Applying for Study Permit in Canada – 2023 Intake

So, got admission to your dream college/university in Canada? Congratulation! Now, you next step to study in Canada is to obtain a study permit for Canada. A Canadian student visa allows you to live in Canada as an international student, whereas a Canada study permit allows international students to study and work in Canada. 

Since the Canada study permit is provided to international students on their arrival to Canada. So, after your application has been accepted by a college/university in Canada, the first step will be to apply for a Temporary Student Visa. This visa is provided by the Canadian High Commission and facilitated by the Visa Application Centers.

Do go through the application for a Canada study permit checklist before sending you Canada study permit application. You might also be required to submit a letter of explanation for Canada study permit.

Here we will guide you on the following steps to get your study permit for Canada:

What is a Canada Study Permit?

So, what actually is a study permit for Canada? In simple words, a Canada study permit is a document that needs to be obtained by international students wishing to study at a Designated Learning Institute (DLI) in Canada. 

However, a Canada study permit should not be confused with a Canada student visa. A student visa allows you to live and study in Canada, while a Canada study permit allows you to Study in Canada From Nepal. You should apply for the Canada study permit before your travel to Canada.

Who Can Apply for Canada Study Permit?

Unlike a Canadian Visa that can be applied by anyone who are eligible for application, a Canada study permit is something that is applicable only for international students who are willing to study in Canada. 

This document allows international students to study and work in Canada. The Canada study permit will also help you get work permit in Canada. 

So, in summary, any foreign students who are willing to study in Canada and have obtained acceptance letter from the college/university can apply for Canada study permit.

Eligibility Requirements to Apply for Canada Study Permit

International students need to fulfil certain criteria in order to be eligible to apply for a Canada study permit.

The eligibility criteria to apply for Canada Study Permit are:

• You should be enrolled at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada
• You should provide financial evidence stating that you can cover your

• tuition fees
• living expenses for yourself andany family members who come with you to Canada and
• return transportation for yourself andany family members who come with you to Canada

• You should assure that obey the law, have no criminal record and get a police certificate (if required)
• You should be in good health and get a medical exam (if required)
• You should prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your Canada study permit expires.

Documents Required for Canada Study Permit – Get the Right Documents

You need to submit various documents while applying for your Canada study permit. Here we’ll guide you on the documents required while applying for study permit for Canada.

Proof of Acceptance for Canada Study  Permit

The Letter of Acceptance provided by your college/university is a prerequisite for applying for a study permit in Canada. Thus, while applying for a Canada study permit, you’ll need to include the original or electronic copy of your college/university acceptance letter along with your study permit application.

Conditional Acceptance and Prerequisite Courses – Canada Study Permit

If you need to take a prerequisite Course before can start your main course of study, you’’ll be provided with conditional acceptance. In conditional acceptance, the Canada study permit will be equivalent to the length of your prerequisite course plus one year. You’ll need to apply for actual Canada study permit after you complete this prerequisite course.

Proof of Identity for Canada Study Permit

While applying for a study permit for Canada, you’ll need to provide a proof of identity. If your family is traveling with you, they’ll also be required to provide their proof of identity. The documents to demonstrate your proof of identity includes:

• A Valid Passport or Travel Document

If you are applying online for Canada study permit, you’ll need to upload a copy of the information page of your passport.

• Two(2) Recent Passport-size Photos

Along with a valid passport or travel document, you’ll need to upload two recent passport-size photos. If you are submitting your application offline for Canada study permit, you need to write your name and date of birth at the back of each photo.

Proof of Financial Support | Proof of Fund Canada Study Permit

The Government of Canada also demands you the Proof of Fund for Canada Study Permit which proves that you’ll be able to support yourself, and the family members who come with you, during your stay in Canada. Here are the documents that will provide your proof of financial support:

• If you’ve transferred to Canada, you need to provide the proof of having a Canadian bank account in your name
• Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution
• Proof of obtaining a student or education loan from a bank
• bank statements for the past 4 months
• a bank draft that can be converted to Canadian dollars
• proof of payment of tuition and housing fees
• if you have a scholarship or are in a Canadian-funded educational program, you’ll need to provide a letter from the person or school giving you money or proof of funding paid from within Canada.

Additional Documents Required While Applying for Canada Study Permit

Additional Documents required while applying for Canada Study Permit are:

Letter of Explanation

In some cases, the international students might be required to submit a letter of application while applying for a Canada study permit. The letter of explanation allows you to explain your goals to the visa officers. The letter of explanation should include information on why you want to study in Canada and that you understand your responsibilities as a student

This letter is required if you decide to apply for a Canada study permit, even if you don’t have to get a Canada study permit for your program.

Certificat d’acceptation du Québec

If you want to study in a college/university in Quebec, you’ll need a certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) issued by the Gouvernement du Québec. The details regarding the application for Certificat d’acceptation du Québec will be provided by your college/university.

Who don’t need a Canada Study Permit to Study in Canada?

Even though all the foreign nationals willing to study in Canada require a study permit, there are some cases in which foreign nationals don’t need a permit to study in Canada.

Here are some of the cases in which a foreign national won’t require a Canada study permit:

International Students Applying for Short-term Studies

International students applying for programs or courses which lasts for six months or less. The students must assure that they’ll complete all their studies within the time we approved you to stay in Canada. The time period is usually 6 months after the students enter Canada.

However, if you are taking a prerequisite course that is less than six months, you’ll have to get a study permit. But, you’ll have to take a Canada study permit after completing your prerequisite course and before starting your main course.

Family or Staff of Foreign Representatives

If you are a family or staff member of a foreign representative to Canada that has been accredited by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), then you may not require a Canada study permit. Your embassy can contact GAC to find out if you need one.

Members of Foreign Armed Forces

The member of a foreign armed force on official duties in Canada don’t need a Canada study permit. But, if your family members, including minor children, want to study in Canada, they will need one.

Registered Indians in Canada

If you are a citizen of another country but have a registered Indian Status in Canada, you won’t need a  Canada study permit to study in Canada.

Minor children in Canada

In the following cases, minor children in Canada won’t require a Canada study permit:

• If they’re in kindergarten
• If they’re refugees or refugee claimants
• If their parents are refugees or refugee claimants or
• If they’re in pre-school, primary or secondary school, and they’re already in Canada with a parent who has a work or Canada study permit

Why Get a Canada Study Permit if you don’t Need One?

Some international students might want to get a Canada study permit even if they don’t need one. It will be good to have a Canada study permit in these cases:

You may be able to continue studying

If you have a Canada study permit and want to extend your study by few more months, you can continue studying in Canada while your permit is valid. You can continue your studies if your Canada study permit expires while your application for an extension is under process.

But, if you’re taking prerequisite classes required for a longer study program, you may not need a study permit for your prerequisite classes, but you may need one for your full study program. You may not be able to start your longer study program, depending on whether or not your study permit is processed in time.

You may be able to work on-campus or off-campus

Having a study permit will allow you work on-campus or off-campus. If so, your Canada study permit will include a condition that says you’re allowed to work while studying.

If you want to apply for study permit in Canada even if you don’t need one, you’ll need to submit a letter explaining why you want one with your application.

How to Apply for Canada Study Permit?

International students need to apply for Canada study permit before moving to Canada for their studies. In some cases, you can apply when you arrive in Canada at the port of entry. We at Canadian Study Center will help you understand which option is available to you. We will also provide you with a document checklist for Canada study permit application so that you won’t miss any documents.

We recommend you to send online application for your Canada study permit. Here are some of the benefits of applying for Cnada study permit online:

• You won’t need to pay courier fees and the application will be delivered instantly.
• Your Canada study permit processing time will be decreased.
• It helps you make sure your application is complete before you submit it.
• You can quickly submit more documents online (if we ask you to).
• You get updates on the status of your application directly in your online account.

Canada Study Permit Documents Checklist

The documents required to apply for Canada Study Permit are:

• Proof of Identity
• Proof of Acceptance
• Proof of Financial Support
• Letter of Recommendation (LOR)
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Fingerprints and Photo (Biometrics)
• medical exam (if required)
• police certificate (if required)

Canada Study Permit acceptance rate is not 100%, so sometimes Canada Study Permit gets rejected. However, it is not a black box. It is possible to backtrack actions conducted and steps taken to find where we went wrong.

Canada Study Permit Rejection Reasons

Some of the major reasons why the Canada Study Permit gets rejected are:

• English Language Proficiency
• Insufficiency in Funds
• Not Clear about Returning to Your Home Country
• Choice of Programs
• Acceptance Letter
• Insufficient Documentation
• Lack of Employment Chances in one’s own Country
• and many more among sea of reasons.

How long can you stay in Canada with a Study Permit?

The validity or length of the Canada study permit is usually equal to the length of your study program plus an extra 90 days. These extra 90 days are provided to the international students so that they can prepare to leave Canada after the completion of their studies or prepare for extending their stay in Canada.

However, the answer to “how long you can stay in Canada with a Canada study permit” depends on various circumstances. Here, we will explain each of them:

How long can you stay in Canada with a Canadian Study Permit: If you’re taking a prerequisite course

In some cases, your college/university might demand you to take some prerequisite courses before they accept you into your desired course/program. In this case, your Canada study permit will be equivalent to the time length of the course plus one year. After finishing the course, you’ll be accepted for the desired course/program. Then you can apply for extending your study permit.

How long can I stay in Canada with a Canadian Study Permit: If my studies are expected to finish after my study permit expires?

If you are unable to finish your course/program within the time frame of your Canada study permit, you’ll be required to extend your Canada study permit. If you fail to extend your Canada study permit, you’ll need to stop your studies and leave Canada.

How long can I stay in Canada with a Canadian Study Permit: If I finish my studies before my study permit expires?

In some cases, you’ll be able to complete your studies before your Canada study permit expires. In this case, your permit will be valid for 90 days after your studies have been completed, regardless of the date mentioned on your study permit.

Your date of study completion will be mentioned on the completion letter, transcript, degree or diploma provided by your college/university.

Can you Go Back Home While Studying?

Yes, you can go back home while studying in Canada. if you are leaving Canada while your studies are going on, you’ll be required to show the proof of your enrolment in a college/university in Canada while you return to Canada. If you have a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA), it must still be valid when you return to Canada

Conclusion

Please feel free to contact Canadian Study Center if you want to study in Canada from Nepal. Our expert counselors will guide you through the requirements to study in Canada from Nepal along with assistance for application of study permit in Canada.

Not only this, we will also help you choose the best university in Canada for you depending on your program of interest and budget. Our services include visa counseling, application processing, test preparation classes, documentation guide and pre departure orientation session.

We will also assist you in finding the suitable province in Canada as per your program, interest and attachments. We provide specialized visa counseling services for students willing to study in Canada from Nepal.

Learn more about Canadian Study Center here.