Canada is a top destination for international students from all over the world. If you are interested in studying in Canada, you will first need to obtain a Canadian study permit.

Apply for a Study Permit

The study permit grants legal authorization for a person to study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada. When applying for a study permit, a foreign national should be aware that there are eligibility requirements which must be met when submitting the study permit application. As well, there are certain conditions which must be met throughout the student’s time in Canada.

There are many steps involved with applying for a study permit and the processing times vary greatly from country to country, so it is best to plan to ensure your permit will be processed before your study period begins. The majority of Canadian post-secondary educational programs commence study in September, January, or May, though a number of programs do offer intakes outside of those dates.

Since foreign nationals cannot apply for a study permit without an acceptance letter, they should check the start date and application process for their schools and programs of interest far in advance to ensure they have sufficient time to obtain the acceptance letter and complete the study permit application.

Study Permit Requirements

There are two sets of requirements you must consider when applying for a Canadian study permit:

1. Eligibility Requirements: You must meet these criteria in order to be eligible to apply for a study permit:

• Travel Document: Have a valid passport (or other lawful travel document)
• Acceptance Letter: You must have an acceptance letter from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in order to apply for a Canadian study permit.
• Proof of Financial Support:

1. Demonstrate sufficient funds to meet the following requirements:
2. Pay the student fees for your first year of study as outlined by the DLI.
3. Meet all expenses for the first year of stay in Canada for the student and accompanying family member(s) in Canada.
4. Afford transportation for the student and accompanying family member(s) from Canada to their home country.
5. Funds should be demonstrated in liquid form, in the account under the name of the principal applicant, spousal applicant, a family relative, or a close friend.

• Medical Exam: In most cases, after a visa officer receives an application for a study permit they will request that the student and accompanying family member(s) complete a medical exam.
• Criminal Record: In some cases, after a visa officer receives an application for a study permit they will request police clearance certificates to ensure a person is not a risk to Canadian security.

When you apply for your permit, the visa officer will confirm to ensure you meet the requirements. If the visa officer is not satisfied, they will refuse your application.

1. Requirements while studying in Canada: If your study permit is approved and you enter Canada as an international student, you must meet the requirements below in order to maintain the validity of your study permit. While studying in Canada under a study permit, a foreign national must:

• always be enrolled at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
• make progress towards completing their program
• respect any conditions listed on their study permit
• stop studying if they no longer meet the requirements and
• leave Canada when their permit expires