Study Permit for Canada - Application Process

Before you start applying to institutes in Canada, you still have questions about the Immigration Laws, the road forward and what to do once you have applied to the college. Study Permit would be your next priority. First, we need to understand what a Study Permit is.

What is Canada Study Permit?

A Study Permit is identified in the form of a Student Visa. It stands for permission granted to students to study in a foreign land. This permit along with the student's passport is issued by the government, which has received an offer letter from the abroad universities/colleges. This permit is however valid for a certain period of time, as long as the course lasts. It cannot be used to grab a job opportunity, migrate to a country, or apply for citizenship. Students may seek a job only when they are on their stay-back period after the course they had enrolled for is completed.

Applying for a Canada Study Permit

In order to apply for a Study Permit, you need to have a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institute. If you have recently applied to Universities in Canada, the new rules apply as amended and enforced from June this year. A list of designated learning institutes is available on the CIC Website.

You need not apply for a Study Permit if you are planning a short-duration course from Canada. In case, however, you wish to get a Study Permit, it would be advisable to check the list. The designated institutes have been provided with a code that would be required by you for applying for a Study Permit. You can apply for a study permit at your city’s visa office. For Indian Residents, the visa application centres (VACs) can be checked on the website india.gc.ca.

Standard Eligibility Criteria for a Study Permit

If applying for a study permit you must adhere to the following standard eligibility criteria, namely:

• 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
• 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 undergo a medical examination, if necessary.

• You must satisfy an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay.

Document Checklist

Every Visa Office would have a specific set of documents, the list of which is easily available on the websites. However, primarily you would need:

1. Original Letter of Acceptance from the University
   You would be asked for the Letter of Acceptance from the designated institute in the original. The list of requirements for a Letter of Acceptance is available on the website and is provided by the universities.

1. Proof of Identity
   A list of accepted documentation would be provided to you and is available from the visa office as well as on the official website.
2. Proof of Funds
   As discussed above, one important part of the documentation would include relevant proof of funds. You would have to show evidence that you can support your tuition, living expenses for you and your family member accompanying you for the duration of the stay in Canada as well as funds to provide for return transportation from Canada. A list of acceptable documentation is available at your local visa office.

The table given below provides an idea of the funds required for applicants (outside Quebec):

The table given below provides the funds required for applicants (in Quebec):

Additional Documents

These documents include verification of the standard eligibility and might include a police certificate for security checks, and a medical certificate for you and the other members of your family accompanying you. Here are the other documents that you require:

• Immigration Medical Examination (IME)
• English Language Proficiency Exam Score
• Letter of Explanation
• You need to pay a fee of CAD 150 in order to obtain a Canada Student Visa

Interview and Temporary Resident Visa

You would require a temporary resident visa to enter Canada and ask for an interview as part of the process. On the completion of the same, your application would be processed.

Obtaining the Permit

If your application is approved, you would be provided with a letter of introduction. It is important to note that the letter of introduction is not equivalent to your Study Permit. You are required to carry the original letter to Canada with you.

On arrival, you will be interviewed by an officer from the Canada Border Services Agency. He would check/verify the following documents:

1. Letter of introduction from the visa office
2. Passport or other valid travel documents
3. Letter of acceptance from the school you will be attending
4. Proof of funds documents
5. Temporary Resident Visa

Once the documents are verified, the officer would give you your Study Permit. It would be important to note that receiving a letter of introduction is not tantamount to your receiving the permit. The officer has the right to the final decision and may decline a study permit. This, however, is very rare.

The new rules have not merely increased a step but have added ease to your immigration to Canada. The new rules pertaining to study permits also give you the freedom to work while you study without a work permit for On-Campus as well as Of-Campus jobs. Also, according to the new rules, people who are in Canada with a Study Permit need to continuously pursue education. Failing to continue your education in a timely manner could lead to your removal from the country. The CIC would also seek continuous reports from your institute regarding your progress in the course.

The permit would automatically expire within 90 days of the completion of the course. If you switch to a shorter-term program or finish your studies early, your study permit will expire 90 days after your study program has been completed. A course is said to be completed when the institute gives you in writing about the same or provides you with the degree/ diploma.

It would be wise to keep your Study Permit updated and apply for a renewal before the current has expired in case you believe it would be required.

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