Home Visas and Immigration STUDY PERMIT General Information

General Information

Persons who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents who wish to study in Canada must obtain Study Permit before beginning their studies.

Students who intend to study an English or French language program for less than six months only, may do so without a Study Permit.

If you have a Study Permit and are in Canada, please refer to the following for information about extensions and renewals of your Study Permit. Click here.

Applications for Study Permit may be filed in person at the Consulate-General. In general, applications for Study Permit will be processed within 2 to 6 weeks, unless medical examinations are required. Applications may also be filed by mail. The same processing times apply -- please allow extra time for mailing.

Successful applicants who do not require a visa will be sent a letter, which can be presented at a port of entry to Canada to obtain the Study Permit document. Successful applicants who require a visa to visit Canada, will be issued a visa with the letter.

Fees that are paid for Immigration and Visa Services are Processing fees.
If you are refused, this fee is
NON-REFUNDABLE!

A. MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS.

YOUR APPLICATION FOR STUDY PERMIT MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

• A completed application form. (click here to access the form). Please complete the fillable application form and print it for submission to our office. For ease and speed of processing, we ask that you do not complete the application form by hand. 
• All applicants are required to complete the Supplementary Information Sheet (click here to access the Supplementary Information Sheet).
• If you are a citizen of the following countries, you MUST complete the attached questionnaire(s).  They MUST be submitted with your application for a Study Permit. 
  • Afghanistan
  • Haiti
  • Iran, Iraq & all West Bank & Gaza Palestine, Lebanon & Syria
  • Rwanda
  • Somalia
  • Sudan
  • Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia (including Kosovo)

• The application fee of $125 CAD / $115 USD .

Fees must be paid by Certified Cheque or Money Order.
Payments in Canadian Funds MUST be drawn on a Canadian bank, and made payable to "the Receiver-General for Canada"

Payments in United States Funds MUST be drawn on a US bank, and made payable to "Canadian Consulate-General, New York"

ALL APPLICANTS MUST ENSURE THEY COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION SHEET AND ANY COUNTRY SPECIFIC QUESTIONNAIRE AS SPECIFIED IN THIS WEBSITE.

• Two identical passport photos taken within the last 6 months (name and date of birth written on the back) for you and each accompanying family member. Click here for photo specifications.   If photographs do not meet these specifications, no file will be created and the application will be returned to the applicant.  
• Your passport (applicants from countries whose citizens require temporary resident visas for Canada must provide their valid passport. Applicants from countries not on this list need only provide a photocopy.
  Applicants who are United States Citizens or Green Card holders do not require a passport -- please submit proof of citizenship or a copy of your green card).
   
• An acceptance letter from the institution.
   
• Proof of funds available to support you during the first year of your studies. In general, $10,000 CAD is required in addition to tuition fees for one year.
   
• A transcript from your last program of study.

B. OTHER REQUIREMENTS.

IN SOME CASES, YOU MAY NEED TO SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS:

• If you intend to study in the Province of Québec, you must obtain and submit a Certificat d'Acceptation du Québec from the Service d'Immigration du Québec.
   
• If you are under the age of 16, a guardianship agreement, signed by your custodial parent(s) and notarized, in favour of a Canadian Citizen or permanent resident, and a notarized acceptance of guardianship from your guardian.
   
• A medical examination may be required in some cases, depending on your program of study, the length of time you will spend in Canada, and the countries where you have resided in the 12 months before going to Canada.

If you wish to submit your application by mail, you should include a prepaid, self-addressed return envelope (we suggest U.S. Postal Express/Priority).  If you do not include a prepaid Express/Priority mail envelope, your documents will be returned by certified mail.  Note that certified mail adds a minimum of 7 working days to the return mailing time.

If you are currently residing in Canada on a Study or Work Permit, and are applying for a new visitor visa, DO NOT submit a return mail envelope.  We are only able to return your passport and documents by REGISTERED MAIL.

Please note we will not return your documents using ANY courier services (UPS, FedEx, DHL) even if you have an account with them.