Canadian study permits: what counsellors need to know

Canada is a popular destination for international students because of its relatively low tuition fees, high-quality universities and good graduate opportunities. 

However, counsellors need to stay abreast of the requirements of the visa application process, which can often feel complex and challenging. There are a lot of forms to fill out and deadlines to remember. 

The Canadian government has recently announced that it will cap the number of study permits it will process over the next two years. This might affect how many of your students will go on to study in Canada, but this doesn’t mean that students can’t consider Canada as a study-abroad choice. 

To help when advising students on studying in Canada, we’ve put together this easy-to-use table for a quick overview of what is involved when applying for a student visa for Canada.

See below for all the key information on Canadian study permits, including costs, deadlines, language requirements, whether you can work or not while a student and post-study work options.

Canada student visa requirements

What type of visa is required? Study permit. This also automatically grants a visa or electronic travel authorisation, which allows you to enter the country.

From 1 December 2023, a new version of the study permit application became available. This version must be used from this date and the old version of the form will not be accepted. 

How much does a visa application cost? CAN$150.

What are the language requirements? Most study permits have no language requirement, but universities will. To use the Student Direct Stream (a quicker application process open to students from some countries), you need a 6.0 or higher on the IELTS (for English) or at least a 7 in the TEF (for French).

What money do students need to show they can support themselves? Students must show they have CAN$10,000 available per year of study, plus tuition fees. In Quebec, this increases to CAN$11,000. This will also increase if students are choosing to bring family with them. 

Are there any additional charges? Applicants might also need to pay fees for possible additional checks. These include a biometric check costing CAN$85, a medical exam, police checks and language certification.

Can students work while studying? Students can work off-campus for up to 20 hours a week during their courses, and full time during breaks and holidays. There are no hour limits when working on campus, but students must fulfil a number of requirements first, such as having a Social Insurance Number (SIN) and a study permit that states they can work.

What are the post-study work options? The post-graduation work permit allows graduates to work in the country for up to three years if they took a course that was at least two years long. It costs CAN$255 to apply and takes an average of 130 days to process. 

When should a student start to apply for a student visa? A student should apply for a study permit as soon as they have received a letter of acceptance from their university. It takes roughly 10 weeks to process. Applicants resident in China, India, Morocco, Pakistan, the Philippines, Senegal and Vietnam can apply through the speedier Student Direct Stream, which usually takes 20 calendar days.

This article was originally published on THE Student and was repurposed for THE Counsellor