Who should apply for a study permit
Who is eligible to study in Canada?
These requirements apply to everyone who wishes to study in Canada, whether or not you need a study permit. To study in Canada, you must:
- Have been accepted to a school, college, university or other educational institution in Canada,
- Have proof that you have enough money to pay for your:
- tuition fees,
- living expenses for yourself and any family members (spouse or common-law partner and/or dependent children) who come with you to Canada (According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada guidelines in addition to the cost of tuition fees, you will require approximately $10 000 per year to cover your living expenses. If your dependants are planning to accompany or join you, you will require an additional $4 000 for the first dependant, and $3 000 for each subsequent dependant), and
- return transportation for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada.
- Be a law-abiding citizen with no criminal record and not be a risk to the security of Canada,
- Be in good health and willing to complete a medical examination, if necessary, and
- Satisfy an immigration officer that you will leave Canada when you have completed your studies.
Who should apply for a study permit?
In most cases, you must obtain a study permit if you want to study in Canada. Even if you do not need a study permit, you may still need to apply for a temporary residence visa depending on your country of citizenship.
You should apply for a study permit, unless one of the following exemptions applies to you:
Who may not need a study permit?
Short-term study
You do not need a study permit if you plan to take a course or participate in a university exchange program in Canada that lasts six months or less. The only exceptions are the situations described below.
To qualify as short-term, your studies in Canada must be completed within the period authorized for your stay in Canada. When you travel to Canada, bring a letter of acceptance or proof of course registration issued by the educational institution in Canada. An immigration official may examine these documents when you arrive at the port of entry into Canada.
If you think you might continue your studies in Canada after your short-term course finishes, we strongly urge you to apply for a study permit before arriving in Canada. After completing your short-term course, if you do not have a study permit and you want to continue your studies you will have to apply for a study permit at a visa office outside Canada. This means that you may have to leave Canada in order to apply.
You need to apply for a study permit before arriving in Canada, even for short-term study, if:
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 apply for a study permit but will be fee-exempt.
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