Canada during that time.

Forms and Supporting Documents

You need to fill and sign the following forms:

• Application for Study Permit made Outside of Canada: IMM1294. You need to download the form and fill it on your computer. If you open it on your browser, the form might not be displayed. You will need to validate the form after finishing (button at the end of the form), it will make sure you did not forget anything and will create barcodes at the last page of the form.
• Family Information form for every person 18 years or older: IMM5645 or IMM5707 depending on your region.
• Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union form if you are in a Common-law Union:  IMM 5409.
• Use of a Representative form if you are using the services of a representative: IMM5476.
• Custodianship Declaration - Custodian for Minors Studying in Canada if the applicant is under 17 years old: IMM5646. 
• Document checklist: IMM5483.

You can find help here for filling the forms.
​
You need to provide the following supporting documents:

• Fee payment in an acceptable format. Please ensure to include the application processing fee and, if applicable, the biometric fee. If you apply on paper at a Visa Application Center, you can pay the $150 (+$85 if biometrics) fee there. You can check your country's means of payment here.
• Photocopy of the information page(s) of your valid passport or travel document which includes: passport number, issuance and expiry dates, photo, name, date and place of birth. 
• Two photos meeting the requirements. On the back of the two photos, write your name and date of birth. If you need your biometrics to be taken, you will no need to bring the two photos.
• Letter of acceptance from where you intend to study, it must be issued by the Canadian institution on official letterhead, showing the exact amount of tuition fees you are required to pay, the anticipated starting and finishing dates, and the date by which you need to register. 
• "Certificat d'acceptation du Québec" (CAQ) if enrolled in an institution in Quebec.
• Proof of financial support. Examples of supporting documents are provided here.
  • If the duration of your studies in Canada will be less than a year, proof of financial support for the duration of your studies in Canada. 
  • If the duration of your studies in Canada will be more than a year, proof of financial support for the first year of your studies in Canada.
• Photocopy of your Marriage License/Certificate if married.
• Photocopy of your current immigration status if your country of residence differs from the country of citizenship listed on your passport.
• Your medical exam report, if applicable.

For more information on the right documents to provide, check this link.

Other forms:
If you apply through a Visa Application Center, you will need to fill a waiver and consent forms that you can find in your country's Vfs.Global website (each country has its own waiver and consent forms).

Translation:
You must add the following for any document that is not in English or French:

• the English or French translation; and
• an affidavit from the person who completed the translation (see below for details); and
• a certified copy of the original document.

You should check with your Visa Application Center for more information.

Police Certificate

You might be required to provide a police certificate for the countries you have lived in. You need to wait to be asked to provide the police certificate(s). Check here on how to get the right police certificate by country.

Processing Times

Processing times for a Study Permit depend on the country from where you are applying.

​You can find out your country's processing times here. You need to select "Visiting, studying, working temporarily", then "Study Permit", then choose the country you are applying from.

After graduation, you should see if you are eligible for a Post-Graduate Work Permit.

If you want to extend your stay as a student, click here.

You might be able to obtain permanent residency through the Express Entry program (with additional points for Canadian studies and Canadian work experience). Check here for more information.