Thinking of studying in Canada? Make sure that you apply for the Canada Student Permit. Every year lakhs of students leave their home country and move to Canada to pursue their education. But before you embark on this journey, make sure that you get the process of the study permit application right.

Study Permit Canada

A mandatory immigration document, the study permit doesn’t substitute for an actual visa, rather it is a permit issued by the Citizen and Immigration Canada (CIC). Issued by the Canadian government, the permit allows foreign nationals to study at designated learning institutions in Canada (DLI).

The permit is a compulsory document for students in a study program for more than six months. It also permits the students to work part-time on campus, or as an intern during the summer holidays. The permit serves on the basis which you can apply for an extension of your stay after the completion of the course and stay back in Canada for up to 3 years.

The Canada student permit allows studying in Canada, while a TRV allows entering Canada. You will also need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).

Canada student permit and ETA, it is also mandatory for you to apply for a co-op/internship work permit. This permit is an essential document while applying for on-campus internships, and co-op. This work permit is crucial in terms of granting access to work during or after your graduation.

If you want to migrate to Canada after completing your studies, you can enquire and how to get permanent residence there from the relevant authorities or good immigration consultants.

How to obtain a Study Permit in Canada?

  1. To apply for the permit, you need to get a letter of acceptance from an educational institution in Canada or one of the designated learning institutions (DLI).
  2. In case you are applying to an institute in Montreal or elsewhere in the providence of Quebec, you will need an additional document, a Certificat d’acceptation du Quebec (Quebec Acceptance Certificate), simply known as a CAQ.
  3. A valid passport or a travel document.
  4. In some cases, you might also be required to get a medical exam and/or police check before submitting your documents. You will be denied a permit in case there are some criminal proceedings in your name.
  5. Students from selected regions, including Europe, the Middle East, or Africa required to provide biometrics, which includes a set of photographs, fingerprints.
  6. Proof that you can support yourself and your family while you are in Canada. Financial funds can be produced through bank statements, a Canadian account in your name to which funds are being transferred to, a bank draft in a convertible currency, proof of payment of tuition and accommodation fees, a letter from a person or institution providing money, or proof of funding of paid from within Canada if you have a scholarship or are undertaking a Canadian-funded program.
  7. English proficiency certificates that indicate your level of familiarity with English. These exams include the IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge English: Advanced. The exams are usually used to communicate well in English and your correspondence skills are in line with the requirements.

Study Permit processing time Canada

Once you have met these basic requirements then you can begin the process of applying. There are two ways in which you can apply for the permit:

  1. Online Application. You can access online mode on the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
  2. Offline Application. The form for which can be obtained from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website.

Offline applications take as long as applying online, and it is highly recommended that you verify the time taken for processing on the CIC website to avoid last-minute delays.

Above all, the visa office in your home country will also provide specific instructions about a list of documents that you will need to produce. You can get all the assistance at your nearest visa application centre (VAC).

If you want to get your study permit faster, apply online and make sure you have all the required documents in your hand.

How to apply for a Study Permit in Canada?

  1. Get a Canada student permit application package from the CIC website, contact the local visa office, Canadian embassy, or consulate in your home country. It is important to read the instructions carefully in the application guide to make sure that you are eligible for applying before you proceed ahead. The Canadian government will not refund application fees if it is not eligible for a permit.
  2. Obtain a temporary residence permit. For this, you don’t need to apply separately or pay an additional fee.
  3. Answer a list of personalized questions on the CIC website. These questions will profile you and determine whether you are eligible for a permit and the list of documents required.
  4. Once you meet all the requirements, then you will be issued a personal checklist code, which will remain valid for 60 days. It is important to print this page and keep it for future reference. This page will serve as a checklist including the list of documents required, further steps, an application guide, and an estimated amount of tuition fees.
  5. You have to create a MyCIC account on the CIC website, and after entering your checklist code, it will provide you the list of documents to upload. For an online application, you will need a scanner to upload documents. Offline applications, depending on the list, you will need to attach the list of required documents.
  6. After you have uploaded your documents make sure that you have paid the fees for the following services
  • Medical exams
  • Police certificates
  • Language testing
  • Visa Application Centre, if you have used any of their services.
  1. Make sure all pending fees are paid and all your documents are uploaded, you can submit your application.
  2. In certain cases, applicants can be called for an interview at their local visa office.

How can you apply through the Student Direct Stream?

Recently, to make the process convenient, Canada introduced the Student Direct Stream. Students from China, India, the Philippines, or Vietnam can apply and speed up the process of obtaining the permit. The requirements are in line with a regular Canadian student permit, except under this scheme the language requirements are stricter. An IELTS score of at least a 6, or a 7 in the Niveaux the Competence Linguistique Canadians for French, or should have graduated from a Canadian-curriculum high school. Students that fail to meet the requirements under this scheme, their applications won’t be eligible for faster processing.

Can I re-enter Canada with a Study Permit?

The study permit expires 90 days after the completion of your program. You can utilize this to explore Canada or find work opportunities. Once you study permit expires, you will have to leave Canada and apply again from your home country.

If you wish to stay in Canada after your work permit expires, apply for a post-graduation work permit. This permit will allow you to work once you are through with your studies.

Applying for a work permit is a comprehensive process with step by step assistance offered on the CIC website and even at the local visa office to make sure that your experience in Canada is fulfilling and memorable.

In Conclusion

You must understand the difference between a study permit, a student visa, permanent residence permit, and a work visa. If you feel confused as to which one you should apply for, you must first figure out what is your aim, and then apply for the relevant option.

There are many immigration consultants who can help you with filling forms and getting all your documents in order. So if you want to study in Canada, call them and seek guidance, and enjoy a hassle-free application process.