Student Visa

Regular Stream Requirements *

 

• Valid passport or travel document.

• Proof of financial support including enough money to pay for tuition, living and return travel expenses for the student and accompanying family members (if applicable)

• A police certificate and medical examination might be required.

 

Direct Stream Requirements *

• Available for legal residents of China, India, Morocco, Pakistan, the Philippines, Senegal and Vietnam.

• Medical exam confirmation.

• Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of $10,000 from a Canadian financial institution.

• Proof of paid tuition fee for the first year of study.

• Graduated from a Canadian high school or submit language test results (IELTS band score 6/ TEF CLB7)

*Acceptance Letter from a Designed Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada.

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Situations when you will REQUIRE a Student Visa (Study Permit)

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• Program of any duration.

• Programs including a Co-op or Internship.

• A minor accompanying a parent(s) who is in Canada as a visitor.

• A person from a visa-exempt country.

 

Situations when you will NOT REQUIRE a Student Visa (Study Permit)

• Study in a short-term course or program that lasts six months or less.

• Family or staff member of a foreign representative accredited by Global Affairs Canada.

• Member of a foreign armed force under the Visiting Forces Act.

• Citizen of another country with registered Indian status in Canada.

• Minor children attending pre-school or kindergarten.

• Minor children who are refugees or refugee claimants or whose parents are refugees or refugee claimants.

• Minor children in Canada accompanying a parent who is allowed to work or study in Canada, and will attend pre-school, primary or secondary school (in Quebec CAQ may be required)

 

Extend a Student Visa or Change Conditions

• In the event that you would like to extend your stay in Canada as a student, you will need to apply

• for a renewal at least 30 days before your current permit expires.

• You can find the expiry date in the top right corner of your permit. This date is usually the length of your study program, plus 90 days. The extra 90 days gives you the time to prepare to leave Canada or to extend your stay in Canada.

• For students who are changing Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) at the same level program, a new Study Permit is not required but student must update the information on MyCIC account.

* However, you will still lose your student status in Canada if any of the following applies to you:

 

• Your study permit expired before you applied for a new one.

• You changed the conditions on your study permit such as:

  • Your DLI

  • Type of study

  • Location of study

  • Time period of study

• You did not respect the conditions of your study permit.

** Once you lose your status, you cannot study in Canada until we have restored your status as a
student.

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Restore Status as a student

 

• Restoration of status must be requested within the next 90 days after losing it. 

• While you are waiting for a decision to be made on your application, you may remain in Canada, but you cannot study until a positive decision is received.

• For you to be eligible to apply for restoration of status as a student, you must keep meeting the

• requirements of your stay and respect the conditions of your study permit.

• There is No Guarantee that your application to restore your status will be accepted.

• You are required to include a detailed summary of all the facts and circumstance that caused you to lose your status and why it is in the IRCC’s best interest to restore your status as a student.

 

Work While Studying
 

Students enrolled in a full-time program can have the options to work on-campus or off-campus without a work permit.

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Bring Family Members to Canada

Students may have their spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children accompany them to Canada to be with them while they study. Their spouses or common-law partners will be able to apply for an Open Work Permit for the duration of the student’s studies. The open work permit will permit the students’ spouses or partners to work for any employers within Canada. The duration of the open work permit will usually be the same as the spouses’ (students’) study permit (visa).

 

For more information, please visit the Work While Studying page.