Study Permit | International Student Services

What You Need to Know About Your Study Permit

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a Study Permit?
Who needs a Study Permit?
Who does not need a Study Permit?
How do I apply for a Study Permit?
What is the difference between Entry Documents and Status Documents?
What are Study Permit Conditions?
When does my Study Permit expire?
How can I work in Canada as a Study Permit holder?

1. What is a Study Permit?
A study permit is a document that allows foreign nationals to study at designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada. Most foreign nationals need a study permit to study in Canada and apply online before they travel to Canada. For information on who requires a study permit, please see:
IRCC Webpage – Study Permit: Who needs a study permit

A study permit is a status document, not an entry document. It doesn’t let you enter Canada. Most foreign nationals also need a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA).

Please refer to the following link for more information: IRCC Webpage – Study Permit: About the process

2. Who needs a Study Permit?
Generally speaking, Foreign Nationals require a study permit for courses/programs that are longer than 6 months. Please refer to the IRCC page: Find out if you need a study permit – Canada.ca

3. Who does not need a Study Permit?
Most foreign nationals need a study permit to study in Canada. Please refer to the following links for exceptions:
Study permit: Who can apply – Canada.ca
Study permits: Who needs a study permit – Canada.ca

4. How do I apply for a Study Permit?
Please refer to the following link for information on how to apply for a Study Permit: IRCC Webpage – Study Permit: How to Apply

5. What is the difference between Entry Documents and Status Documents?
Status Documents authorize what a foreign national can do in Canada, where Entry Documents allow individuals to cross the Canadian border and enter Canada.

Status Documents:

Study Permits are for a foreign national to attend school in Canada
Work Permits such as Co-op Work Permits allow foreign national to work in Canada
Visitor Records are for foreign nationals to visit Canada for a short period of time such as the parents of international students wanting to attend their graduation

Entry Documents:

Passports showing identity and citizenship
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) which is electronically attached to a passport
Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) a sticker located within the passport (commonly referred to as a visitor visa)

Please refer to the following links for more information on entry and status documents:
IRCC Webpage – Types of Immigration Status Documents
IRCC Webpage – Entry Requirements by country or territory

6. What are Study Permit Conditions?
As a Study Permit holder, you must meet the conditions of your study permit and actively maintain your study permit status.

As a study permit holder, you must:

be enrolled at a designated learning institution (DLI)
show you’re actively pursuing your studies by
- being enrolled full-time or part-time during each academic semester (excluding regularly scheduled breaks)
- making progress towards completing your program’s courses, and
- not taking authorized leaves longer than 150 days from your study program
tell the IRCC any time you change post-secondary schools
end your studies if you no longer meet the requirements of being a student, and
leave Canada when your permit expires

Please refer to the following link for more information on study permit conditions: IRCC Website – Your conditions as a study permit holder in Canada

7. When does my Study Permit expire?
If the expiration date listed on your study permit is a date before you finish your courses, you must apply to extend your stay as a student. We recommend submitting your application well before your study permit expires.

If you finish your studies early, your study permit will stop being valid 90 days after you complete your studies, no matter what day is printed on the study permit.

Your studies are officially completed on the date Fleming College first releases your completion letter in your student portal. This will affect your ability to work.

If you are going to pursue a second program, you may need to extend your study permit. Please consult with an International Student Advisor before your study permit expires to understand what steps you can take to maintain or change your status.

Please refer to the following links for more information on study permit extensions and expiration dates:
Fleming College Webpage: Study Permit Extension
IRCC Website – Study permit: While you study

8. How can I work in Canada as a Study Permit holder?
Please refer to the following links for more information about working in Canada as a study permit holder and Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility and applications:

If you have any questions as a potential or current student of Fleming College, please book a meeting with one of our International Student Services (ISS) Team members.

The Government of Canada can change rules, regulations, policies, and eligibility requirements at any time. The contents of this webpage were based on policies and legislation of the drafting date. Students are responsible for ensuring that they are in compliance with all Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regulations at all times during their studies and while in Canada. Fleming College staff are not authorized to provide advice or guidance on immigration-related matters, other than our International Student Advisors. Applicants and students should consult the IRCC website at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada.html or contact the IRCC Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100 to confirm or clarify immigration-related information and requirements.