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Who requires
a student visa?
If you
are not a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or a
dependant of a diplomat accredited to Canada, you must obtain a
student authorization.
A
student authorization is not required if the course is:
- an English or French language course that lasts a maximum of six
months;
- not academic, professional or vocational; for example;
- self-improvement, general interest courses such as arts and crafts;
- courses included in tour packages as a secondary activity for
tourists; and
- day care or nursery school programs which are not a compulsory part
of the elementary school system.
All
persons who want to study in Canada need to apply for a student
authorization and obtain the written approval of a visa officer. You
do not need a study permit if you are planning to study in a
short-term program in Canada of six months or less.
Make sure you apply early for your course of study. Apply at least six
months early for primary and secondary schools. University and college
students should apply a year before they want to start their studies.
If you are
studying an English or French language-program for less than 90 days,
you may not require a visa, depending on your nationality.
For longer programs of study, or if you are not studying English or
French, you will likely require a visa and/or student authorization.
What
documents will be required?
Applications may
require the following:
1. An official letter of acceptance from an accredited educational
institution
2. A completed application form:
To complete your application you will need to know the cost of your
education including tuition fees and books, medical insurance, return
transportation costs and living costs for yourself and any dependants
while in Canada. Living costs vary in each province.
3. The application fee of $125 CAD / $80 USD
4. 2 passport style pictures.
5. Your passport (applicants from countries whose citizens require
visitor visas for Canada must provide their valid passport. Applicants
from countries not on this list need only provide a photocopy.
Applicants who are United States Citizens or Green Card holders do not
require a passport -- please submit proof of citizenship or a copy of
your green card).
6. An acceptance letter from the institution.
7. Proof of funds available to support you during the first year of
your studies. In general, $10,000 CAD is required in addition to
tuition fees for one year.
8. A transcript from your last program of study.
Additional Requirements
1. If you intend to study in the Province of Québec, you must obtain
and submit a Certificat d' Acceptation du Québec from the Service
d'Immigration du Québec.
2. If you are under the age of 16, a guardianship agreement, signed by
your custodial parent(s) and notarized, in favour of a Canadian
Citizen or permanent resident, and a notarized acceptance of
guardianship from your guardian.
3. A medical examination may be required in some cases, depending on
your program of study, the length of time you will spend in Canada,
and the countries where you have resided in the 12 months before going
to Canada.
You are required
to provide the following documents for yourself and any accompanying
dependants:
1. Proof of acceptance
- for attendance at a university, college or technical institution, a
letter from the educational institution to show:
- the name of the institution;
- confirmation of your acceptance and/or registration as a student;
- the course of study;
- the duration of the academic program; and
- the latest date you may register.
-for attendance at a primary or secondary school, a letter from the
school board having jurisdiction for the school you are attending (or
for private schools, a letter from the school itself), indicating:
- the name of the school;
- the level of study; and
- the duration of the course.
For attendance at an educational institution in Quebec, you will also
require a "Certificat d'acceptation du Québec" (Quebec Certificate of
Acceptance, or CAQ) issued by the Ministère des Relations avec les
citoyens et de l'Immigration (MRCI)
The Letter of Acceptance must be orginial, do not use a photocopy.
2. Proof of identity
- a valid passport or travel document or identity document that
guarantees re-entry to the country that issued it (citizens and
permanent residents of the United States, St. Pierre and Miquelon, and
Greenland do not require a passport but do require proof of status
such as a national identity card or an alien registration card); and
- two recent passport size photos for each family member (the name and
date of birth of the person should be written on the back of each
photo).
3. Proof of financial support
- evidence that you can support yourself and accompanying dependants
while you study in Canada. Such evidence may include:
- proof of a Canadian bank account in your name if money has been
transferred to Canada;
- your bank statements for the past four months;
- a bank draft in convertible currency;
- proof of payment of tuition and residence fees;
- for those with a scholarship or those with a Canadian funded
educational program:
proof of funding paid from within Canada;
- if foreign exchange control measures exist in your country, you must
provide proof that you will be permitted by the exchange control
authorities of your country to export funds for all of your expenses;
and
- if additional documents are required, a visa officer will inform
you.
Note: Children under 16 years of age who are travelling alone
must have information (name, address, phone number) about the person
or school who will be responsible for them. If the child is the
subject of a custody order, proof of custody and the other parent's
consent must also be provided. Minors travelling without their parents
require a letter of permission from the non-accompanying parent(s).
Application to Study in Canada
Study Permits
This application is for persons who are outside Canada who are not
Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada and who wish to
study temporarily in Canada. A study permit is issued if the
application is accepted.
A temporary resident visa to visit Canada may also be required.
Submit the application to a visa office at a Canadian embassy, high
commission or consulate abroad.
Prior to submitting your application, contact the visa office to see
if you need to fill out any additional forms or provide any additional
documents.
This application includes the following items:
Guide [IMM 5269]
Application for a Study Permit
[IMM 1294]
Statutory Declaration of
Common-Law Union [IMM 5409]
Authority to Release
Information [IMM 5476]
Document Checklist [IMM
5483]
Visitor Tax Refund
Form
Extend Stay in
Canada Form [IMM 1249]
Extend Stay in Canada:
How To Guide
Time required to issue visa:
Application takes about 5 weeks to process (allow longer for
postal-delivery time)
Note: Canadian universities suggest that one apply for admission at
least one year in advance of planned arrival.
Where do I apply?
You apply to the nearest Canadian visa office. You must obtain
permission to study in Canada before leaving for Canada. However, the
following persons may apply from within Canada:
- Holders of valid work or study permits and their family members.
- Holders of temporary resident permits (TRPs) valid for a minimum of
six months, and their family.
- Refugee claimants.
- Persons under a removal order that cannot be enforced.
- Permanent resident applicants and their family members from the
following classes:
live-in-caregiver;
spouse or common-law partner;
protected persons, and humanitarian and compassionate considerations
(H&C).
- Persons whose study permits were authorized at a visa office.
- Family members of:
athletes on a Canadian-based team;
media representatives;
members of the clergy; or
Military personnel assigned to Canada.
Some people may apply at a port of entry if they have a letter of
acceptance from a Canadian educational institution and are:
-nationals or permanent residents of the United States;
-residents of Greenland or residents of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon; or
-people whose study permits have been approved in writing by officers
outside Canada but to whom the permits have not been issued.
In some cases, foreign nationals, including claimants for refugee
protection, may apply for study permits in Canada.
What is the cost of a visa?
If a student visa and/or authorization is required, the cost is
CAN$125
How long is the visa valid for?
Student visas and authorization are valid for the duration of the
program of study
Other information:
After reviewing your application, a visa officer will decide if an
interview is necessary. If so, the visa officer will inform you of the
time and place.
In some cases you will require a medical examination. A visa officer
will decide on this and send instructions if a medical is required. It
may add over three months to the processing of your application.
Your
application may be delayed or returned to you unprocessed if you make
a mistake on the form.
May my spouse and
dependent children accompany me to Canada?
Yes. They may either
accompany you to Canada or they may join you at a later date.
Your spouse and children must meet all the requirements for visitors
to Canada. They may be required to provide evidence that they are law
abiding and have no criminal record. They may also be required to have
a medical examination, and to obtain a visitor visa.
If they will accompany you, include them on your application by
providing their names and other information in the appropriate space
on the application form. You will be required to provide a marriage
certificate and birth certificates for any accompanying dependants. If
they wish to follow you to Canada at a later date, they must make a
separate application for admission.
Will I need to attend
an interview?
After reviewing your application, a visa officer will decide if an
interview is necessary. If so, the visa officer will inform you of the
time and place.
Will I or my accompanying dependants need a medical examination?
In some cases you will require a medical examination. A visa officer
will decide on this and send instructions if a medical is required. It
may add over three months to the processing of your application.
What happens if I make a mistake on my application?
Your application may be delayed or returned to you unprocessed.
Tougher consequences for violations:
Under the new Act, CIC officers abroad can refuse to issue a study
permit to someone who has previously studied or worked in Canada
without authorization.
What happens when I
arrive in Canada?
When you arrive in Canada, the immigration officer at the port of
entry will determine whether you may enter Canada and how long you may
stay. You must leave Canada on or before the date set by the
immigration officer or have your status extended by an immigration
officer in Canada.
May I change schools?
You must be in attendance of an approved type of institution. Whether
or not you may change schools depends on the Terms and Conditions
attached to your Student Authorization. You are generally allowed to
switch fields of study and the institution within a degree or diploma
program. If you wish to change from one type of educational
institution or from a degree or diploma program to another, however,
you are required to obtain a new authorization. In case of doubt,
phone your nearest Canada Immigration Call Centre in Canada to obtain
clarification.
May my children attend
school?
Your dependent children may be able to study in Canada. Before
attending classes, you must apply for and obtain a student
authorization for your children. Phone the nearest Canada Immigration
Call Centre in Canada for an application.
May I leave Canada and return?
Yes. However, should your student authorization expire while you are
out of Canada, you may not be allowed to return to study. An
immigration officer at the port of entry will decide if you still meet
the requirements for admission.
If you initially required a visitor visa in addition to a student
authorization, you will be able to return to Canada providing your
visa, passport and student authorization are all valid.
How do I obtain an extension of my student authorization?
Foreign students may renew their study permits. They can apply as
early as 90 days before, but no later than 90 days after their permit
expires. In addition, they must have observed all the conditions of
that permit and not be in breach of the Act.
Consequences for violations:
CIC officers can refuse to issue study permits to people who have
previously studied or worked in Canada without authorization.
Can I work in
Canada?
You may be able to work while you are
studying in Canada only in special situations. It can be difficult to
find a job in Canada. You should come to Canada with enough money to
live and pay your bills while you are studying.
However, there are some exceptions. Full-time students at a
publicly-funded post-secondary or degree-granting institution may work
in Canada. You may work at a job that is:
- on campus at the school, college or university where you study (no
work permit is needed); or
- related to your studies, for up to one year, and only after
graduation.
In these cases, your spouse or common-law partner may also apply to
get a work permit.
All students may also be able to work in Canada if:
-you run out of money for reasons that are out of your control; or
-the work is an essential part of a course of study (a co-op program
for example.)
Do not work without authorization. If you do, you may be asked to
leave Canada.
How do I obtain an employment authorization if I am a student?
If you have received a job offer on campus as a Graduate Assistant or
Research Assistant, or for work that is related to a research or
training program on campus, you do not require an employment
authorization.
Note: To be eligible, you need:
- a valid Student Authorization;
- to be registered in a degree/diploma granting course at a university
or community college;
- to be registered full-time;
- to work at the institution. The employer may be a private contractor
operating on the campus.
Are there any medical restrictions on the work I seek?
Yes. Unless you have already passed a medical exam, any work in areas
involving child care, primary or secondary teaching, health services,
and certain agricultural occupations requires medical clearance.
May my spouse work?
A spouse of a full-time student at a community college or university
may apply for authorization to work in the general labour market. The
spouse should phone a Canada Immigration Centre in Canada to obtain
more information about submission of an application.
A spouse may work only during the validity of the student
authorization. Any income earned while in Canada should not replace
the need to meet the financial requirements for the student
authorization. Also, a medical examination may be required.
Embassy contact information:
Please contact the nearest Canadian embassy for information on what
documentation you may require to enter Canada.
Embassies of Canada to Other Nations
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