How to Apply for Study Permit & Temporary Resident Permit

International students are required to firstly apply for Student Permit that authorises them to study in Canada at a designated institution. The Study Permit is not a visa, therefore, the international student has to apply for a visitor visa, or Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

How To Apply for Canada Study Permit?

It allows international students to study in Canada but at Designated Learning Institutions (DLEs).

Step 1: Apply for a course at college or university out of DLE List

DLE List (Click Here)

In addition, you must check that your institution is mentioned with the Covid-19 readiness plan.

list of DLIs with an approved COVID-19 readiness plan

The process is straightforward for genuine candidates with appropriate documents.

Step 2: Obtain Proof of Acceptance

The proof of acceptance is a letter of acceptance from the designated institute that confirms your admission to a particular course.

Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ)

If you wish to study in Quebec then you need to obtain this certificate from Gouvernement du Québec.

In case a student did receive CAQ but his/her CAQ is already approved by Gministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), then he/she can apply for study permit using approval letter from MIFI.

Step 3: Obtain Proof of Identity

It’s typically your passport with enough validity that covers your waiting time for a visa, your course, and also six months after the course. It’s always advisable to renew your passport if it doesn’t have much validity as it will cost more if you get it done through your country’s foreign mission during your stay in Canada.

Step 4: Proof of Financial Support

You need to prove that you have enough funds to support your tuition fees and living costs during your stay in Canada. In case your spouse and children need to accompany you, then you need also to show proof of financial support for them.

Typically, the following documents can be considered as your proof:

How Much Money Do you Need to Show for a Study Permit?

Funds for Outside Quebec
Persons coming to CanadaAmount of funds required per year (doesn’t include tuition)Amount of funds required per month (additional to the tuition)
You (the student)CAN$10,000CAN$833
First family memberCAN$4,000CAN$333
Every additional accompanying family memberCAN$3,000CAN$255
Source: Canada.ca

Example:

If you are coming to Canada with two family members, and wish to study and live outside Quebec:

Funds for Inside Quebec

Persons coming to CanadaAmount of funds required per year (additional to the tuition)Amount of funds required per month (additional to the tuition)
You (the student)CAN$11,000CAN$917
First family member (18 years or older)CAN$5,100CAN$425
First family member (under the age of 18)CAN$3,800CAN$317
Every additional accompanying family member (18 years or older)CAN$5,125CAN$427
Every additional accompanying family member (under the age of 18)CAN$1,903CAN$159
Source: Canada.ca

Example

If you are coming to Canada with two family members, wish to study and live in Quebec:

Step 5: Write a Letter of Explanation

This letter should help the visa officer to understand you and your goals that explain:

Step 6: Apply Study Permit

You need to apply for a study permit online, regardless, you are outside Canada or in Canada

Which Documents Are Required for Student Permit

  1. Proof of Acceptance. For Quebec, CAQ and/or approval from MIFI.
  2. Proof of identity
  3. Proof of financial support
  4. Letter of explanation
  5. Other documents like transcript/mark sheet and certificates of courses that qualify the admission
  6. Proof of English (scoresheet of IELTS, TOFEL, etc)

Fees for Study Permit: $CAN 150

Step 6: Apply for Temporary Resident Permit

Once you receive your study permit, you can apply for Temporary Resident Visa. This will require additional fees, and the following:

  1. Police Certificate
  2. Medical Exam

Fees for Temporary Resident Visa: $CAN 200

Four Steps for applying for Temporary Resident Permit

Step 1. Gather documents
You must have documents as per the checklist provided by the Canadian Immigration:
Document Checklist [IMM 5484] (PDF, 1.12 MB)
However, the visa officer may ask you to provide additional documents than the checklist.

Step 2. Complete the application
You need to fill out the following forms, whichever apply in your case:

Step 3. Pay the fees
You will have to pay the fees for the visa, and also for biometric
Application$CAN
Visitor visa (including super visa) – per person
Single or multiple entry temporary resident visa What’s this?
$100
Visitor visa – per family (1 fee per family of 5 or more people)
Single or multiple entries temporary resident visa What’s this?; maximum fee for a family of 5 or more people applying at the same time and place
$500
Transit VisaNo fee
Source: Canada.ca

Biometrics fees$CAN
Biometrics (per person)85
Biometrics (per family) (2 or more people)
Maximum fee for a family of 2 or more people applying at the same time and place
170
Source: Canada.ca

Step 4. Submit the application

Either you can submit your application online, or to a Visa Visa Application Center (VAC) 

Interview for Visa

You may be asked to attend an interview so you should be prepared to attend an interview with a visa officer. You should treat it as an opportunity to clarify the officer’s doubts. Humble and confident explanations that refer to proof can win you a visa.