Canada Study Permit Requirements and Application Process

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Apr 15, 2023 03:11 AM

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Canada is amongst the premier destinations for students who wish to study abroad. One of the most crucial tasks to accomplish after gaining admission in a university in Canada, is to procure a study permit. However, there are many factors that you need to keep in mind before and while applying for a study permit. In this blog, we have discussed the documents required and the application process to obtain a Canada study permit.

Source : Gradbound

What is a Canada Study Permit?

A study permit is a document issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) now renamed as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). A study permit is the most essential and mandatory document for an international student to study in Canada. You require a study permit if you have enrolled for a full-time course with a duration of more than 6 months. Usually, your study permit is valid for the duration of your course and an additional 90 days. You have to apply for a study permit immediately after you receive an acceptance letter from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Please be aware that only a designated learning institution is authorized to admit international students. You can get the list of DLI here:

Designated Learning Institutions List

What are the Documents Needed to Apply for a Study Permit?

You must have the following documents to apply for a study permit in Canada

Letter of Acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution

You have to attach a copy of your acceptance letter with your application for a Canada study permit. In case you have received a conditional acceptance, you will be required to take prerequisite courses. You are required to complete these courses before the commencement of your main program. In this case, you will be issued study permit only for the duration of those courses and one year after that. Once that expires, you will have to apply for a new study permit.

Passport

You need to have a valid passport to apply for a Canada study permit. It is better to make sure that your passport is valid for your entire period of education. A study permit cannot be issued beyond the validity of your passport. If you renew your passport in the middle of your course, you have to apply to extend your study permit.

Photographs

You need to submit two recent ( not older than 6 months) passport-size photographs. You have to write the applicant’s name and date of birth behind each photo.

Proof of Finance

You have to prove that you can support yourself financially during your stay in Canada. You can do this by submitting any of the following documents

Proof of educational loan from a bank

Bank statements for the previous 4 months

Proof of payment of tuition fee

Proof of funding paid from within Canada, if you have been awarded a scholarship or if you are enrolled in a Canadian-funded educational program

A bank draft with convertibility to Canadian dollars

Proof of a Canadian bank account in your name with sufficient balance

Letter of Explanation

You have to write a letter of explanation detailing the reasons for you to study in Canada and stating that you understand your responsibilities as a student.

Certificat d'acceptation du Quebec (CAQ)

If you wish to study in Quebec you need an additional certificate, certificat d’acceptation du Quebec (CAQ) issued by the Gouvernement du Quebec. To know all the requirements for studying in Quebec, visit :

Quebec

Additional Documents

You might be asked for some additional documents with your Canada study permit application. You can keep them handy to avoid delays in processing in your application

Immigration Medical Examination (IME) : You may be required to do a health checkup and produce a medical certificate that certifies that you are in the right health conditions. Make sure to carry out the medical check-up at least one week before applying so that all the relevant documents can be uploaded well in time.

Police Document : You may have to produce a police document stating that you do not have any criminal record.

Proof of English Language Proficiency : You might be required to submit your IELTS score, TOEFL score or the score of any other approved English language proficiency test.

How to Apply for a Canada Study Permit?

You have the option of applying online or on paper. You will have to pay the application and biometric fee.

Online

You need to apply for the Canadian study permit on the IRCC web page. You can download the application or save it online. You need to upload e- copies of your required documents. Submit the application online after filling it carefully. Please note that you need a valid credit card to pay the application and biometric fee while applying online.

Offline

Download the application kit and read the instruction guide from the IRCC website. Print the application. The ‘Prepare your application’ guide contains information regarding study permits and instructions on how to complete your application. Read the manual and use the document checklist to complete the procedure. You can send the application by mail or submit it at your nearest Visa Application Center (VAC). Following this, you are required to fill the VAC Consent Form to avail assisted service. You can use either choose to pay the amount to VAC or by sending a demand draft to the High Commission of Canada.

Advantages of Applying Online

There is no delay in your application reaching the authorities concerned.

Your application may be processed faster.

You will be able to submit the application only after you fill it up completely. This eliminates the risk of you missing out on filling important information.

You can instantly submit additional documents if required.

You can track your application status easily through your online account.

Fee

You have to pay 150 CAD for the application and 85 CAD as biometric fee.

Biometrics Requirements

Once you pay the application and biometric fee, you will receive a biometric instruction letter (BIL) with the biometric centers you can choose from. If you opt to submit your application directly at a VAC, you can try to book an appointment to give your biometrics at the same time. You have to give your biometrics within 30 days of receiving the BIL. Your application processing will start only after the IRCC receives your biometrics, so it is better to finish the process as soon as possible.

What Happens After you Apply?

Source : Quad at York

Your application and your supporting documents will be verified thoroughly by an officer and decide if you need to appear for an interview. If an interview is required, you will be notified with details of date, time and venue. It might take 3-4 weeks for processing your application. If you have applied online, you can check your application status in your IRCC online account.

In case your application is rejected, you will receive a letter explaining the reason and your documents will be returned.

Letter of Introduction

If your application is approved, you will receive a letter of introduction. This is not your study permit. This letter has your permit reference number, which will be used to issue your study permit. You have to show this letter to an officer when you reach Canada. You will also receive your Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) or Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), popularly known as the visitor visa, depending on your country. You can check if you require an ETA or a TRV in this link.

You do not have to apply separately for an ETA or a TRV. It will be sent to you automatically along with the letter of introduction. At this point, you are all set to land in Canada.

Study Permit

When you arrive at your port of entry in Canada, you have to show your letter of introduction and TRV to an officer there. The officer will cross verify all your details and determine how long you can stay in Canada. You will receive your Canada study permit from that officer at your port of entry.

You can get a complete overview of every step of the application process of Canada study permit here:

Study Permit

Conclusion

In this blog, we have elaborately discussed the documents required for applying for a Canada study permit. We have also detailed the various steps and procedures involved in the application process. Make sure you keep all the documents ready before you apply. Focus and fill the application carefully, ace the interview and you are all set to fly high!

Canada Study Permit Requirements and Application Process: A Comprehensive Guide