Who Needs a Study Permit? How to Apply for a Study Permit

Before starting a particular study program in Canada, there are many requirements to consider, but the first thing that should come to your mind is the study permit. And you start from there.

It’s a permit that allows you to study at DLI (Designated learning institution). But who needs a study permit? Is anyone exempt from obtaining a study permit?

Certainly yes, and in this article, you will find exact information about eligibility criteria and groups of individuals who fall into that category and who do not.

What Constitutes a Study Permit?

A Study Permit gives you the authority to stay and study in Canada. As one of the primary responsibilities of an international student, you must be enrolled in a Designated learning institution (DLI), either full-time or part-time, during the semester. So, it’s necessary for those attending full-time degree or diploma programs.

You mustn’t be absent from your study program for more than 150 days and notify the authority when you change a DLI. 

As for the rights, you can be eligible for part-time (up to 20 hours per week) work during your studies.

The available types of study permits are:

• A study permit to study in Canadian universities 
• A study permit for colleges in Quebec

Let's just separate the two terms: student visa vs. study permit. Although these terms are related, it’s important to emphasise that a study visa allows you to enter Canada, and a study permit will enable you to study.

Who Needs a Study Permit?

Foreign nationals who wish to study in Canada must obtain a study permit necessary for participating in academic, professional, or vocational training. 

Before that, you must obtain a visitor visa to obtain a study permit in Canada.

General criteria for international students who must obtain a study permit before commencing their studies are to provide the necessary documentation, show proof of sufficient funds to cover tuition fees, living expenses and return transportation, have no criminal record and be in good health.

Also worth mentioning when it comes to eligibility is that you get a personal reference code when you use the online eligibility tool on your IRCC account to start an online application for a visitor visa, study permit or work permit.

Categories of individuals who typically require a study permit:

• Individuals enrolled in short-term courses or programs (less than six months) may also need a study permit if they pursue to extend their studies
• Students wishing to work on or off campus as part of their program may require a study permit
• Family members or staff of foreign representatives accredited by the Canadian government, including members of the foreign military

As for some individuals, different rules may apply.

Diplomats and Foreign Representatives

A study permit is not mandatory for diplomats' children certified by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. Your entry is initially granted for a period of 6 months.

Documentation or proof, which is required to validate their exemption status, contains:

• Diplomatic or official visa
• The passport is sent to the Protocol Office at the GAC, which will stamp a diplomatic (D), consular (C), official (J) or international (I) acceptance plate on the passport

Military Personnel

Members of the armed forces, both military and certain civilian personnel, who come to Canada from a country designated under the VFA are on official duty and want to attend a specific program, so they are exempt from the study permit. An essential document they should have is a letter of acceptance from the Canadian Department of National Defense (DND).

You should have a letter of acceptance from the Canadian Department of National Defence.

Minor Children

Minors can study without a study permit at preschool, primary or secondary level if:

• Their parent (biological or adoptive) is a Canadian citizen and permanent resident
• The parent is authorised to work or study in Canada (temporary residents who hold work permits, study permits, and
• The status of visitors authorised to work without a permit

Otherwise, minor children whose parents are temporary visitors and are not authorised to work or study will need to have a study permit to study in Canada. Plus, it can be required for those transitioning from secondary to post-secondary education in Canada

Who Doesn't Need a Study Permit?

In other cases, some individuals are exempt from having a study permit. Whether it is because of the circumstances that led them to come to Canada or perhaps a shorter study program, there are undoubtedly different rules that imply:

• Short-term students
• Family or staff of foreign representatives
• Members of the Visiting Forces Act (VFA)
• Registered Indians in Canada
• Kids in Canada
• Temporary Residents and Asylum Seekers Taking French Language and Culture Courses
• Temporary Residents Taking Settlement and Integration Courses

Below is a brief explanation of each exception.

Short-Term Students

If you are interested in attending a time-bound program that lasts six months or less, you are exempt from the study permit requirements. You have to finish the program within the deadline, and if you are wondering if you want to extend your visa, know that it is not possible in this case.

The conditions you must meet to qualify as a short-term student exempt from needing a study permit are:

• Courses of general interest or self-improvement: If you enrol in courses of personal interest and improvement
• Distance learning: A study permit is not required for short-term distance learning programs (online courses lasting less than six months)
• Audited Courses: Courses without credit or grades
• A study permit is not necessary for courses included in tour packages as incidental learning
• A study permit is not needed for auditors of courses who do not receive academic credit

Family or Staff of Foreign Representatives

Exemption criteria also apply to family or staff of foreign representatives in connection with study permits.

This means that if you are a family member of a foreign representative, you can study in Canada without a study permit.

As we have already stated, in this case, it is necessary to submit the following documentation

• Official visa
• The passport is sent to the Protocol Office in GAC

Members of The Visiting Forces Act (VFA)

A Visiting Force Agreement (VFA) is an agreement between a country and a foreign nation in which military forces visit that country. Official bodies and courts are authorised to exercise all criminal and jurisdictional activities.

A study permit is not required for members of foreign armed forces ((as part of the military or civilian personnel)  under the Visiting Forces Act

However, members of the VFA will need some documentation to verify VFA status:

• Passport: Travel document showing your identity and nationality
• Military Identification Card: A card issued by your home country's armed forces

Registered Indians in Canada

Registered Indians, sometimes called Status Indians, don’t need a study permit.

The relevant legislation for Registered Indians in Canada includes:

• They are registered under the Canadian Indian Act
• This exemption is based on recognising the unique formal and legal status of registered Indians in Canada

This applies only to registered Indians and not all individuals of Indian origin.

Kids in Canada

Minors don’t need a study permit if they attend educational programs lasting six months or less, but it is necessary for those studying in Canada for more than six months, obligating them to apply for a study permit before entering Canada (does not apply to short-term courses or programs under six months).

A study permit is not needed for minor children already in Canada with parents who have legal status. However, minors whose parents are temporary visitors and are not authorised to work or study will need a study permit in Canada.

Temporary Residents and Asylum Seekers Taking French Language and Culture Courses

Temporary residents with a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) can travel to Canada, and it's issued for the same length as your study or work permit. 

Similar to a refugee, an asylum seeker is someone who seeks protection and safety in another country because of danger in their home country. 

However, they also tend to study and attend some programs in Canada,

Some of them are:

• French language courses
• Culture courses

Temporary Residents Taking Settlement and Integration Courses

IRCC's settlement program aims to help immigrants and refugees learn and gain long-term experience to integrate into Canadian society. 

Qualifying courses for temporary residents may be:

• Settlement courses
• Integration courses

There are certain exemptions for temporary residents taking settlement and integration courses in the form of support they need to build networks in their new communities.

When Do I Apply for a Study Permit?

Ideally, you should apply as soon as you receive your acceptance letter from your DLI so your application can be documented in a timely manner.

How long will you wait for confirmation, duration-dependent assessing all applications. 

Study permit processing time for applications submitted outside of Canada is twelve weeks, while applications submitted within Canada are currently four weeks. You can track the processing time of your application on the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website, and it starts when they receive your application and ends when they make a decision.

Factors that might affect application timing, such as intake seasons or visa processing times, are:

• Your medical and security screening takes longer than usual
• Interview process length
• Communicating with IRCC by mail instead of using an online account
• You don't respond to the requests for information quickly
• High applications volume

How Do I Apply for a Study Permit?

Crucial steps in the study permit application process are:

1. Get the acceptance letter from DLI. You must submit a birth certificate, a passport, personal information and photo, and an English language proficiency test to your institution. To study in Quebec, you will need a CAQ (a certificate of acceptance (Certificat d’acceptation du Québec)
2. Get your paperwork prepared. You will need to obtain a temporary residence permit, biometrics, a medical exam, a police certificate, an English testing certificate
3. A letter of explanation
4. If you are a minor, you need a custodian declaration
5. You will need to pay for a study permit

Mention BorderPass

For a successful application, you will need to avoid common mistakes, such as:

• No study plan
• Late check-in
• Poorly organized and incomplete documents
• Lack of proof of funds
• Ties to your homeland

What Do I Need to Apply for a Study Permit?

When you apply for a study permit, it’s mandatory to submit the following documents:

• A letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI)
• A valid passport or travel document
• A provincial attestation letter (PAL) from the province or territory where you plan to study
• Proof of financial support

Each of these documents must have accurate information to submit a complete application. You may be rejected if your application is incomplete for some specific reason.

To ensure documents meet the requirements, you should:

• Check your study permit eligibility
• Ensure that information is complete and accurate in every section
• Translations must not be done by the applicants themselves nor by members of the applicant’s family

Key Takeaways

• Foreign nationals who wish to study in Canada must obtain a study permit
• Some have to adhere to certain rules, including diplomats and foreign representatives, military personnel, or minor children, but there are also some exemptions for individuals, such as short-term students, family or staff of foreign representatives, members of the Visiting Forces Act (VFA), registered Indians in Canada, and asylum seekers 
• Study permit processing time for applications outside of Canada is twelve weeks, and within Canada, it is currently four weeks
• Submitting the required documentation is procedural in the application process, required by individuals attending a designated learning institution

An extra tip for all those considering applying for a study permit is to research the requirements thoroughly, including all documentation. Be prepared to submit a complete application package, and consult with a qualified immigration consultant or lawyer to ensure your application goes smoothly. At BorderPass, you quickly go through all the requirements from start to finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Work While on A Study Permit?

Yes, you can work up to 20 hours per week. But you can work full-time if you were able to work off-campus during your previous studies, have a valid study permit, have extended your study permit before it expired, or have received written confirmation from your DLI about completing your program.

How Long Is the Canadian Study Permit Valid?

The study permit lasts as long as your study program lasts, plus 90 days, in case you want to extend your studies or leave Canada. You officially stop studying when your school notifies you with a letter of completion.

If you have been considering continuing your studies, you must apply for an extension of your permit at least 30 days before it expires. In the meantime, you will continue to attend the program until you receive your confirmation of extension. The passport must be valid.

What Happens if I Want to Change Schools or Programs?

A new study permit is required for those changing institutions or programs within Canada. So, if you change your DLI, you must submit a new study permit application with a new acceptance letter and pay all new application fees.

What is very important is that you inform the immigration authorities or regulatory institutions. This doesn’t mean that you should change your study permit. After you stop attending a program-specific, you have 150 days to start a new course at another DLI. In case you want to continue your studies, a study permit must be renewed or extended as per the study program's duration.