Learn about applying for a visa to study in Canada.
Studying in Canada
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Individuals who wish to study temporarily in Canada normally require a study permit and must meet the normal criteria which apply to visitors to Canada.
For general information for foreign nationals who wish to study in Canada, please review the information provided below. If you require further information, please consult the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.
Please note that in the following situations, a study permit is not required:
- any program of study that is six months or less that can be completed within the period authorized upon entry into Canada;
- courses that are not academic, professional or vocational in nature that can be completed within the period authorized upon entry into Canada; and
- courses included in tour packages as a secondary activity for tourists.
If your program of study is six months or less but you intend to continue your studies in another program you should apply for a study permit before travelling to Canada. This will allow you to extend your stay within Canada. Otherwise, if you do not hold a study permit and you wish to extend your studies, you will have to apply from outside Canada.
Completing the Application Forms
You must provide full and complete answers to all questions on the application forms. The forms must be completed in either English or French and all supporting documents must be accompanied by a translation in English or French.
Each person requiring a study permit to come to Canada must complete their own application form.
Completed applications for study permits should be submitted to the Canadian Embassy at least six weeks before your anticipated date of departure in order to allow sufficient time for the completion of a medical examination in cases where it is determined that such an examination is necessary.
A personal interview may be conducted but please note that the visa officer has the right to finalize your application without an interview. In certain circumstances applicants may be required to pass a medical examination before the application for a study permit can be approved. Staff at the Embassy will advise you whether or not medical exams are necessary.
Documentation
The following documents are required for the assessment of your application (the documents provided must be originals and you must also provide a translation in English or French):
- a fully completed application
- two passport-size photographs
- proof of payment of the applicable processing fees ;
- letter of acceptance from the educational institution in Canada which shows the name of the institution, confirmation of your acceptance and registration as a student, the course of study, applicable tuition, the duration of the program and the last date on which you may register;
- proof of sufficient funds to pay for your tuition and living expenses for you and your accompanying family members for the period you are studying in Canada;
- evidence that health insurance has been arranged and paid for prior to your departure to Canada; and
- original police clearance certificate for all persons aged 18 years and over.
Additional documents may be requested in individual cases.
The submission of the information and documents listed above does not obligate the Government of Canada to issue a visa. Please note that application processing fees are not refundable even in the case of a refusal .
Minor children coming to Canada to study
Minor children who are travelling alone must have information about the person or school who will be responsible for them. Minor children staying in Canada without one or both parents or legal guardians must provide a notarized authorization for the child to travel and study in Canada signed by both parents or the parent who is not travelling as well as the child's birth certificate. An English or French translation of both the authorization and the birth certificate must also be provided. The authorization, birth certificate and translations should also be available on arrival at the port of entry in Canada.
Minor children studying in Canada without their parents or guardians must also submit with their application a letter from their custodian in Canada. Note that legal age varies from one province to another. Children under 18 years of age who are studying in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan will require a custodianship form PDF * (22 KB) while the form is required for children under 19 years of age in the provinces of British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the Yukon.
Attending an educational institution in Québec
Individuals wishing to study in the province of Quebec must obtain a Certificat d'acceptation du Québec (CAQ). The educational institution in Quebec should be able to provide all the necessary information about the procedures that apply in Québec. Refer to the website of the Québec immigration authorities for the appropriate contact information and for the latest updates on the process and documents required in Québec. This website also contains a complete list of persons who do not require a CAQ.
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