Students

Study Permit

With quality education at affordable fees, Canada has become the favorite destination among international students. Getting admission to Canadian universities requires an excellent academic score but no matter how high your score is, you can not study in Canada without a study permit.

Before you apply for a Canadian study permit, you must receive an acceptance letter from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada.

Eligibility & Requirements For Canada Student Visa

You must fulfill the following requirements before you apply for a study permit in Canada.

1. Acceptance Letter

You have to get admission to a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and receive your acceptance letter from the institute.

2. Proof of Financial Support

During the application process, you will need to show proof that you have enough funds to pay your tuition fees and take care of living expenses (housing, food, etc). Canadian Immigration expects a student to have at least CAD 10,000 for every year you stay in Canada.

3. Immigration Medical Examination (IME)

You have to undergo an Immigration Medical Examination to get your clinical records. It is to ensure you are in good health to travel to Canada. The IME test costs around $450 per person.

4. Statement of Purpose

You will have to submit an essay regarding the purpose of your travel to Canada and have to mention why you have chosen the particular institution in Canada.

5. Police Certificate

You will have to submit your police certificate as proof that you have no criminal record. It costs NPR 2,500 to apply for a police certificate.

6. English Language Proficiency Test

The result of your English Language Proficiency Test is not required at the time of your application for a study visa but we highly recommend it. You have to submit your proficiency score to confirm your admission to the university you have chosen. TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, CELPIP, etc are accepted in Canada. The required score may vary between universities in Canada.

Your transcripts, diplomas, degrees, and certificates are also important documents to make your study permit application process easy.

Application Process For Canadian Study Permit

If you meet all the requirements mentioned above, you can now proceed with your application for a Canada study permit. Below is the step-by-step process to apply for a Canadian study permit.

1. Prepare Your Application

Make sure you have all the required documents with you. It’s very important before you apply for the study permit as immigration officers can refuse your study permit if they feel you have not met all requirements.

2. Submit Your Application to IRCC

You can submit your Canada study permit application in two ways:

1. Submit an Electronic Application

In this process, you have to create an account on the official website of IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) and submit your application electronically using your scanned documents.

2. Submit a Paper-based application

In this process, you have to compile your application and send it to VAC (Visa Application Centre) assigned to your country via mail.

3. Travel to Canada

Once your application is approved, the Canadian government will issue a Port of Entry Introduction Letter for you with which you can travel to Canada. When you arrive at the airport, you will meet the immigration official. You will have to show your POE letter to the officer to obtain your study permit.

Post Graduate Work Permit

Canada has been ranked one of the top destinations for higher education in the world with top universities and colleges to choose from. In addition to the beauty of studying in Canada, international students can work in Canada and apply for permanent residency after completing their studies.

But students with a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) are only allowed to work in Canada. You can apply for a work permit after graduating from a Canadian study program. After receiving the work permit, you can work in Canada for up to 3 years and it is a great way to gain work experience in Canada which will help you obtain Canadian permanent residence.

Eligibility to Apply For PGWP

Your age should be at least 18.
You must have studied a Canadian study program full-time without taking breaks. You are allowed to take an authorized gap for less than 150 days. You can study part-time only in the final semester of your program.
Your study program should be at least 8 months in length.
You must have completed at least 50% of your study program in Canada.

Validity of Post Graduate Work Permit

PGWP is valid for between eight months to three years, depending on the length of your study program.

If the length of your study program is eight to twelve months, the validity of your post-graduate work permit will be one year.
If the length of your study program is greater than one year but less than two years, the validity of your post-graduate work permit will be equivalent to the length of your study program.
If the length of your study program is greater than two years, the validity of your post-graduate work permit will be three years.

Post-graduate work permits are only granted to students who have graduated from a Designated Learning Institute (DLI).

How to Apply For PGWP?

Once you graduate from Designated Learning Institute, request a Letter of Completion which indicates the length of your study program. You can access your letter in the Student Services Centre >Grades and Records> Program Completion Letter. You will receive your Letter of Completion in your mail.

Once you receive your Letter of Completion, you have to apply for the PGWP before your study permit expires. You must submit your application for PGWP within 180 days after you receive your Letter of Completion. If needed, you have to extend your study permit.

After you apply for the PGWP, the Government of Canada will process it. If you have applied online, it will take around 51 days for your application to be approved and if you have submitted a paper application, it may take 107 days.

Once your application is approved you will receive your work permit.

Study Pathways to Permanent Residence

Canada is home to multiple immigration options. By 2024, more than 1.3 million are expected to become permanent residents in Canada. International students with a post-graduate degree in Canada have opportunities to work in the country with a Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP), ultimately transition to permanent residence.

There are many pathways for international students in Canada to become permanent residents. When you have your PGWP in your hand, you can apply for numerous federal and provincial permanent residence avenues such as:

1. Express Entry

Candidates must have at least one year of full-time skilled work experience within the last 3 years (equivalent part-time experience will be considered). Strong English or French proficiency is also one of the factors in the Comprehensive Ranking System.

Express Entry is the most economic and fastest way to obtain a Permanent Residency in Canada. In this program, candidates are assessed through the Comprehensive Ranking System which is based on one’s education level, age, work experience, etc.

2.Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is another way to obtain a Permanent Residency in Canada. This program allows Canadian provinces and territories to choose graduate students for permanent residency who meet their specific economic and demographic needs. Requirements for the PNP program vary between provinces and territories.

3. Quebec Experience Class (QEC)

The Quebec province of Canada operates its own immigration system with programs to allow international graduates to obtain permanent residency in a way that is completely different from what the federal government offer. You can be a Canadian permanent resident through its Quebec Experience Program.

International students who have graduated with a study program in Quebec, and have an intermediate level of proficiency in the French language are qualified to become permanent residents under this program. You don’t need Canadian work experience for this immigration program.