The following information will help you plan accordingly when preparing to study in Canada.  For the actual documents required please, visit the government of Canada’s website.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/

To apply to the Victoria School of Business and Technology please click here

Studying in Canada

Overview

More than 130,000 students come to study in Canada every year. In addition to this number are many more that come to Canada to learn English or French. Foreign students bring a rich culture to our classrooms. Your knowledge and skills are welcome in our schools.

The provinces regulate education and schools in Canada. For more detailed information on living and studying in a specific province or territory, contact the school where you wish to study.

Who needs a Study Permit?

Most foreign students will need a Study Permit to study in 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 minor child already in Canada:
  You do not need a Study Permit if you are a minor child already in Canada, and your parents are not "visitors" in Canada. For details, see Minor Children Studying in Canada.
• Foreign Representatives to 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.

Benefits of Having a Study Permit

You should apply for a Study Permit before you come to Canada if you think you may wish to continue your studies in another program after you complete the short-term course or program.

If you do not have a valid Study Permit and wish to continue your studies, you will have to leave Canada in order to apply for one!

How to Apply for a Study Permit

Step 1:

Print the Application for a Study Permit.

(If you are from one of these countries, the Officer will process your application for a Temporary Resident Visa as well as a Study Permit. You do not need a separate application).

Step 2:

Collect the documents you need to apply.

Step 3:

(For those who are applying to study in the province of Quebec only.)

If you are applying to study in Quebec, you will also need a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (Quebec Certificate of Acceptance, or CAQ) issued by the Ministère des Relations avec les citoyens et de l’Immigration (MRCI).

Please see Quebec’s immigration Web site for more information. Your school will also have information about applying to study in Quebec.

Step 4:

Complete the application for a Study Permit. Fill in the forms carefully and completely.
Follow the instructions
Use a typewriter or print clearly, using black ink.
Add appropriate characters for languages that do not use the Latin alphabet, such as Chinese, Arabic, Cyrillic, Japanese, Hebrew, etc.
Sign and date your application forms.


Step 5:

Include the correct Application Fee. There is a processing fee to apply for a Study Permit. For current rates, see the Fee Schedule for CIC Services. Verify acceptable methods of payment with the office where you submit your application.


Step 6:

Make sure that your application is complete, using the document checklist [Acrobat PDF].

Consult the Visa Office or its Web site to see if you need to fill out any additional forms or provide any additional documents.


Step 7:

Submit your application, fees, and required documents to a Visa Office at the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate responsible for the country in which you are living.

If you are from the U.S.A., Greenland, or St. Pierre and Miquelon, you can apply at a Canadian Port of Entry.


Step 8:

Supply additional information or documents when the Visa Office requests it. This may include:

Medical Examination Results:

You must pass a medical exam:

if you:come from a country with high health risks; or
if you will be studying or working in a place where protection of public health is essential

A Visa Officer will advise you if you need to take a medical examination, and will provide you with instructions on how to proceed. If you need a medical examination, processing your application could take at least three extra months.

Police Certificates/Certificate of Good Conduct:

A Visa Officer may request a police certificate to prove to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Officers that you are a responsible person and that you do not have a criminal record.

Police agencies may do a criminal or security background check. These checks may be done on anyone 18 years of age and over applying for a Study Permit.

If you move or change your address, your telephone or FAX number before your application has been processed, you must advise CIC of this new information. Contact the Visa Office where you submitted your application.


When you apply for your Study Permit, there is no guarantee of acceptance. You should not take any final steps, such as purchasing plane tickets or quitting your job, until your Study Permit is approved.

If you have any questions about your application, please contact the Visa Office where you submit your application.

After You Apply — The Status of Your Application

The Status of Your Application:

The Visa Office will review your application to make sure you have completed it correctly and that it contains all of the required documents.

After reviewing your application, an Officer will decide if an interview is necessary. If so, the Officer will inform you of the time and place.

If Citizenship and Immigration Canada does not accept your application, they will notify you of the reasons for refusal in writing. Study Permit applications may be refused for the following reasons:

• You have not shown proof of financial sufficiency;
• You have not passed the medical examination;
• You have not satisfied the Officer that your primary intention in Canada is to study;
• You have not satisfied the Officer that you will leave Canada at the end of the period of study. Please note: you are allowed to apply to study in Canada even if you are applying or considering applying to immigrate permanently to Canada now or in the future. However, the Officer must still be satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of the period authorized for your stay (in the event that your permanent resident application is refused).

If you have questions about your refusal, you must contact the Visa Office that issued you the refusal letter.

If your application is approved, you will receive:

• A letter of introduction confirming the approval. This letter is not your Study Permit. Bring this letter with you to show to immigration officials when you enter Canada.
• A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) in your passport If you are from one of these countries. Check the Temporary Resident Visa (if applicable) that the Officer puts in your passport. It will tell you the date by which you must enter Canada, and how many times you can enter Canada. You must arrive in Canada before your TRV expires.

Arriving in Canada

When you come to Canada, you will first pass through Canada Customs, where you must show your travel documents, as well as your letter of introduction, and tell the Officer that you are coming to Canada to study. Next, you must talk to an immigration officer at the Port of Entry.

Be prepared to produce the following documents when you arrive in Canada:

• The letter of introduction from CIC that you received when your Study Permit was approved. This letter shows your permit reference number. The immigration officer will need this letter in order to issue your study permit;
• Your valid passport;
• A valid Temporary Resident Visa (if required);
• An original or copy of a letter of acceptance from the school at which you are permitted to study;
• Evidence of financial support;
• Letters of reference or any other documents recommended by the Canadian embassy, high commission, or consulate in your country.

Carry these items and all other valuable papers, cash and traveller’s cheques with you at all times rather than with your checked baggage.

You may not be allowed in Canada if any of your documents are missing or if any of the information on your application or letter of reference is wrong.

If there are no problems at the Port of Entry, the CIC Officer will authorize you to enter Canada and will issue your Study Permit. You should:

• check the Study Permit to make sure that your personal information is printed correctly;
• check the date that is stamped in your passport telling you when you must leave Canada. Do not stay beyond this date.

Understanding the terms and conditions on your Study Permit:

The “conditions” listed on your permit will tell you:

• how long you can stay in Canada;
• where you can study;*
• at what level you can study;*
• your program of study;*
• the date by which you must leave Canada;
• if you need to report for medical examination or observation;
• if you need to report to provide evidence of compliance for certain conditions;
• if you are permitted to work on-campus at your institution.

If you wish to change any of the other terms and conditions on your Study Permit, you must submit an Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada.

Exiting and Re-Entering Canada

In order to return to Canada, you must be in possession of:

• a valid passport or travel document;
• a valid Study Permit if you are returning to study in Canada;
• A valid Temporary Resident Visa, if you are a citizen of one of these countries. If your Temporary Resident Visa has expired, or was for single-entry only, you will have to submit a completed temporary resident visa application to a Canadian embassy, high commission, or consulate abroad in order to re-enter Canada.

Note:

Citizens of the U.S. do not require passports or travel documents to enter or return to Canada.

Permanent residents of the U.S. do not require passports or travel documents if they are entering or returning to Canada from the U.S. or St. Pierre and Miquelon.

However, both must provide documentary proof of citizenship or permanent residence, such as a national identity card or an alien registration card.