Study Permits

Attending academic courses in Canada

Individuals who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada require a study permit in order to study in Canada. Study permits are not needed for programs that are six month or less in duration, for courses that are not academic, professional or vocational in nature, for incidental courses included in tourist packages or for children attending nursery schools and kindergartens. In order to qualify for a study permit, individuals must demonstrate to Citizenship and Immigration Canada that they have been accepted by an educational institution and that they have sufficient funds to support themselves and any family members for the duration of their study program.

Prospective students must not have criminal records and they may be required to submit police clearance certificates as well as undergo medical examinations to prove that they will not burden Canada's health system. Once individuals have been accepted as students, they may work on campus without a work permit and can also, depending on the school they attend, apply for an off-campus work permit which allows up to 20 hours per week of off-campus work during the academic term and full-time work during scheduled breaks, including summers.

In order to qualify for an off-campus work permit, the student must be studying full time (defined as 15 hours of classroom instruction per week) in a publicly funded post-secondary institution that has signed an agreement with their province or territory. When considering schools to apply, it is recommended that prospective students find out in advance whether their school qualifies for off-campus work permits and post-graduate work permits. Choosing a qualifying school can mean the difference of being able to successfully immigrate to Canada after graduation or having to return to one’s country of origin. If you are a prospective student thinking of coming to Canada, you can book a consultation with our law firm to find out if the school you have in mind qualifies for off-campus and post-graduate work permits.

Can my family join me in Canada while I am a student?

Immediate family members of students such as spouses, common law partners, and dependant children (generally up to 22 years of age) can accompany the student to Canada for the duration of the study permit. Spouses may apply for their own work or study permits while they are in Canada and children may apply for their own study permits as long as the family can demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves while in Canada, as well as ties to their country of origin.

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