Studying in Canada

More than 130,000 students come to study in Canada every year and even more come to Canada to learn English or French. Foreign students bring a rich culture to our classrooms. Your knowledge and skills are welcome in our schools.

The provinces regulate education and schools in Canada. For more detailed information on living and studying in a specific province or territory, contact the school where you wish to study.

Studying in Canada: Study permits?Before you apply

Before you can apply for a study permit, you must have been accepted at a recognized school, university or college in Canada.

To be eligible to study in Canada

• You must have been accepted by a school, college, university or other educational institution in Canada.
• You must prove that you have enough money to pay for your:
  • 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 complete a medical examination, if necessary.
• You must satisfy an immigration officer that you will leave Canada when you have completed your studies.

Exceptions

In some cases, you do not require a study permit to go to school in Canada.

• If you wish to study in a short-term course or program
  You do not need a study permit if you plan to take a course or program in Canada that lasts six months or less. You must complete the course or program within the period authorized for your stay in Canada.
  
  Even if you do not need a study permit, it is a good idea to apply for a permit before you come to Canada. If you decide that you want to continue your studies in another program after you complete your short-term course or program, you must apply through a Canadian visa office outside Canada for a study permit if you do not already have one.

Countries and territories whose citizens require visas in order to enter Canada as visitors

Citizens of the following countries and territories require a Visa to VISIT or TRANSIT Canada:


Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Argentina Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Belarus Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia-Herzegovina Brazil Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi   Cambodia Republic of Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Chile China People?s Republic of Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Costa Rica  Cuba Czech Rep'ublic Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Ethiopia

Fiji Gabon Gambia Georgia Ghana Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras

India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel (only Israeli citizens holding valid Israeli ?Travel Document in lieu of National Passport?) Ivory Coast  Jamaica Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, North Kosovo Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan  Laos Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Lithuania (holders of non-biometric passports only)

Macao S.A.R. Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Islands Mali Marshall Islands Mauritania
Mauritius Mexico Micronesia, Fed. States Moldova Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Myanmar (Burma) Nauru Nepal Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Oman Pakistan Palau Palestinian Authority Panama Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland (holders of non-biometric passports only)  Qatar  Romania Russia
Rwanda    Sao Tomé e Principe Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia
South Africa Sri Lanka Sudan Surinam Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe

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Visitor Visa Exemptions

Many people do not require a visa to visit Canada. These include:

• citizens of Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (National Passport holders only), Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Latvia (Republic of), Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Slovenia, Switzerland, United States, and Western Samoa;
• persons lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence who are in possession of their alien registration card (Green card) or can provide other evidence of permanent residence;
• British citizens and British Overseas Citizens who are re-admissible to the United Kingdom;
• citizens of British dependent territories who derive their citizenship through birth, descent, registration or naturalization in one of the British dependent territories of Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena or the Turks and Caicos Islands;
• persons holding a British National (Overseas) Passport issued by the Government of the United Kingdom to persons born, naturalized or registered in Hong Kong;
• persons holding a valid and subsisting Special Administrative Region passport issued by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People?s Republic of China;
• persons holding passports or travel documents issued by the Holy See.

You may be able to find the nearest office accepting applications for Student Visa using the following website link for Immigartion Canada.  http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/apply-
where.asp 

Information above is only for general information.  Rules and Regulations may change from time to time  therefore we ask that for most accurate and up=to-date information and advice you check the following website od the Immigration Canada Department :

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/index.asp

Study permits

1. Do I need a study permit to study in Canada?
2. How do I apply to study in Canada?
3. How do I find out about schools, colleges, universities or other educational institutions in Canada?
4. When should I apply for my study permit?
5. What is a temporary resident visa?
6. How do I apply for a temporary resident visa?
7. How do I get information on studying in Quebec?
8. How do I pay the fee for a study permit?
9. How do I find out if I need a medical examination to study in Canada?
10. How do I renew my study permit while I am in Canada?
11. How do I get a copy of a lost study permit?
12. Am I allowed to return home for a visit or travel outside Canada during my studies?
13. I am already in Canada and have a valid study permit. I would like to change my school or program of studies. What do I need to do to modify my study permit?

Work permits for students

1. How do I find out if I can work while studying in Canada?
2. Can I still work in Canada even if I don’t apply under a student-related work permit program?
3. If I receive an off-campus work permit for how long is it valid?
4. Is there a fee to apply for an off-campus work permit?
5. Once I apply for an off-campus work permit, how long will it take to process my application?
6. If I am eligible and the institution where I study is participating in the program, can I apply for a job off campus right away, or do I have to wait until I receive my off-campus work permit?
7. Are there any restrictions on where I can work or the type of job that I can apply for under the Off-Campus Work Program?
8. Are there any restrictions on how many hours I can work once I receive my off-campus work permit?
9. I am considering studying in Canada. Can I apply for an off-campus work permit at the same time as I apply for my study permit?
10. What must I do to extend my stay or change my status (for example, from a full-time student to a full-time worker)?
11. Why is the Off-Campus Work Permit Program not available to foreign students when they start their studies?
12. How do I find out if the institution where I study participates in the Off-Campus Work Permit Program?