What are the Steps to Apply for Study Permit in Canada?
Studying in Canada is probably one of the best decisions you will make in your life. Not only because of the incredible landscapes and plans that this country offers, but also because of the great professional opportunities that it can offer you.
To do this, you will need a study permit and depending on the program you choose, you will obtain a series of benefits that will help you emigrate and develop as a professional.
Applying for a study permit is a process that requires a series of requirements in order to obtain it successfully. Pay attention to this post where we tell you everything!
Before applying for your study permit
1. Check your study options in Canada
As we tell you in our guide to choosing your best study option, there are three options to study in Canada. These study programs are classified into three types:
🗣️ English courses: these are academic courses where you will learn all the skills (speaking, writing, reading and listening) to improve and perfect your English and be able to succeed in Canada.
💼 Co-op programs : These are diplomas or study certificates focused on the area of business, tourism and marketing, among others, that will allow you to work in Canada.
If you apply for a study permit through this program, you will be able to work 20 hours per week while you study and 40 hours per week while doing the co-op (internship) part.
🎓 Higher education programs: certificates, diplomas, bachelor’s degrees, postgraduate degrees and master’s degrees. They usually take place in public schools and in some private ones and have a lot of international prestige.
If you apply for a study permit in Canada through this program, you will be able to work 20 hours per week while you study, 40 hours during vacation periods and once you finish your studies you will be able to apply for a Post Graduation Work Permit, an open work permit of up to 3 years.
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2. Determine the length of your program
To find out if you need a study permit or not, it is important that you determine how long your program will last.
✅ You will need to apply for a study permit if:
➡️ You study English or French for more than 6 months
➡️ You study any other study program for more than 6 months.
➡️ You are of any nationality that is NOT Mexico, Chile or Spain and you are going to study for less than 6 months.
❌ You will not have to apply for a study permit if:
➡️ You study for less than 6 months (only for Mexico, Chile or Spain)
3. Check your eligibility to apply for a study permit
Before applying for your study permit it is important that you check your eligibility:
✅ Be enrolled in a school or university that is a government designated institution (Designated Learning Institution ).
✅ Have enough economic funds to pay for school and to support you and your family (in case you travel with them) while you study. ( We explain this below in the section on the documents you need to check your eligibility 👇 ).
✅ Have a clean criminal record certificate (only in some cases).
✅ Medical certificate (only in some cases).
✅ Proof that you will return to your country of origin once you finish your studies (explained below).
Getting started with applying for your study permit.
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1. Gather all the documents that prove your eligibility
✅ LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE FROM THE SCHOOL :
You will have to meet the requirements requested by the school to enter the program in question and make the corresponding payment so that you are accepted and they can release the letter.
The school has to belong to the list of institutions designated by the government. With the acceptance letter you can start applying for your study permit.
✅ DEMONSTRATION OF ECONOMIC FUNDS:
➡️ Why do you have to demonstrate economic funds?
The Canadian government requires you to prove that you can afford the price of your study program. You must also have sufficient funds to cover your expenses and those of your family (if you are traveling accompanied) and transportation expenses to your place of origin if necessary.
This requirement is one of the most important and the one that will determine whether or not you are eligible for the student visa.
➡️ How much do you have to prove?
According to the government page , the amount to prove corresponds to the following sum depending on the situation in which you travel:
If you are going to study outside Quebec and…
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🙍 You are traveling alone: Price of the first year of your study program + $10,000 CAD.
👫 You travel with your partner: Price of the first year of your study program + $10,000CAD+ $4,000 CAD.
👨👩👧👦 You are traveling with your partner and children: Price of the first year of your study program + $10,000CAD+ $4,000 + $3,000CAD (for each child).
If you are going to study in Quebec and…
🙍 You are traveling alone: Price of the first year of your study program + $11,000 CAD.
👫 You travel with your partner: Price of the first year of your study program + $11,000 CAD + $5,100 CAD.
👨👩👧👦 You are traveling with your partner and children: Price of the first year of your study program + $11,000 CAD + $5,100 CAD + $1,903 CAD (per child).
It is important that you know that this requirement is key in your application . The more you can prove, the more favorable your application will be.
For people with nationalities from countries other than Spain, Mexico or Chile, it is recommended that 30% be added to this sum to the total so that there are fewer possibilities of denying the permit.
➡️ What documents are needed to demonstrate funds?
The documents you need to prove funds have to show that you can access that money at any time you need it. These are some examples:
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🔺 Bank statements for the last 4 months of yours or relatives with the amounts explained above.
🔺 Bank check that can be converted into Canadian dollars.
🔺 Proof of a student loan from a bank.
In addition, it is advisable to include proof that you have paid for the school (your application will be more favorable if you have paid the full amount of your study program).
✅ PROOF OF IDENTITY
🔺 Passport: it must be valid and it is recommended that it covers the duration of your program. Otherwise, they will give you the permit until the expiration date of your passport and you will have to make an extension of your permit.
✅ PROOF THAT YOU ARE GOING TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY ONCE YOU FINISH YOUR STUDIES
For the Canadian government it is important that you show that your intention is to be in the country temporarily and that your sole purpose is to complete your studies and return to your country of origin when you finish.
For this reason, it is important to write a letter to the immigration officer explaining your intentions and motivations to study in Canada and include some of these documents to reinforce your application:
🔺 Property document (they can be yours or your relatives).
🔺 Business possession document (they can be yours or your relatives).
🔺 Letter from an employer.
✅ OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Depending on the nationality you have, they may ask you for some extra requirements, such as:
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🔺Criminal record certificate: with this document you show that you have no record in your country.
🔺 Medical exam that certifies that you have no diseases.
2. Make the payment of your application
The price of the study permit is $150CAD. In case you need biometrics, $85CAD will be added.
➡️ What documents are needed to demonstrate funds?
The documents you need to prove funds have to show that you can access that money at any time you need it. These are some examples:
🔺 Bank statements for the last 4 months of yours or relatives with the amounts explained above.
🔺 Bank check that can be converted into Canadian dollars.
🔺 Proof of a student loan from a bank.
In addition, it is advisable to include proof that you have paid for the school (your application will be more favorable if you have paid the full amount of your study program).
✅ PROOF OF IDENTITY
🔺 Passport: it must be valid and it is recommended that it covers the duration of your program. Otherwise, they will give you the permit until the expiration date of your passport and you will have to make an extension of your permit.
✅ PROOF THAT YOU ARE GOING TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY ONCE YOU FINISH YOUR STUDIES
For the Canadian government it is important that you show that your intention is to be in the country temporarily and that your sole purpose is to complete your studies and return to your country of origin when you finish.
For this reason, it is important to write a letter to the immigration officer explaining your intentions and motivations to study in Canada and include some of these documents to reinforce your application:
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🔺 Property document (they can be yours or your relatives).
🔺 Business possession document (they can be yours or your relatives).
🔺 Letter from an employer.
✅ OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Depending on the nationality you have, they may ask you for some extra requirements, such as:
🔺Criminal record certificate: with this document you show that you have no record in your country.
🔺 Medical exam that certifies that you have no diseases.
- Make the payment of your application
The price of the study permit is $150CAD. In case you need biometrics, $85CAD will be added.
After applying for your study permit
1. Perform biometrics (if necessary)
Biometrics is the fingerprinting required by the Canadian government before approving or denying the permit you have requested.
If you have never done them, you must do so so that your application is complete and can be reviewed by an immigration officer.
The biometrics are carried out in a VAC center (Visa Application Centre) preferably in the country from which you made your application, although you can also do it from a country other than Canada. For more information about biometrics click here.
2. Waiting for the final decision
It is important that you know that the final decision on your application rests solely with the immigration officer who reviews it.
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Regardless of whether or not you meet the requirements, if the immigration officer is not convinced for any reason, he has the right to decide.
But do not worry! In most cases, if you meet the requirements and don’t have any priors, you’ll likely be approved.
➡️ How long does it take to respond?
Once you have completed the biometrics , your application is complete and is reviewed by the Canadian government.
Response times are never exact, they will always be approximate and vary from country to country. Use this tool from the government page to check the approximate times of your application.
✅ If your study permit is approved
!! Congratulations!! You can now travel to Canada! With your approval letter you will receive the POE letter ( Port of Entry ). Hey! this is not your study permit as such.
You will have to present the POE letter when you arrive at the border so that your study and work permit will be issued there (in the event that your program is a co -op program ).
❌ If your study permit is denied
You will receive a letter explaining the reasons why your permission has been denied. Depending on the reason for refusal, you will have two options:
🔺 Request a new study permit: Unless the denial letter of your application indicates that you cannot request another permit again and depending on the reason for which it was denied, you can make a new application.
🔺 Appeal the decision: If you believe that your application met all the requirements required by the government but the study permit was denied unfairly or incorrectly, you can appeal the decision and request a reconsideration.
Some of the reasons why you can be denied a study permit.
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🔺 Demonstration of economic funds is insufficient.
🔺 The immigration officer is not convinced that you will return to your country when you finish your studies.
🔺 Have a criminal record in your country or Canada.
🔺 Have worked illegally in Canada.
🔺 Your passport is expired.
🔺 Hiding information.
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