Our International Student Program

The length of the process depends on a few factors. First, what is your intended start date? Most academic programs in Canada have semesters which start in the months of September and January each year. While there are some exceptions to this, your preferred start date will impact the length of the process. Second, what is the application deadline for the study program?

All study programs have different application deadlines. Some might be only a few months prior to the start date, while others might require applications to be submit eight or nine months in advance. Our team requires adequate time to prepare and submit your application for admission. Once we know both your anticipated start date, as well as the application deadlines for your preferred study programs, we will be able to give a strong estimate of the process length.

This depends on which immigration program to which you wish to apply and your eligibility for said program. There are many pathways to permanent residence for international students. There are a few Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) which allow international graduates to apply immediately upon graduation. As well, if you meet other conditions, like having a job offer, or already possessing Canadian experience, you might be eligible for other immigration programs.

However, one of the more common pathways for international students is through the post-graduation work permit (PGWP). Upon graduation, most international students are eligible for a PGWP, authorizing them to stay in Canada and work for a certain amount of time. Once a candidate has gained one year of full-time, skilled work experience in Canada, they often become eligible for the Canadian Experience Class, a program contained within Canada’s Express Entry system.

A post-graduation work permit (PGWP) can be valid for any length of time between 8 months and 3 years. A PGWP will not be issued for a duration longer than the applicant’s duration of study in Canada. Generally, the PGWP will be approximately the same duration as the applicant’s period of Canadian study, up to a maximum of 3 years.

You will need to show the government that you have sufficient funds to cover both the cost of living in Canada for one year (including housing, transportation, etc.), as well as the cost of tuition for your program of study for one year. This amount varies depending on your program of study, school, and location of study.

Unfortunately, our International Student Program department cannot assist you with applying for a PhD program. Doctoral programs are highly personalized and heavily research-oriented. Due to the comprehensive knowledge of a subject required to apply for a PhD, our team cannot, in good faith, advise to this capacity.

The academic IELTS is strongly suggested when applying to a school in Canada. There are some exceptions, however, it always presents a stronger application to the government of Canada.

In addition, when applying to a school in Canada when you have not studied a program for 3-4 years in a country where English is considered an official language, you need to have language test results. To satisfy this requirement, test results from TOEFL and Academic IELTS are accepted. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Duolingo results can also now be accepted. 

For this reason, our educational counsellors will often recommend that clients take the time to obtain proof of language proficiency, as it is in their best interest to do so.

Yes, however, including family members on a study permit application may impact the decision of the visa officer. Canadian study permits are temporary resident permits, meaning that the holder of a study permit must satisfy the visa officer that they will leave Canada when their permit expires. In some cases, if a student requests to bring their whole family with them to Canada, the visa officer might suspect that the student doesn’t really have the intention to leave Canada after their study program. In an event such as this, the visa officer may deny the study permit.

Our law firm offers support and guidance in securing authorization to study in Canada. All Canadian study permits grant holders the authority to work while studying. Recently, the Canadian government passed temporary measures to allow students to work over 40 hours a week, until December 2023. However, our law firm does not offer employment services as these are outside the scope of immigration law.

Canadian educational institutions usually have a department designed to assist international students with finding housing, accommodations, and navigating student life. Our International Student Program team will ensure that clients are made aware of such services. However, it is outside of the score of our duties to directly assist clients with finding accommodations in Canada.

This depends highly on your program of study. If you prefer certain areas of employment, your educational counsellor will most certainly consider this when researching which schools and programs are best for you!

Yes, it is possible to pursue a second study program in Canada after you complete your first. However, you will have to submit a new study permit application for the new program of study.