Canada Study and Work Visa Requirements

A study permit is a document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that allows you to study and work in Canada.

You can apply for the Canada Study and Co-op work permit on your own or with the support of a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC). An authorized immigration and citizenship representative will advise you and submit your visa application on your behalf. Learn more about RCIC Consultants here. You must apply for your initial study and co-op work permit from outside of Canada, and it must be approved before you travel to Canada.

Please find a breakdown of the work and study visa costs as follows:

• Study Permit fee: CAD $150
• Biometrics fee: CAD $85

Yes, if you participate in our Co-op programs. You can work up to 20 hours during your study program and full-time during scheduled breaks. You can only start working in Canada when you start your study program.

As our programs include a mandatory co-op, you will be allowed to work more than 20 hours during your co-op period, as the work experience will be mandatory to graduate.

Financial funds are mandatory to be eligible for a study and work permit in Canada. Being able to work while studying will make no difference. When you apply for a study and work permit, you must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to support yourself throughout your studies and time in Canada. You can learn more about this requirement on the IRCC website.

If you are enrolled in a study program like ours, you will need a Co-op work permit as the work experience is required as an integral part of your studies. If you don’t receive it upon arrival to Canada, you should apply while you are in Canada during your studies component, so that you have it ready for your Co-op period.

Your Co-op work permit is different to the off-campus work right that you will have through your study permit.

No, in Canada you are not allowed to study English and work, even if you are planning to apply for a study permit and stay more than six months in Canada. You must complete post-secondary studies to be allowed to work in Canada.

You should study for at least 6 months or more at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) to be allowed to apply for a study permit that will allow you to work in Canada during your education program. Through our programs, as the co-op is mandatory to graduate, you will receive a co-op work permit as well.

After your study permit has been approved, you will automatically be issued one of these documents to travel to Canada:

• Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) for countries requiring a visa (you will need to submit your passport in your home country to get your visa stamped before you fly to Canada ), or
• Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) – for countries not requiring a visa

When you land in Canada. If you are from a country requiring a visa, your passport will be requested to stamp your visa in it before you leave for Canada. Upon arrival to Canada you will present:

• Present your Letter of Introduction or Port of Entry to the Canada Border Services Officer
• Updated Letter of Acceptance from the College
• Documents presented to receive your study and work permit approval

Note: Before leaving the immigration area, you must ensure the information on your study permit is correct. We will help you with this!

Processing times for study permits vary by country. Remember that you need to include the time you will require to prepare your application, plus the processing times from Canada. For a complete list of processing times based on your country, please visit this page.