Study Permit

Dual intent is present when a foreign national has applied, or may apply, for permanent residence in Canada but has also applied to enter Canada for a temporary period of time as a visitor, student or worker.

The Federal Court ruled that low grades in core courses can be a reasonable basis for refusing a study permit application in Canada.

Starting today, master's students in Canada can now look forward to a three-year post-graduation work permit (PGWP), even for programs shorter than two years.

For all international students with study permit applications received/submitted as of January 1, the federal government has now more than doubled the cost-of-living financial requirement that applicants must display during the application process.

In addition to the existing Certificat d'Acceptation du Quebec (CAQ), international students planning to study in Quebec will also need an attestation letter to apply for a study permit.

Information on the Canadian education system.

A Statistics Canada report reveals that nearly one in four study permit holders in Canada in 2019 were not enrolled in public post-secondary institutions. In 2019, a total of 717,300 students held Canadian post-secondary study permits. Of this number, 24% (172,152 students) did not enrol in post-secondary institutions.

Ontario has announced its plan to prioritize public universities and colleges for 96% of its international study permits in 2024, leaving the rest for private universities and other institutions. This strategy aims to support the provincial labor market by focusing on postsecondary programs that prepare students for high-demand jobs in sectors like skilled trades, healthcare, STEM, hospitality, and childcare, while also emphasizing French-language skills.

As part of today’s press conference, Minister Miller also made two Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) related announcements.

Study at private Quebec colleges will no longer be eligible toward a PGWP application, a move the government says is to protect the integrity of the international student program.

In 2021, IRCC reported a 56% increase in study permit applications over 2020 as well as receiving 175,000 applications in the first quarter of 2022 alone. This has resulted in long processing times for study permit applications.

International students in Canada are often seen as easy targets for fraudsters looking to, literally, “cash in” on vulnerable victims.

Temporary residents in Canada, such as visitors, international students, and temporary foreign workers, are permitted to travel outside Canada but must comply with specific re-entry requirements by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

You may have recourse if your immigration application was unjustly refused.

International students bring a vibrant, new, and fresh perspective to the academic landscape in Canada when they arrive from their home countries to study at a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI).

When deciding where to study internationally, prospective post-secondary students have an abundance of options at their disposal, both from the perspective of choosing what country to study in and what institution to attend.

Canada is a top-ranking destination for international students. It has some of the world’s most sought-after universities and offers a unique student life experience.

There are an estimated 1.57 million international students, between Canada and the United States (U.S.), with tens of thousands more set to enter North America annually, in pursuit of higher education.

Certain individuals may study in Canada without a study permit, but this doesn't apply to everyone and comes with specific conditions. These exceptions include:

Given the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on international students and the post-secondary sector, temporary policy changes have been made to post-graduation work permit (PGWP) eligibility requirements for the following groups of students: