Student Programs
Canada is one of the leading countries in the world when it comes to the field of education. There are several universities, colleges, schools that offer the courses to international students that allow them to gain a better education and future for themselves. Each year, students arrive in Canada to receive a better education than the one that they would have received in their original country. Education is important, and the Government of Canada understands that very well.
Therefore, there are many immigration services, like the Student Study Permit, the Co-Op Work Permit, the Post Graduate Work Permit and the On-Campus Work Permit, that are offered to help the students learn in a better way and provide them with a pathway to receive Permanent Residency and then, consequently, the Citizenship of Canada. Redbird Immigration is here to help you at every step of the process in achieving your immigration goals. Contact us today to start the process to meet your immigration needs in a cost-effective way!
Canada is famous destination for international students and is known for exceptional educational system that is well recognized in every part of the world at par with American, Australian or British educational system. Every year, thousands of international students arrive in Canada to study in different academic institutions across Canada at primary, secondary or post-secondary level of education. Apart from being a quality system, Canadian study.
- Is affordable compared to other comparable systems.
- Provides the option to work while studying.
- provides safe environment, Canada is one of top peaceful and safe country to live.
- Provides immigration options to stay permanently in Canada after completion of studies.
A study permit is a document that allows a foreign national to study in the universities and schools that are in Canada on a temporary basis. This study permit application must be approved before the student can come to Canada. Ideally, the process for the application of the study permit should be started as soon as the applicant receives their offer letter from the study institution.
There are a few requirements which the study permit applicant must fulfill before they are issued the Letter of Introduction to be presented at Port of Entry (POE) in Canada for Study Permit to be issued by officer at Port of Entry (POE);Study Permit is not a visa. It is simply a permit that will allow applicant to study in Canada. A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is required to enter Canada based of their country or residence or citizenship; Applicant must:
- Be a holder of a valid passport.
- Have a letter of acceptance (LOA) from a Designated Learning Institution in Canada.
- Have an intention to study and significant ties to their home country, ensuring that they will leave the country once the study permit expires. The study plan must be logical and in progression with applicant’s earlier study and work experience.
- Possess the financial resources to pay the tuition fee and living expense while being a student in Canada for applicant and any accompanying family member.
- Not have any criminal records according to the laws which govern Canada.
- Not pose any security risk to Canada or the people staying in Canada and willing to abide by all the laws which govern Canada.
- Be in a good health and must be willing to undergo a medical examination to determine that, if required.
- Not intend to engage in employment under any employer or in study (other than short term courses) during their stay in Canada unless authorized to do so.
- Be willing to provide Biometricsif required based upon their country of origin.
- Be willing to provide any supporting document as requested by visa officer.
- The course that they have applied for is going to end within a time frame of six months regardless of subject matter for the course.
- There are certain activities that are not considered studies for the purposes of the Immigrationand Refuge Protection Act (IRPA);for example:
- Pre-school (pre-kindergarten)
- Courses of general interest or self-improvement
- Distance learning
- Audited courses (typically by sitting in on an academic course, but without obtaining credit for it, or having the ability to obtain credit for it retroactively)
- Minor children present in Canadian Jurisdiction other than children of visitors on a family visit, tourism or vacation.
- Family members and members of the private staff of accredited foreign representative.
- Members of the armed forces of a country designated for the purposes of the Visiting Forces Act.
- Family members of Foreign National who are on Study or Work permit in Canada.
- Registered Indians or Indians entitled to be registered as defined under the Indian Act.
The Government of Canada has imposed some conditions under which the study permit is always required.
- The applicant wishes to work on campus or as an intern or off campus during the length of study course even if it is less than six months.
- The applicant wishes to extend their study after the end of the initial short-term course or a pre-requisite course that they have applied for to facilitate the study permit application for further courses inside Canada.
When the study permit for an applicant is approved, it is valid for the entire period of the study course and an extra 90 days after the end of the course. However, if they are unable to finish their course within the period, they can get their study permit extended and stay until they have finished the course. In the case of the opposite the student finishes their course early; the study permit will become invalid 90 days after the completion of the course, irrespective of the date printed on the permit.
International students may work as co-op student or an intern if their study program include work experience which is essential part of their academic program.Even if they have a valid study permit but theywill still require a Co-op work permit that is restricted to work place as instructed by educational institute (act as an employer).International students may get a co-op work permit; if they:
- Have a valid study permit.
- Require work experience which is essential part of their academic program.
- Have a letter from Designated Learning Institution (DLI)school that confirms all students in study program need to complete work placements to graduate.
- Have a program in which co-op or internship is 50 per cent or less of the total program of study.
A co-op work permit is not issued if international students are studying:
- English or French as a second language (ESL/FSL).
- General interest courses.
- Pre-requisite courses to prepare for another study program.
A post-graduation work permit (PGWP) is an open work permit issued to graduates from a designated learning institution (DLI) once in their life time; not all graduates from all designated learning institutions are eligible for a post-graduation work permit. International students who want to stay in Canada temporarily while working may be eligible to apply for a PGWP; if they:
- Are 18 or older on day of application.
- Have graduated from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and continuously studied full-time in Canada in a PGWP approved study program at least eight months long.
- Have a document from their school (transcript, official letter, certificate, etc.) that confirms all program requirements are met.
- Apply for a work permit within 90 days of when it was confirmed that they completed their program of study.
- Have a valid study permit when they apply for the work permit.
Any work experience accumulated in NOC 0, A, B occupations on PGW Permit makes the international graduate eligible for Canadian immigration application specifically in Canadian Experience Class. International students are not eligible to apply for a PGWP; if they:
- Studied in a program that was less than eight months long.
- Studied for more than eight months but not continuously i.e. took a unscheduled break between study program.
- Completed a study program by distance learning either from abroad or from within Canada.
- Already had a post-graduation work permit following any other program of study.
- Received funding or scholarship in a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program, Government of Canada Awards Program funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) or Canadian International Development Agency.
- Took part in the Equal Opportunity Scholarship, Canada-Chile or the Canada-China Scholars Exchanges Program or the Organization of American States Fellowships Program.
There are special exceptions related to graduates from accelerated programs that may make them eligible for PGWP if their study program was at least eight months long but student completed it earlier than expected.
International students may be eligible for PGWP if they transfer between schools if combined length of their studies is at least eight months but only the time studying at the DLI will be counted for study time.
International students are still eligible for PGWPif they have been a full-time student since they started their program in Canada, but during their last academic session, they studied part-time and are not required a full course load to complete their program.
Post Graduate Work Permit Duration:
| Study Program Length | Expected PGWP Duration |
|---|---|
| Less than eight months | Not eligible to receive a PGWP |
| Less than two years but more than eight months | No longer than length of program of study |
| Two years or more | PGWP may be issued for three years |
More than one program scenario:
If International students complete One(1) year degree or diploma from a DLI within two years of their last one(1) year degree or diploma from another DLI, they will be eligible for three year PG work permit as both degrees or diplomas will be eligible as two years of study.
- Are a full-time post-secondary student at:
- A public post-secondary school, such as a college or university, or CEGEP in Quebec.
- a private college-level school in Quebec that operates under the same rules as public schools, and is at least 50% funded by government grants.
- a Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law.
- Have a valid study permit.
- Have a Social Insurance Number (SIN).
They must stop working on campus on the day they are no longer studying full time or when their study permit expires. Any work experience accumulated while on Study Permit is not eligible for Canadian immigration application in future.
Off Campus Work:
International students may work off campus without a work permit up to 20 hours during the academic session and full time (40 hours) during the scheduled breaks. if they:
- Have a valid study permit.
- Are a full-time student at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) who is enrolled in apost-secondary academic, vocational or professional training programmer secondary-level vocational training program (offered in Quebec only)..
- Have started studying..
- Have a study permit with a condition printed on it that allows them to work on or off campus..
- Are in a program that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate and that is at least 6 months long..
- Have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)..
If they are no longer a full-time student, they can still work off campus if they meet one of these requirements:
- They have been a full-time student since they started their program in Canada and now studying part time only because this is their last semester, and they do not need a full course load to complete their program.
- They have completed the study program and now are on implied status i.e. applied for extension of study permit or post graduate work permit with in required time period.
Any work experience accumulated while on Study Permit is not eligible for Canadian immigration application in future.
International students cannot work off campus without a work permit if:
- Their situation has changed since the initial study permit, and they no longer meet all of the requirements to work off campus.
- They are enrolled in only an English or French as a second language (ESL/FSL) program.
- They are taking only general interest courses.
- They are taking pre-requisite courses to be accepted into a full-time program.
In these scenarios, international students will need a valid work permit to work in Canada.
