FAQs
Do I need a study permit to study in Canada?
- You must have been accepted by a school, college, university or other educational institution in Canada.
- You must prove that you have enough money to pay for your:
- tuition fees
- living expenses for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada and
- return transportation for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada.
- You must be a law-abiding citizen with no criminal record and not be a risk to the security of Canada. You may have to provide a police certificate.
- You must be in good health and willing to complete a medical examination, if necessary.
- You must satisfy an immigration officer that you will leave Canada when you have completed your studies.
- If you wish to study in a short-term course or program :
You do not need a study permit if you plan to take a course or program in Canada that lasts six months or less. You must complete the course or program within the period authorized for your stay in Canada.Even if you do not need a study permit, it is a good idea to apply for a permit before you come to Canada. If you decide that you want to continue your studies in another program after you complete your short-term course or program, you must apply through a Canadian visa office outside Canada for a study permit if you do not already have one.
- Foreign representatives to Canada
If you are a family member or staff member of a foreign representative to Canada accredited by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, you may not need a permit to study in Canada. You should contact your embassy in Canada. Your embassy can contact the Office of Protocol at Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada to find out whether you need a study permit.
- Members of foreign armed forces
If you are a member of a foreign armed force under the Visiting Forces Act, you do not need a permit to study in Canada. If your family members, including minor children, want to study in Canada, they must meet the requirements.
How do I apply to study in Canada?
- Type or print clearly, using black ink.
- Add appropriate characters for languages that do not use the Latin alphabet, such as Chinese, Arabic, Cyrillic, Japanese, Hebrew, etc.
- Answer all questions carefully, completely and truthfully. Incomplete application packages will not be processed, but will be returned to you.
- Medical information
In most cases, you will need a medical examination. A visa officer will send you instructions if you need a medical examination. This may add more than three months to the processing time of your application. Find more information about medical examinations.
- Security information
If you want to study in Canada, you and any family members who come to Canada with you, and who are 18 years of age and over, may have to provide police certificates.
How do I find out colleges, or universities in Canada?
- Study in Canada, the Government of Canada website on this topic
- the Ministry of Education of the province in which you would like to study
- Canadian Bureau for International Education
- Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
- Association of Canadian Community Colleges
- Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials
- the cost of applying;
- tuition fees;
- health insurance;
- rent and how much it will cost to live in Canada;
- language tests.
When should I apply for my study permit?
You should apply as soon as you receive your letter of acceptance from the educational institution. The time needed to process an application to study in Canada may be different at various visa offices.
What is a temporary resident visa?
How do I apply for a temporary resident visa?
If you need a temporary resident visa in addition to your study permit, you do not need to submit a separate application or pay an additional fee when you apply for your study permit at a visa office.
How do I get information on studying in Quebec?
How do I pay the fee for a study permit?
You must pay a processing fee with your application. The fee will not be refunded, even if your application is refused. Check the website of the visa office where you submit your application to find out how you can pay the fee. In most countries, you can pay in the local currency.
How do I find out if I need a medical examination to study in Canada?
How do I renew my study permit while I am in Canada?
How do I get a copy of a lost study permit?
Am I allowed to return home for a visit or travel outside Canada during my studies?
- a valid passport or travel documents
- a valid study permit if you are returning to study in Canada and
- a valid temporary resident visa if you are a citizen of a designated country for which Canada requires a visa.
I am already in Canada and have a valid study permit. I would like to change my school or program of studies. What do I need to do to modify my study permit?
Can I fill out one form for my entire family if we are traveling together?
Do my children need to complete the new application form?
If I submitted an older application form, do I need to resubmit my application using the form that is currently on the CIC Web site?
There is no need to resubmit applications. Applications previously received on older forms will continue to be processed in the queue in which they were received