Frequently Asked Questions
International Students
Step 1 : Get admission to a Canadian School that is designated by the Government of Canada, also called a Designated Learning Institute
Step 2: Designated learning institute will issue Letter of Acceptance
Step 3: Once you have letter of acceptance, apply for a Study Permit. Applications can be made at Canadian Visa Office in your home country or at a Canadian Port of Entry (applicable for residents or citizens of USA, Saint-Pierre et Miquelon and Greenland only)
A designated learning institution is a school approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students.
To apply for a study permit, you need an acceptance letter from a designated learning institution. Not all designated learning institutions make you eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program.
The tuition fees is variable and depends on the chosen course and Institute. Other than the tuition fee, you are required to show funds to sustain in Canada.
For Single student
All provinces except Quebec : Tuition for the first year plus $10,000 for a 12-month period
Quebec: Tuition for the first year plus $11,825 for a 12-month period
+ one family member
All provinces except Quebec : $4,000 for a 12-month period
Quebec: $5,100 more for a person 18 years of age or older for a 12-month period, $3,800 more for a person under 18 years of age for a 12-month period
+ each additional family member
All provinces except Quebec : $3,000 for a 12-month period per dependent child of any age
Quebec : $5,125 more for a person 18 years of age or older for a 12-month period, $1,903 more for a person under 18 years of age for a 12-month period
The following documents can be used as proof of funds:
- proof of a Canadian bank account in your name if money has been transferred to Canada;
- proof of a student/education loan from a financial institution;
- your bank statements for the past four months;
- a bank draft in convertible currency;
- proof of payment of tuition and accommodation fees;
- a letter from the person or institution providing you with money (including proof of employment, bank statements, income tax returns, etc, for the person providing you with money); and
- proof of funding paid from within Canada if you have a scholarship or are in a Canadian-funded educational program
Quite a few educational institutes offer scholarships for international students. Please check the scholarship options with the college/ university / institute you wish to attend.
Step 1: Choose an educational institution and a program of study
Step 2: Obtain letter of admission from a Québec educational institution
Step 3: Apply for a Certificat d’acceptation de Quebec (CAQ)
Step 4: Apply for a study permit
This applies whether you are pursuing primary, secondary, college-level or university studies, adult education or any other type of training program.
It depends on the length of the course you wish to pursue. You don’t need a study permit for a course of study that is 6 months or less and will be completed during those 6 months. However, if your course is longer than 6 months, you need to apply for study permit.
Each case is reviewed by a visa officer who will assess your application based on a number of factors, like
- The likelihood of the applicant leaving Canada after their temporary status ends
- The means by which the student will support themselves while studying
- The student’s obligations and ties to their home country
- The length of time the student plans to spend in Canada
Common refusal reasons are :
- The visa officer does not believe the applicant will leave Canada after their status ends
- The visa officer feels that the applicant’s acceptance to a Canadian designated learning institution is not genuine
- The visa officer does not believe the applicant has the means to support themselves while studying in Canada
You can either re-apply with a fresh application or can appeal the decision.
Yes, you are allowed to work for up to 20 hours per week during a regular academic session and full time during scheduled breaks. Students can start working immediately after starting their studies.
Yes, you can stay in Canada till the expiry date mentioned in your student permit
Generally, you need to give biometrics if you apply for: a visitor visa, a work or study permit (excluding U.S. nationals), permanent residence, refugee or asylum status, an extension of your stay in Canada, or, a work or study permit extension.
However, if you gave biometrics in the last 10 years for a visitor visa, work permit, or study permit and they’re still valid, you don’t have to give them again if you’re applying to visit, work, or study.
You may need a criminal record check if you are coming to Canada as a student. If required, you will have to obtain a police certificate from each country or territory where you have lived for six or more months consecutively since the age of 18.
You would need to check the conditions listed on your study permit to verify whether the study permit restricts you to studying at a particular school or program. Most post-secondary students may change their school, program, and/or field of study without needing to apply for a new study permit.
Primary students who are entering high school, as well as high school students who will move on to post-secondary education, must apply to modify their study permit.
If you plan to study full-time, your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible for an open work permit. In your study permit application, you should indicate that your spouse will accompanying you to Canada. You could mention in your application cover letter that you want an open work permit for your spouse.
If your spouse wishes to study here, she should apply for his or her own study permit.
You may submit an application for a study permit for your accompanying minor children when you apply for your own study permit. A letter of acceptance from a Canadian school will not be required.
If you are already in Canada on a study or work permit, your accompanying minor child may study without a study permit.
Unaccompanied minors wishing to obtain a study permit must appoint a custodian who will care for and support them while in Canada. A custodian can be a family member, trusted friend or member of the school at which the minor is attending. A notarized declaration will be required, that has been signed by the minor’s parents in the country of origin and the custodian in Canada.
Visitors
Not really. If you are from a visa-exempt country you do not need a temporary resident visa to enter Canada. Citizens of all other countries must apply for Temporary Resident Visa to enter Canada.
Since February 2014, all visitor visa applicants are automatically considered for a multiple entry visa. The multiple entry visa can be issued for up to 10 years and allows the applicant to enter Canada multiple times during the authorized period. You may opt for single visit or multiple entry visa depending on your necessity.
Your application may be refused because:
- the official deciding your case has reason to believe you’ll stay in Canada beyond your authorized stay
- you’re inadmissible to Canada
No. If your application was refused, applying again with the same information, will not change this decision. However, if your situation changes, you may apply again with your new information.
Examples of your situation changing include:
- you’ve applied for criminal rehabilitation and were approved
- you’re eligible for deemed rehabilitation
- you’re inadmissible but are applying for a temporary resident permit
- you were inadmissible for medical reasons, but those reasons have since changed
Anyone who plans to visit Canada must apply from outside of Canada before they travel. You may provide your family member or friend with a letter of invitation in support of their visa application. A letter of invitation can help, but it does not guarantee the person will get a visa.
In some cases, if it’s been less than 90 days since your status expired, you can apply to restore it. There is no guarantee that your application will be approved.
If it has been more than 90 days since your status expired, you can’t restore your status, and you must leave Canada.
If you do not leave Canada on your own accord, a removal order can be issued against you. Based in the type of removal order issued against you, it may impact your ability to re-enter Canada in future.
No. You will need to show your passport and your valid Green Card at the Port of Entry.
Generally, you need to give biometrics if you apply for: a visitor visa, a work or study permit (excluding U.S. nationals), permanent residence, refugee or asylum status, an extension of your stay in Canada, or, a work or study permit extension.
However, if you gave biometrics in the last 10 years for a visitor visa, work permit, or study permit and they’re still valid, you don’t have to give them again if you’re applying to visit, work, or study.
Work in Canada
In most cases, you will need one or more of the following documents to apply for a work permit:
- an LMIA number from your employer if your job needs an LMIA
- proof that your employer has submitted an offer of employment through the Employer Portal
- an employment contract or letter (if your employer is exempt from the employer compliance process)
- proof that you are certified, accredited or qualified to work in the job you want
In some cases, you might be exempt from an LMIA like Mobilité Francophone, International Experience Canada or other LMIA exempt work permits.
Following conditions apply to all work permit holders:
- not work for an employer in a business where there are reasonable grounds to suspect a risk of sexual exploitation of some workers, specifically:strip clubs,massage parlours, and escort agencies,
- leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay
Additionally, depending on the kind of work permit, following conditions may also be applied:
- the type of work you can do
- the employer you can work for
- where you can work
- how long you can work for
An open work permit is a work permit that is not job-specific. That means you can work for any employer, at any location and at any role.
Yes, if your work permit is still valid, you can apply to extend it from inside Canada.
You can find out about jobs in Canada through the Working in Canada tool, labour market information and job banks.
Generally, you need to give biometrics if you apply for: a visitor visa, a work or study permit (excluding U.S. nationals), permanent residence, refugee or asylum status, an extension of your stay in Canada, or, a work or study permit extension.
However, if you gave biometrics in the last 10 years for a visitor visa, work permit, or study permit and they’re still valid, you don’t have to give them again if you’re applying to visit, work, or study.
Others
A convention refugee is a person who, by reason of a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a social group or political opinion is outside their home country, and is unable or unwilling to return to that country.
A person in need of protection is a person in Canada whose removal to their country will subject them personally to danger of torture, risk to their life or risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment.