Anyone who is planning to study for more than six months in Canada needs a Study Permit. If you are planning to study for less than six months, but may decide to stay longer, it is advisable to apply for a Study Permit before coming to Canada for your studies, as it is complicated to apply for a Study Permit from within Canada. Citizens of certain countries may also need a Temporary Resident Visa in order to come to Canada for their studies.

Many students are eligible to work part-time during their studies in Canada, either on or off campus. Please visit the website www.cic.gc.ca to get more information. You would also need a work permit to work off-campus.

Your spouse can apply for a Work Permit if you are a full time student at an authorized institution and have a study permit.

To see if the institution where you plan to study is accredited, you should check the directory of Universities, Colleges and Schools in the Provinces and Territories of Canada on the website http://www.cicic.ca/en/postsec.aspx?sortcode=2.20.24.26 which is a directory of public institutions accredited by Canadian provinces. It also includes some programs by private institutions.

If I have lived in one country for a long time, but am a citizen of another country, where can I apply for a Study Permit/ Visa in your country of residence, or where you have been legally admitted for atleast one year, or your country or nationality. To get more information on where to send your application, visit the website www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/apply-where.asp

It is strongly advised to apply atleast two months before you start your program. Otherwise, you may miss the registration date specified on your letter of acceptance. Once you have the acceptance letter, you should apply along with other supporting documents. Please follow our link to document checklist to find out what additional documents are required to support your application.

Each province and territory decides the age when a person is considered an adult. Minor children, who are not accompanied by a parent or a legal guardian, who come to Canada to study, must be cared for by a responsible adult in Canada who is known as a custodian.
Two documents are required if you are travelling to Canada as a minor:

• Custodianship declaration signed by parents or legal guardians of the minor child in the child's country of origin.
• Notarized custodianship declaration signed by the custodian in Canada.

Visa officer must be satisfied that adequate arrangements have been made for the care and support for minor children who travel to Canada to study.

You are allowed to work on campus if you in full time studies and are in possession of a valid Study Permit. Otherwise, you will need permission from an immigration office to work while studying in Canada which can be obtained once you are in Canada.
These are some of the opportunities that you may have to work in Canada while on a Study Permit:

• Part time work on-campus in a public post secondary institution.
• Work-off campus upto 20 hours a week if you have already studied 6 months at a public or approved private post secondary institution.
• Enrol in a co-op program where the work term is a required part of the your study.
• Work as a Teaching Assistant.

International students graduating from eligible programs at certain Canadian post-secondary institutions are able to obtain an open work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program. This program allows graduated students to gain valuable Canadian work experience. Those who qualify under this program are allowed to obtain a 3-year work permit in any province in Canada with no restrictions on the type of employment and no requirement for a job offer.