Most foreign nationals need a study permit in Canada for a study program lasting six months or more. The permit is a document issued by IRCC that allows them to study at designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada. The permit is not a visa (Travel document), so it doesn’t let them enter Canada. They may also need a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA). If IRCC approves their application, they’ll issue one with their permit. Students interested in studying in Quebec must apply for a “Certificat d’Acceptation du Québec (CAQ)” before applying for the Permit. The validity of the Permit is generally equal to the duration of the program of studies plus an additional three months.
When IRCC refuses a permit, they provide a clear letter explaining the reasons. Knowing these common issues can help you feel more prepared and less uncertain about the process.
In recent years, obtaining a Canadian permit has been more of a dream for many students. Although Canada has long been a welcoming country for immigrants due to its geography, size, and small population, the refusal rate of Canadian TRVs, including Visitors, Study, and Work visas, has increased in recent years due to applicants’ lack of knowledge of Canadian immigration regulations. Over the last few years, the Canadian government has invested significantly in regulating immigration services. It finally created the CICC (The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants), which licenses and regulates Canadian immigration and citizenship consultants in the public interest, whether they practice in Canada or abroad. This protects the public from immigration fraud by ghost consultants worldwide, benefiting valuable immigrants seeking to increase their approval rate for Canadian visas through professional services.
At ARNIKA VISA, we help you to find the most tailored strategy to achieve your immigration goals. From filing the immigration forms to guiding you through supporting documents, we take care of it all. We can help you either entirely or partially, depending on our different packages. We can help you with the required personalized supporting documents to increase your chances of approval and, finally, submit your application to IRCC on your behalf as your authorized representative. If you want to discover how the RCIC can help you, the first step is to complete the Assessment Form (To detail your personal, educational, and employment information) available on the site.
A study permit authorizes you to remain and study in Canada legally. Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada do not require a permit to study in Canada, regardless of where they live. Some exceptions exist for individuals without a permit while in Canada. All others are international students and may require a study permit and a visitor visa to enter Canada. International students will receive their Permits in a paper format document, usually attached to their passport at the Canadian port of entry. They will need a study permit for the duration of their studies, and you must comply with its conditions.
The students must be advised that a permit alone does not authorize entry into Canada. They may require a visa to enter Canada. If IRCC approves the initial study permit application while the students are abroad, IRCC will issue one to them along with their permit. If IRCC approves the permit application while the students are in Canada, IRCC will not issue a visa, and they must apply separately for their Visa.
You may require a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI) to apply for a permit. After receiving your LOA, understand that processing times can vary, so start your application early to ensure timely approval before your intended start date.
We want you to feel empowered in your application journey. Our guidance helps you understand when and how to apply for your permit, so you can approach the process with clarity and confidence.
IRCC officers may issue a study permit to a foreign national if they have sufficient and available financial resources, without working in Canada, to:
A student visa for Canada costs CAD$150.This amount is the standard application fee for all permit requests. However, the CAD$85 biometrics charge is a requirement.
At ARNIKA VISA, we help you to find the most tailored strategy to achieve your immigration goals. From filing the immigration forms to guiding you through supporting documents, we take care of it all. We can help you either entirely or partially, depending on our different packages. We can help you with the required personalized supporting documents to increase your chances of approval and, finally, submit your application to IRCC on your behalf as your authorized representative. Suppose you want to discover how the RCIC can help you. In that case, the first step is to complete the Assessment Form (To detail your personal, educational, and employment information) available on the site.
Students may be able to get their permit faster (Usually 20 calendar days) through the Student Direct Stream (SDS) if they have legal residency status and reside in:
Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam
applications submitted electronically. To experience faster processing, the applicant must give his biometrics as soon as possible and meet all the eligibility requirements. Family members of the principal applicant applying under the SDS are eligible for concurrent processing if they apply simultaneously as the primary applicant.
At ARNIKA VISA, we help you to find the most tailored strategy to achieve your immigration goals. From filing the immigration forms to guiding you through supporting documents, we take care of it all. We can assist you entirely or partially based on our different packages. We can advise you professionally regarding the required personalized supporting documents to increase the chance of your approval and, finally, submit your application to IRCC on your behalf as an authorized representative. If you want to discover how the RCIC can help you, the first step is to complete the Assessment Form (To detail your personal, educational, and employment information) available on the site.
The validity of the Permit is usually equal to the duration of the study program plus an additional three months. Under certain circumstances, the student can apply to extend or restore the Permit, which will allow them to study or stay in Canada.
Permits are the most important documents issued by the IRCC to international students. It is crucial to ensure that your Study Permit stays active. You can apply for a renewal from within Canada. If the permit is valid and the students are accepted to another program, they can extend their student status and get a new permit. The IRCC has advised applying for the extension four months before the expiration of the current Permit. Nevertheless, if the Permit has expired, the students can still apply for an extension but will be on “implied status.” This means they will not be allowed to study or work and must wait until IRCC approves their extension request to resume their studies.
You can only extend your Permit by the expiry date of your passport. If your passport expires, you must renew it before you apply to extend your Study Permit. If you intend to travel outside Canada and your Permit expires, you should renew your Permit before you depart Canada. If you are from one of the designated countries, you need a valid Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to return to Canada. If you are extending your Permit, please wait until you get your Permit, then apply for your TRV. You must apply for both at different times.Â
If the permit has expired, the student cannot study or work under any conditions. They will still have ninety days after expiration to apply for a “restoration of status.” The student must explain why they only extended their Permit after their Permit expired. If the students stay in Canada beyond the 90 days following the expiration of their Permit, they would be banned from re-entering Canada for a while. They must return to their home country before these 90 days pass and re-apply if they have an acceptance letter to pursue their studies in Canada.
At ARNIKA VISA, we help you to find the most tailored strategy to achieve your immigration goals. From filing the immigration forms to guiding you through supporting documents, we take care of it all. We can help you entirely or partially based on our different packages. We can advise you professionally regarding the required personalized supporting documents to increase the chance of your approval and, finally, submit your application to IRCC on your behalf as an authorized representative. Suppose you want to discover how the RCIC can help you. In that case, the first step is to complete the Assessment Form (To detail your personal, educational, and employment information) available on the site.
The PGWPP (Post-Graduation Work Permit Program) is a fabulous program for international students who have graduated from eligible Canadian designated learning institutions (DLIs) and would like to gain valuable Canadian work experience after receiving an Open Work Permit. It is a once-in-a-lifetime work permit; it will be issued only once. This program is one of the bridging mechanisms for international students in Canada to transition from temporary resident status to permanent residency. An opportunity for International Students to earn back their investment in their education in Canada. Return on investment is high even if the international student doesn’t qualify for PR.
Students who have completed their program of study are allowed to work while waiting for a decision on their post-graduation work permit application (Implied status), provided they meet all the PGWP criteria. The Post-graduation work permits are exempt from Labour Market Impact Assessments. They are considered open and coded as C43. With a post-graduation work permit, as with all available work permits (They can work for any employer or anywhere in Canada), graduates can work full-time or part-time or work as self-employed. This work experience obtained through the PGWPP if the Skilled Canadian work experience in National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill type 0, A, or B helps graduates gain more points towards permanent residency in Canada.
Permanent Residency in Canada is achievable through a variety of Canadian Immigration programs. One of the most achievable pathways is for international students who graduate in Canada. If applicants are highly educated, speak and understand English or French to a high standard, and have already proven that they can adapt to Canadian life. For these reasons, Canada wants you to immigrate permanently. Canada’s federal economic immigration programs and many Provincial Nominee Programs offer bonus points for candidates who studied and graduated in Canada.
The length of PGWP depends on the student’s study program length, the amount of time the student spent studying, and the duration of studies while the student was physically in Canada. PGWP can be granted for a maximum of three years. Generally, graduating from a study program equal to two years or more qualifies a graduate for up to three years of work permit. If the program of study is less than two years but more than eight months, the student will be granted a work permit for the program of study. Each International graduate’s case for PGWP will be different because the applicant’s circumstances are different. Immigration officers can interpret the duration of studies in different ways, so there’s no guarantee of the length of the PGWP.Â
You may have heard about Express Entry, Canada’s primary economic immigration system.
Since Express Entry was introduced in 2015, the system has given some advantages to international students who completed studies in Canada. Express Entry favours young candidates with Canadian work and study practice and language ability, giving students and graduates in Canada an excellent chance of obtaining permanent residence. The most substantial change was the addition of up to 30 points in the CRS score for those who have completed a Canadian post-secondary educational credential.
Suppose you’re looking for a standard route to permanent residence in Canada for international students and graduates. In that case, a path already travelled by many of your peers — look no further than the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This immigration program allows individuals who have worked in Canada for at least one year to immigrate permanently.
After graduating in Canada and getting a post-graduation work permit, knuckle down and complete a year of skilled work, prove your language ability through a recognized test, and enter the Express Entry pool. If you don’t have enough CRS points to get an invitation to apply soon after, see our tips on improving your CRS score.
Another way to enter the Express Entry pool is as a skilled federal worker. Essentially, you have to score at least 67 points on a grid that assesses age, language ability, work experience, whether or not you have a job offer in Canada, and certain adaptability factors, including the previous study in Canada. This may be the route for you if you haven’t completed a year of skilled workers in Canada but have done so abroad.
There is also a third Express Entry program, the Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC), for qualified tradespersons.
Like the federal government, Canada’s provinces also want international students and graduates to stay. If Express Entry is not an option for you now or soon, or if you are struggling to meet the CRS cut-off thresholds in Express Entry draws, you should consider the PNPs.
When considering permanent residence in Canada for international students and graduates through the PNPs, please consider the province you graduated from and the province you want to live and work in. Some areas may allow you to apply even if you graduated in another province, while others restrict applications to those who graduated there. Most provinces have the International Graduate Stream, High or Semi-Skilled Workers, and express entry stream. Some require the applicant to have a job offer, and some do not.
At ARNIKA VISA, we help you to find the most tailored strategy to achieve your immigration goals. From filing the immigration forms to guiding you through supporting documents, we take care of it all. We can help you entirely or partially based on our different packages. We can advise you professionally regarding the required personalized supporting documents to increase the chance of your approval and, finally, submit your application to IRCC on your behalf as an authorized representative. If you want to discover how the RCIC can help you, the first step is to complete the Assessment Form (To detail your personal, educational, and employment information) available on the site.
