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Study Permits

What is a Study Permit?

A study permit is a document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), grants permission for temporary residence and study in Canada. If your study duration in Canada exceeds 6 months, it is crucial to maintain a valid study permit and seek extension before its expiration if additional time is needed to complete studies. It is your responsibility to ensure the validity of your study permit.

The study permits do not serve as travel documents. Upon approval of a study permit application outside Canada, most students receive either a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), based on their citizenship, facilitating travel to Canada. US citizens are exempt from TRVs and eTAs.

For study permit extension applications within Canada requiring a TRV, a two-step process is necessary: first, applying for a study permit extension, followed by a separate TRV application upon approval of the extension. If an eTA is required for study permit extension, it is automatically issued.

Click here for information about inviting your parents from a visa-required location to Convocation.

How to Apply

The IRCC website directs most students outside Canada to submit a study permit application through the IRCC portal. You may apply through the IRCC secure account if you are applying for your spouse’s open work permit at the same time as your study permit as instructed by IRCC.

Create Your Document Checklist

The documents required for your study permit application differ based on your country of citizenship and other considerations. Below are the documents you will need to submit with your study permit application:

  1. Letter of acceptance
  2. A provincial attestation letter.
  3. Proof of identity
  4. Proof of financial support

Documents That May Be Required

Depending on your specific circumstances, you may need one or more of the following documents:

  • a letter of explanation
  • a study plan
  • a medical exam
  • a custodian declaration (minors only)

Following the Submisson of Your Application

 

Check processing times here.

Invite Your Parents from Visa-Required Countries to Convocation

If you are a resident of a country that requires a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to travel to Canada and wish to attend your child's convocation ceremony, you will need to apply for a TRV. Here is a brief guide to the process:

For further details and instructions, please visit the IRCC webiste:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/apply-visitor-visa.html

If You Need Assistance

Connect with International Student Support | Students - Wilfrid Laurier University (wlu.ca) on questions related to immigration, health insurance, and life as an international student in Canada.