The most important piece of paper you need before you arrive in Canada as an international student is a study permit.
Here’s what you need to know about the process:
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, international students wishing to travel to Canada should regularly consult Canada’s Travel requirements and restrictions for international students. This site is maintained by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in coordination with provincial, territorial and other federal partners, and is updated frequently.
Before you can apply for a study permit, you need to have a letter of acceptance from a school, university or college in Canada.
This means you need to find a school or program, apply to your program(s) of choice and receive an acceptance letter from a school, college or university in Canada.
How to get a study permit
About your study permit
Apply for a study permit
Biometrics collection
What to do after you apply for a study permit
How to apply for a travel or work visa
Before you apply for a study permit, you need:
A letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI)
A valid passport or a travel document
A designated learning institution is a school approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students. All primary and secondary schools in Canada are designated learning institutions.
If you plan to attend a post-secondary school, such as a college or university, make sure it’s on the list.
If you need to take certain courses before you are accepted into your program (conditional acceptance), you’ll be given a study permit for the duration of those courses. Once the college or university accepts you into your chosen program, you must apply to extend your study permit.
If you plan to attend a college or university in Quebec, current provincial rules state that international students can only attend a designated learning institution chosen by the Quebec government. You’ll also need a study permit from the Government of Canada to study in Quebec.
As an international student with a study permit, you must:
Always be enrolled at a designated learning institution
Make progress toward finishing your study program
Respect the conditions listed on your study permit
Stop studying if you no longer meet the requirements
Leave Canada when your permit expires
First, it’s important to confirm that you are eligible to apply for a study permit.
There are 2 ways to apply for a study permit: Online or by going to a visa application centre in your country.
We suggest you apply for a study permit as soon as you have a letter of acceptance from a Canadian college or university. It can take up to 3 months to get a study permit, depending on the country where you are applying.
You may need to give your biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) when applying for a visitor visa, study permit or work permit for Canada. If you need to give your biometrics with your application, you will have to go in person to the Visa Application Centre (VAC) closest to you.
Find out if you need to give your biometrics.
If you’re required to give your biometrics, don’t submit your study permit application by mail. Instead, please submit it at the VAC when they collect your biometrics.
You can check the status of your study permit application on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website. The information is updated daily. First, you need to set up an account on the site.
Sometimes, the processing centre will ask you to send more information. Learn more about the application process.
Not everyone needs a travel or work visa, but before you arrive in Canada, you should determine whether your plans require you to get a travel or work visa.
If your time in Canada will be less than 6 months, you’ll need one of the following visas as an international student:
A travel visa in your passport if you expect to study in Canada for less than 6 months
An ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) if your passport is from a designated country
To find out which travel visa you need, answer these online questions.
If you are attending a post-secondary program in Canada, and you want to work,you can. International students with a study permit may work part-time (less than 20 hour a week) without a work permit.
If you want to work full-time or be part of a work placement while studying, you’ll need to apply for a work permit. Your spouse or common law partner can also apply for a work permit.What are the requirements for admission into Canadian universities?
Each university in Canada has its own policy regarding admission requirements. Contact each university directly for the admission requirements of the program you’re interested in. Find a program and click on the name of the university for its website and contact information.
I have been accepted to study English as a Second Language (ESL)/French as a Second Language (FSL) at a private institution in Canada. How can I make sure that it is a good quality program?
Languages Canada provides a quality assessment of the language schools across Canada and offers lists of approved programs and members.
I currently live in a country that I am not a citizen of. Where should I apply for a study permit in my country of citizenship or my country of residence?
If you are not a citizen of the country where you submit your application, you may have to provide proof of your present immigration status in the country where you apply. Get the right documents – Study in Canada on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s website provides further information.
I have completed all but one year of my program in my home country. I would like to finish the final year of my program in Canada. Will a Canadian institution accept the academic years that I completed in my home country and allow me to enter the final year in Canada?
Each university in Canada has its own policy regarding transfer credits from other institutions. Contact the university that you are interested in directly to find out which transfer credits, if any, can be applied towards your intended program of study.
You may also want to look into whether your current institution has any credit recognition agreements with institutions in Canada. The international relations office of your university may be able to help in that regard.
I was accepted at a Canadian institution and sent in my application for a study permit a few weeks ago, but I have not heard back yet. Can you tell me when it will arrive? Can you do anything to speed up the process so I get my study permit right away?
Study permits are administered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Visit their Help Centre for answers to frequently asked questions about study permits. Global Affairs Canada has no involvement in regards to study permits or temporary resident visas.
Can my spouse or common-law partner work in Canada while I study?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s website outlines the eligibility requirements for your spouse or common-law partner to work in Canada.
My child is a Canadian citizen, but we have been living outside Canada for many years. How can I find out what grade my child will go into when we return to Canada? Does she/he need to apply as an international student?
Education in Canada is under provincial and territorial jurisdiction so you will need to contact the ministry of education for the province or territory where you plan to live, as well as your new city or town’s school board.
As a Canadian citizen, your child would not be required to apply as an international student, and therefore would not need a study permit.
Millions of applicants around the world are dreaming about being accepted into one of the Canadian colleges or universities and receiving study permit. Studying in Canada is an exciting and rewarding experience for many international students. Once you’ve decided what to study, you need to consider entry dates, application deadlines, student visa processing times, and English language requirements. Aside from BA, MBA, Ph.D., certificate, and diploma programs, Canadian colleges and universities have a variety of short-term summer language courses, continuing education, and exchange programs. The main intake is in September each year, though many colleges and universities have a smaller intake in January or summer term. Most foreign nationals require a study permit to study in Canada. If your course is less than 6 months long, you’ll only need a visitor visa to come to Canada. However, if you plan to study for more than 6 months you'll need to apply for a student visa. To apply for a study visa, first of all, you need to obtain an acceptance letter from the educational institution. There are more than 98 universities and colleges in Canada, however, the school of your choice must be approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students. If you plan to apply to college or university, this is the first thing you should check.