Studying as an international student can be a rewarding and life changing experience! Canada is a popular choice for many international students for its high education standards, beautiful cities and quality of life.
International students are an important part of our college community, and we are here to assist you every step of the way! See our other tabs for information on application documents, medical insurance, English testing and more.
To ensure your international study experience gets off to a smooth start, be sure to apply as early as possible for your Canadian study permit.
You will also require a valid visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada, which will be automatically issued when your study permit is approved. However, please note that if you extended or renewed an existing study permit before May 1, 2017, you may need to apply separately for an eTA.
If you plan to travel outside of Canada during the course of your studies, before your trip, always make sure that you have the proper, valid documents to re-enter the country.
For more information, visit Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
To study in Canada, you may need a study permit and/or a visitor visa.
Find out what you need before you apply for a study permit in Canada.
Find out if you or your child can study in Canada.
Discover how to apply, where to get application forms and guides, and what documents to provide with your application.
Processing times vary depending on the Canadian visa office where you submitted your application.
Find out what you should do after you apply for a study permit.
Be prepared and know what to expect when you arrive in Canada.
In most cases, you must obtain a study permit if you want to study in Canada.
To be eligible to study in Canada
In some cases, you do not require a study permit to go to school in Canada.
If you wish to study in a short-term course or program
You do not need a study permit if you plan to take a course or program in Canada that lasts six months or less. You must complete the course or program within the period authorized for your stay in Canada.
Even if you do not need a study permit, it is a good idea to apply for a permit before you come to Canada. If you decide that you want to continue your studies in another program after you complete your short-term course or program, you must apply through a Canadian visa office outside Canada for a study permit if you do not already have one.
Foreign representatives to Canada
If you are a family member or staff member of a foreign representative to Canada accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD), you may not need a permit to study in Canada. You should contact your embassy in Canada. Your embassy can contact the Office of Protocol at DFATD to find out whether you need a study permit.
Members of foreign armed forces
If you are a member of a foreign armed force under the Visiting Forces Act, you do not need a permit to study in Canada. If your family members, including minor children, want to study in Canada, they must meet the requirements.
If you are not a citizen of the country where you submit your application, you may have to provide proof of your present immigration status in the country where you apply.
If the government that issued your passport or travel document requires a re-entry permit, you must obtain one before you apply for a Canadian visa. Other documents may also be required.
If you plan to attend any school (primary or secondary), college, university or other educational institution in Canada, the school must complete and send you a letter of acceptance. You must include the original letter with your study permit application. You can find a standard letter of acceptance in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.
You must provide:
You must prove that you can support yourself and the family members who accompany you while you are in Canada. You can prove that you have sufficient funds to support yourself in Canada by showing some of the following:
The following table shows the minimum amounts that you will need.
| Number of persons | All provinces except Quebec | Quebec |
|---|---|---|
| Single student | Tuition plus $10,000 for a 12-month period (or $833 per month) | Tuition plus $11,000 for a 12-month period (or $917 per month) |
| + one family member | $4,000 for a 12-month period (or $333 per month) | $5,100 more for a person 18 years of age or older for a 12-month period (or $425 per month)$3,800 more for a person under 18 years of age for a 12-month period (or $317 per month) |
| + each additional family member | $3,000 for a 12-month period per dependent child of any age (or $255 per month) | $5,125 more for a person 18 years of age or older for a 12-month period (or $427 per month)$1,903 more for a person under 18 years of age for a 12-month period (or $159 per month) |
If there are foreign-exchange control measures in your country, you must provide proof that the exchange control authorities will allow you to export funds for all of your expenses.
In some cases, you may wish to apply for a study permit even if you do not need one right away. There are benefits to having a study permit, even if you do not require one. If you have a valid study permit, you can:
If you decide that you want to continue your studies in another program after you complete your short-term course or program, you must apply through a Canadian visa office outside Canada for a study permit if you do not already have one.
If you are applying for a study permit even though you do not need one, you should include a letter that explains why you are applying. The letter will inform the visa officer that you understand your options. For example, the letter might say:
“Dear Visa Officer,
I would like a study permit for my eight-week English course because I would like to apply for a Canadian University program after I finish the English course.”
In addition to these documents, you may have to provide other information when you apply for a study permit. Check the website of the visa office responsible for your country or region for local requirements.
You can choose to apply online or through a paper application. If you need assistance, you can get help with your application at your nearest visa application centre.
To apply online you must have access to a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents for uploading and have a valid credit card for payment. Determine your eligibility and apply online.
After the visa office receives your application, the visa office might request more information or documents. These may include the following:
Medical information
In most cases, you will need a medical examination. A visa officer will send you instructions if you need one. This may add more than three months to the processing time of your application. Find more information about medical examinations.
Security information
If you want to study in Canada, you and any family members who come to Canada with you, and who are 18 years of age and over, may have to provide police certificates. Find more information about the security checks.
The length of time to process your application varies depending on the visa office where you applied. For more information, see application processing times.
If you want to extend your stay in Canada as a student, you must complete the Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada. Check the expiry date on your study permit, and make sure you apply before that date. You should apply for renewal at least 30 days before your current permit expires.
Note: Children who are less than 17 years of age and studying in Canada without a parent or legal guardian must complete and include the Custodianship declaration (IMM 5646) with their study permit application. See the Instructions Guide (IMM 5552) for more information.
There are two ways you can apply:
To apply online you must have access to a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents for uploading and have a valid credit card for payment. Apply for study permit online.
The package includes the application guide and all the forms you need to fill out. Download the application package.
If you apply for a renewal of your study permit, and the permit expires before you receive an answer, you can continue to study in Canada under the same conditions until you receive a decision.
You should apply to renew your study permit if you intend to travel outside Canada and your permit will expire while you are travelling.
You cannot extend your study permit beyond the expiry date on your passport.
If your study permit has expired, and you have not applied for an extension, you must leave Canada.
In some cases, you may apply to restore your status as a student within 90 days of losing it. You may only apply if you have continued to meet the requirements under which you were allowed to enter and stay in Canada and you have met all the conditions imposed on your permit.
After you apply to restore your status, you may stay in Canada until a decision is made on your application but you are not allowed to study until your status has been restored.
There is no guarantee that your application to restore your status will be accepted. On your application, you must provide full details of all the facts and circumstances that caused you to lose your status.
In addition to a fee for renewing your study permit, there is also a fee for restoring your status. The fee is required for each family member who has lost status. To find out about application fees, go to pay my application fees.
An officer will evaluate your request for restoration of status and will process an application for a study permit. Citizenship and Immigration Canada will advise you of any further action to be taken.
More information can be found by contacting us:
Tel: 604-430-5608
E-mail: info@brightoncollege
Our service hours are 9:30am-5:30pm PST, Monday-Friday.
All residents of British Columbia are required to have valid medical insurance coverage in case of accident or illness. BC Medical Services Plan, or BC MSP, is the provincial healthcare provider for residents in British Columbia.
Accidents and unexpected illness can occur at any time, and having insurance coverage is the best way to protect yourself and your family. International students should obtain medical insurance before travelling to Canada.
For newcomers to BC there is a 90-day waiting period to begin MSP coverage (i.e. MSP coverage becomes effective 90 days after arrival in BC), therefore it is advisable to purchase temporary private medical insurance for the interim, in case of emergency.
Brighton College is not liable for medical, dental, or any other health-related expenses incurred by students.
Insurance Provider Choices:
Medical Services Plan (MSP) is the provincial healthcare provider of British Columbia. All BC residents – including Temporary Residents such as international students-are required to have and maintain valid medical insurance coverage. The Medical Services Plan (MSP) insures medically-required services provided by physicians. This includes supplementary health care practitioners, laboratory services and diagnostic procedures.
Read the summary of benefits: http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/pdf/msp-brochure.pdf
Learn about premiums (cost): http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/premium.html
As an alternative to provincial health insurance, students may choose to purchase private medical insurance. This is provided that the insurance is valid for medical expenses in Canada.
In an effort to make it easy for international students to buy affordable medical insurance, we refer to Guard.me, a local insurance provider that offers high quality and low cost health insurance designed for international students. Read the benefits summary or purchase insurance online by visiting the Guard.me website https://www.guard.me/
Students should be aware that:
If you have already submitted your application, you will be covered immediately after the waiting period. This works even if your Care Card hasn't arrived.
You might have to pay at the time you receive health care. Be sure to keep your receipt, and request reimbursement from MSP once your card arrives. During the waiting period for MSP, when you visit the Urgent Care, Emergency Department in a hospital or have inpatient services (lab, radiology and other procedures), you may show a copy of your study permit to receive a reduced rate.
PO Box 1600 Victoria, BC Canada V8W 2X9 | Telephone: 604 660-2421
http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/index.htmlBrighton College is conveniently located in the heart of Burnaby, within the lower mainland near Vancouver.
Metropointe: We are conveniently located on the corner of Kingsway and McKay. We are one block away from the Metrotown SkyTrain station.
Crystal Mall: In the Crystal Mall office tower above the HSBC Bank, on the corner of Kingsway and Willingdon Avenue in Burnaby. We are one block away from the Metrotown SkyTrain station.
