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Canada is a popular destination for international students seeking quality education and opportunities to gain international experience. If you are a foreign national planning to study in Canada, you will generally need a study permit before beginning your studies.
At Nadeem Law Office, we assist international students with Canadian study permit applications, extensions, changes in circumstances, refusals, and related immigration matters. We can assess your circumstances, explain the applicable requirements, and assist you in preparing an application that clearly presents your purpose of study and supporting documentation.
With our head office in Mississauga and branch offices in Cambridge and London, Ontario, we assist students and families in Canada and internationally with Canadian immigration matters.
A study permit is a document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that authorizes an eligible foreign national to study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada.
A study permit is different from a visitor visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Depending on your nationality and circumstances, you may also require the appropriate travel document to travel to Canada.
Most applicants must apply for a study permit before coming to Canada. Only certain applicants are eligible to apply from within Canada or, in limited circumstances, at a port of entry.
A study permit application requires more than simply obtaining admission to a Canadian educational institution. The applicant must satisfy the applicable immigration requirements and provide appropriate supporting documentation.
Depending on your circumstances, important components of an application may include:
The particular documents required depend on the applicant’s circumstances and proposed studies.
Most study permit applicants currently require a Provincial Attestation Letter or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) from the province or territory where they intend to study.
There are, however, important exceptions. For example, beginning January 1, 2026, students applying to qualifying degree-granting master’s or doctoral programs at public DLIs are exempt from the PAL/TAL requirement. Other exemptions also apply in specified circumstances.
Students planning to study in Quebec generally have separate requirements involving a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ).
Because these requirements have changed over time, applicants should confirm which rules apply to them when preparing their applications.
International students must demonstrate that they have sufficient financial resources to support their studies and stay in Canada.
This can involve demonstrating the ability to pay tuition fees, living expenses and transportation costs, taking into account accompanying family members where applicable.
The documents used to demonstrate financial capacity will depend on the applicant’s circumstances. It is important that the financial information provided in the application is credible, adequately documented, and consistent with the applicant’s overall circumstances.
A study permit application should clearly explain why the applicant has chosen the particular program, institution, and course of study in Canada.
An immigration officer may consider the applicant’s educational and employment history, proposed studies, financial circumstances, immigration history, family and economic circumstances, and other relevant factors when assessing the application.
Where appropriate, a carefully prepared explanation can help demonstrate how the proposed Canadian studies fit within the applicant’s educational or professional objectives.
Eligible international students may be permitted to work while studying in Canada, subject to the conditions of their study permits and applicable immigration regulations.
Currently, an eligible student may generally work up to 24 hours per week off campus during regular academic sessions and may work unlimited hours during scheduled academic breaks, provided the applicable requirements continue to be met.
Students should carefully comply with their study permit conditions. Unauthorized work or failure to comply with immigration conditions can create serious immigration consequences.
If your studies will continue beyond the expiry date of your study permit, you may need to apply to extend your study permit before your existing status expires.
International students should monitor the expiry date of their permits and consider extension requirements well in advance. Depending on the circumstances, a student who submits an eligible extension application before their status expires may be permitted to remain in Canada under maintained status while the application is being processed.
Changes involving your educational institution or circumstances may also trigger additional immigration requirements. It is important to determine what steps are required before making significant changes to your studies.
Completing studies in Canada does not automatically provide a right to remain or work permanently in Canada.
However, graduates of certain eligible programs and institutions may qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) if they satisfy the applicable requirements. PGWP eligibility depends on several factors, and not every program offered by a DLI necessarily qualifies a graduate for a post-graduation work permit.
Canadian education and eligible Canadian work experience may also be relevant to certain permanent residence pathways. Students planning for their longer-term future in Canada should therefore consider immigration implications when selecting an institution and program rather than waiting until graduation.
International students may, depending on their circumstances, be accompanied by eligible family members.
A spouse or common-law partner may qualify for a work permit only if the applicable eligibility requirements are met, while dependent children may require their own immigration documents.
The rules governing work permits for spouses of international students have changed significantly in recent years. Eligibility should therefore be assessed based on the student’s particular program and the rules in effect when the application is submitted.
A study permit application may be refused if an immigration officer is not satisfied that the applicant meets the applicable requirements.
Concerns may involve the applicant’s purpose of study, financial circumstances, supporting documentation, immigration history, temporary residence considerations, admissibility, or other aspects of the application.
A refusal should be reviewed carefully before deciding what to do next. Depending on the circumstances, it may be appropriate to submit a new application that addresses the concerns raised or consider whether another legal remedy is available.
Simply submitting substantially the same application again without addressing the reasons underlying the refusal may result in another refusal.
At Nadeem Law Office, we assist international students with a range of study permit and related immigration matters, including:
We review your circumstances, identify potential concerns, advise on appropriate supporting documentation, and assist in preparing the application and legal submissions where appropriate.
If your study permit application has been refused, submitting a new application may not be the only option. In appropriate circumstances, an applicant may seek judicial review of the refusal before the Federal Court of Canada.
Judicial review is not a new study permit application or a conventional appeal. The Court reviews the immigration decision to determine whether there is a legal basis for the Court to intervene. The process begins with an Application for Leave and for Judicial Review, and the applicant must first obtain leave from the Court.
If judicial review is successful, the Federal Court does not normally issue the study permit itself. The Court may instead set aside the refusal and return the application for reconsideration.
Strict deadlines apply. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, an application generally must be filed and served within 15 days for a matter arising in Canada or 60 days for a matter arising outside Canada, calculated from when the applicant is notified of or otherwise becomes aware of the decision. An extension may be available for special reasons, but it should not be assumed.
Whether it is more appropriate to reapply or pursue judicial review depends on the particular refusal, the evidence submitted with the application, and the legal and procedural issues involved.
Studying in Canada can involve significant educational, financial, and immigration planning. Understanding the requirements before submitting your application can help you make informed decisions and identify potential issues at an early stage.
Nadeem Law Office assists with Canadian study permit matters through our offices in Mississauga, Cambridge and London, Ontario, and provides immigration assistance to clients located outside Canada.
Contact Nadeem Law Office to schedule a consultation regarding your Canadian study permit application or refusal.
info@nadeemlaw.com