New rules to reduce the
potential for fraud or misuse of the program, protect Canada’s international
reputation for high-quality education and improve the services available to
genuine students came into force on June 1, 2014.
- Limit the issuance of study permits to applicants who will be studying at a designated learning institution (DLI), including institutions that are designated by provinces and territories on the basis of meeting minimum standards;
- Require students to actively pursue their studies while in Canada; and
- Allow full-time international students enrolled at designated institutions in certain programs to work part-time off campus and full-time during scheduled school breaks without a work permit.
As of June 1, 2014, all study
permit holders in Canada will need to actively pursue studies. This means that:
- If you hold a study permit, you must remain enrolled and make reasonable and timely progress towards completing your program; and
- Failing to do so could lead to your removal from Canada.
Your educational institution
will report to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) on your continued
enrolment and academic status. You may also be asked by an immigration officer
to provide evidence of your continued enrolment and academic status.
If you are no longer a student
but wish to remain in Canada as a visitor, please see Visit Canada.
Attending a designated learning institution
To apply for a study permit on
or after June 1, 2014, you will need to have a letter of acceptance from a
designated learning institution.
- Each province and territory in Canada is responsible for designating schools at the post-secondary level that may enroll international students on or after June 1.
- A list of designated learning institutions at the post-secondary level will be available on the CIC website by June 1, 2014.
- If your study permit application is received on or after June 1 and your letter of acceptance is from an institution that is not designated for international students, your application will be refused.
- All primary and secondary institutions in Canada are automatically designated but will not appear on the designated learning institution list. If you are applying for your child to study in Canada at the primary or secondary level, please see get a study permit.
If your application for a study permit is received before June 1,
2014, and your letter of acceptance is from an institution that is not
designated for international students:
- Your application will be processed and you may still pursue your program of study at that institution for the duration of your study permit; and
- You will be able to renew your study permit in order to complete your program, but not beyond June 1, 2017.
If you were issued a study permit before June 1 and are
studying at an institution that is not designated for international students:
- You will be able to pursue the program of study that you are enrolled in for the duration of your current permit; and
- You will be able to renew your study permit in order to complete your program, but not beyond June 1, 2017.
If the institution you are studying at loses its status as a
designated learning institution after you have already been
issued a study permit, you will be able to pursue the program of study that you
are enrolled in for the duration of your current permit. To renew your permit
you must enroll at a designated learning institution.
Applying for a study permit on or after June 1, 2014
You will need to identify the
institution by its designated learning institution number on the application
form. This number can be found on the designated learning institution list,
which will be published on the CIC website by June 1, 2014.
You must also meet the standard eligibility
criteria for a study permit.
You must prove that you have
enough money to pay for you’re:
- Tuition fees;
- Living expenses for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada; and
- Return transportation for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada.
- You must be a law-abiding citizen with no criminal record and not be a risk to the security of Canada. You may have to provide a police certificate.
You must be in good health and
willing to undergo a medical examination, if necessary.
You must satisfy an immigration
officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay.
Six months or less of study
A study permit is not needed if
you want to take short-term courses or programs of study of six months or less.
You may enroll in short-term programs at any learning institution, regardless
of whether or not it is designated.
If, however, you would like to
get a study permit for studies of six months or less, you must attend a
designated learning institution.
If you are from a
non-visa-exempt country, you must have a valid visitor visa.
Changing institution or program
If you are thinking about
changing your institution or your program, you need to make sure that you meet
the conditions of your study permit on an ongoing basis. This includes the
requirements to be enrolled at a designated learning institution (DLI) and to
be actively pursuing your studies while you are in Canada.
Changing institution at the post-secondary level
If you applied for a study
permit to attend a post-secondary institution after June 1, 2014, you must
notify Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) via your account every time you
change institutions. You are not required to apply for a new study permit when
changing institutions that are at the same level of study (e.g., from a college
to a university).
For example, you must notify CIC
if you submit a letter of acceptance from the University of Ottawa when you
apply for your study permit but then transfer to Carleton University once you
arrive in Canada.
- You are not required to notify CIC when you change institution if:
- You applied for a study permit prior to June 1, 2014;
- You were issued a study permit to attend an institution at the primary or secondary level; or
- You obtained a study permit as the family member of a study or work permit holder (i.e., you were not required to submit a letter of acceptance when applying for a study permit).
Get step-by-step instructions on
how to notify CIC that you have changed DLI’s using your account.
Working off campus
New rules that take effect on
June 1, 2014, make it easier for study permit holders to work off campus.
Full-time students pursuing an academic, professional or vocational training
program at a designated learning institution will be:
- Eligible to work off campus without a work permit;
- Allowed to work off campus for up to 20 hours per week during a regular academic session and full time during regularly scheduled breaks; and
- Able to work off campus immediately rather than waiting six months.
To be able to work in Canada,
however, you must be registered and enrolled at your designated learning
institution, and you must get a Social Insurance Number from Service Canada.
On June 1, 2014, the Off-Campus
Work Permit Program (OCWPP) was terminated as part of the regulatory changes to
the International Student Program. Students who hold a study permit and a work
permit under the OCWPP may continue to work off campus under their existing
Off-Campus Work Permit. However, participating institutions are no longer
required to provide attendance and status reports of Off-Campus Work Permit
holders via the Electronic Notification System (ENS).
On June 1, 2014, if you hold a study permit and a work permit under
the Off-Campus Work Permit Program, you may continue to work off
campus under your existing Off-Campus Work Permit.
On June 1, 2014, if you hold a study permit and you have applied for
but not yet received your Off-Campus Work Permit, you
should wait for your work permit application to be processed and begin working
off campus once you have received your Off-Campus Work Permit.
On June 1, 2014, if you hold a study permit but you have not yet
applied for an Off-Campus Work Permit, you are authorized to work off
campus without a work permit as long as you meet the eligibility requirements
for working off campus.
If you apply for a study permit on or after June 1, 2014, the
conditions relating to your eligibility to work off-campus will be written on
your study permit.
In all scenarios, you must
continue to meet the conditions of your study permit in order to remain
eligible for off-campus work. If you are studying English or French as a second
language (ESL/FSL), or participating in general interest or preparatory
courses, you will not be eligible to work during your studies, unless you
become eligible to apply for a work permit with a positive Labor Market Impact
Assessment from Employment and Social Development Canada.
It is your responsibility and
your employer’s responsibility to ensure that you are eligible to work off
campus without a work permit before you begin working. If you begin working off
campus without meeting the eligibility requirements, you may be subject to
enforcement action under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
Work as part of a co-op/internship program
New rules may affect your
eligibility to work as part of a co-op or internship program:
- Starting June 1, 2014, you will be able to work as part of a co-op or internship program only if the work is an essential part of an academic, vocational or professional training program offered by a designated learning institution.
- To work as part of a co-op/internship program, you will need a co-op work permit that is separate from your study permit.
- If you are studying English or French as a second language (ESL/FSL), or participating in general interest or preparatory courses, you will not be eligible to work during your studies, unless you become eligible to apply for a work permit with a positive Labor Market Impact Assessment from Employment and Social Development Canada.
On June 1, 2014, if you already have a co-op work permit and are not
studying at a designated learning institution, you
will be able to:
Work for the duration of your current permit; and
Renew your co-op work permit in order to complete your program, but
not beyond June 1, 2017.
On June 1, 2014, if you already have a co-op work permit and are
enrolled in a program that does not qualify as an academic, vocational or
professional training program, you will be able to:
- Work for the duration of your current permit; and
- Renew your co-op work permit in order to complete your program, but not beyond June 1, 2017.
If your application for a co-op work permit is received before June 1,
2014, you do not need to be enrolled in an academic, vocational or
professional training program offered by a designated learning institution to
receive the work permit. You may also renew your co-op work permit in order to
complete your program, but not beyond June 1, 2017.
Applying for a study permit from within Canada
If you are in Canada as a
visitor and wish to apply for a study permit to attend a designated learning
institution, you may be able to do so from within Canada. As of June 1, 2014,
certain foreign nationals may apply for and receive a study permit from within
Canada. These include:
- Minor children studying at the primary or secondary level;
- Exchange or visiting students; and
- Students who have completed a short-term course or program of study that is a condition for acceptance at a designated institution.
For more information on applying
for a study permit from within Canada, please see get a study permit.
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