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HOW TO GET A STUDENT VISA IN CANADA
Getting a student visa might take some time and in some cases can be a surprisingly difficult and confusing procedure. Nevertheless, Canada welcomes more than 130,000 foreign students each year, and the number is consistently growing.
In order to become an international student in Canada, you may need to obtain a student visa, which is often referred to as Canadian study permit, for the specific duration of stay. If you are planning to study in Canada for six months or less, you do not need a Canadian study permit.
Once you have a Canadian study permit, you can apply to renew it from within Canada if you decide to continue your studies. A student permit offers some benefits for full-time international students such as:
- While studying you can do part-time work on-campus
- You can also work off-campus
- You can apply for internships
- Explore job opportunities while studying
In addition, your immediate family (spouses or common-law partners, and children) can accompany you and stay in Canada for the same duration of your Study Permit. Nevertheless, spouses or common-law partners of foreign students are eligible for an open work permit, which means they do not need a job offer or a labour market opinion from Service Canada.
STEP 1
Before you can apply for a study permit, you must have already been accepted at a Canadian college or university which is on the Designated Learning Institution (DLI) list. University and college students should apply a year before they want to start their studies.
STEP 2
You must meet these specific requirements in order to be eligible for a student permit:
- You must have been accepted by a recognized Canadian institution.
- You must prove that you have enough money to pay for tuition fees and living expenses.
- You must be a law-abiding citizen.
- You must be in good health.
- You must assure an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your authorized study period.
There are some cases in which you do not need to obtain a study permit to go to school in Canada. Contact our advisors in order to find out your eligibility.
STEP 3
To apply for a study permit you must receive a Letter of Acceptance from an authorized school or university in Canada. Also, you will be required to provide additional documents including proof of identity, proof of financial support, and letter of explanation.
Students studying in Quebec must also apply for a certificate of acceptance, known as a CAQ, from the government of Quebec. They must acquire this before they are permitted to apply for a study permit. Students can get application for a certificate of acceptance online by printing out a form, or by requesting a paper form from your university, which will also provide advice on how to process this document.
STEP 4
Once you have received the Letter of Acceptance, you can begin applying for the study permit. There are two ways to fill out the application form: either by paper or online. Additionally, you will be required to pay your application fees. In some cases, CIC may require you to undergo medical examinations and provide Police Clearance Certificates.
STEP 5
After your application is approved, a temporary resident visa (TRV) might be issued if you are from a country from which Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) requires TRVs for entry into Canada. Furthermore, an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) might be issued as well, if you are not from a visa-exempt country. As of March 15, 2016, visa-exempt foreign nationals who fly to or transit through Canada will need Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Exceptions include U.S. citizens and travelers with a valid visa.
STEP 6
Once you arrive in Canada, you must maintain you student status. For instance, you must remain enrolled and make reasonable progress towards completion of your program. Otherwise, failure to do so may lead to your removal from Canada.
STUDENT WORK PERMIT
While studying, international students may work part-time on and off campus. In some cases, you will need to apply for a student work permit.
1. WORK ON CAMPUS
You may work on campus at the institution where you study without a work permit if:
- A) you are a full-time student at:
- a public post-secondary institution, such as a college or university, or a collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) in Quebec, or
- a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as a public institution, and receives at least 50 per cent of its financing for its overall operations from government grants (currently only private college-level educational institutions in Quebec qualify), or
- a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees, and
- B) you have a valid study permit.
NOTE: You must stop working on-campus on the day you no longer meet the above eligibility requirements.
Furthermore, to work in Canada or to receive benefits and services from government programs, you will need to obtain a Social Insurance Number (SIN) from Service Canada.
2. WORK OFF CAMPUS
International students may gain relevant working experience by working off campus during their studies. If they qualify, they may work up to 20 hours per week regular academic sessions, and work full time during scheduled breaks, such as the winter and summer holidays or spring breaks.
As of June 2014, students may qualify to work off campus without a work permit. To qualify, a student must:
- Have a valid study permit
- Be a full-time student
- Be enrolled at a designated learning institution at the post-secondary level or, in Quebec, a vocational program at the secondary level, and
- Be studying in an academic, vocational or professional training program that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate that is at least six months in duration
NOTE:You must stop working on-campus on the day you no longer meet the above eligibility requirements.
IMPORTANT: As of February 2, 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is no longer issuing confirmation to work off campus documents. If you were previously issued a confirmation to work off campus document by CIC, you may continue to present it to Service Canada in order to apply for a SIN.
3. WORK AS A CO-OP STUDENT OF INTERN
For some academic programs, work experience is a part of the curriculum. International students who wish to participate in a co-op or internship program must apply for a work permit as well as a study permit.
To be eligible for a work permit, a foreign student must meet the following requirements:
- Must have a valid study permit
- Intended employment must be an essential part of your program of study in Canada
- Employment must be part of student’s academic, vocational or professional training program offered by a designated learning institution
- Co-op or internship employment cannot form more than 50% (percent) of the total program of study
Please keep in mind that if you study English or French as a second language, or you participate in general interest or preparatory courses, you will not be eligible to work during your studies.