Almost all international students are required to have a Study Permit to study in Canada. If you are planning to come to Canada to study you must apply for the Study Permit in your home country before you leave to come to Canada.
There are some exceptions:
- If you wish to study in a short-term course or program, you do not need a Study Permit if you are planning to take a course or program in Canada with a duration of six months or less. You must complete the course or program within the period authorized for your stay in Canada.
- If you are a family or staff member of a foreign representative to Canada accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, you do not need a Study Permit to study.
Obtaining a First-time Study Permit
Students should apply for a Study Permit from the nearest Canadian Embassy, Consulate or High Commission in their region. Please allow at least two months for this process, but note that it can take as long as four months depending on where you live. Students should contact their nearest Canadian Embassy/Consulate/High Commission for further information regarding application procedures.
For further details visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) – Applications from Outside Canada.
Extending or Renewing a Study Permit
Most students will be required to extend their Study Permit during the course of their studies. This is done in Canada through the Case Processing Centre (CPC) in Vegreville, Alberta. All of the information that you require to renew your Study Permit can be found online from CIC or in the information handout which is available from the International Student Services Office . Applications for the Study Permit may be submitted online or mailed to the Case Processing Centre and will be returned to you once your Study Permit has been extended.
New: You now have two options available when submitting an application to change conditions or extend your stay in Canada as a student:
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Please allow approximately two months for your Study Permit to be processed. This means that if your Study Permit will expire April 30th, you should apply for an extension by the beginning of March. If you have let your Study Permit expire, you have 90 days from the expiry date to restore your status in Canada. You will be required to pay a $200 restoration fee and must provide an explanation.
- Application to change conditions or extend your stay in Canada as a student
- Current Processing Times
Tip! Make sure you know when your Study Permit expires and your passport. A Study Permit will not be extended if your passport is not valid. If your passport is expiring, you must first renew it and then extend your Study Permit.
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