Study permits: Assessing the application

On this page

• Reviewing applications for completeness
  • Incomplete applications
• Reviewing requirements
  • Proof of identity
  • Financial resources [R220]
    • Assessing available resources
      • All provinces except Quebec
      • Quebec
    • Foreign exchange controls
    • Refusing an application for financial resources
  • Failure to comply with conditions [R221]
  • Interviews
  • Next step
• Footnotes

Reviewing applications for completeness

Officers should check to ensure all documents are completed properly and enclosed with the application package as per the Document Checklist (IMM 5483) (PDF, 1.0 MB).

In addition, officers should verify the following:

• application forms have been properly completed and signed by the applicant:
  • Application for Study Permit Made Outside of Canada form [IMM 1294] (overseas) or Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Student form [IMM 5709] (in Canada)
  • if applicable:
    • the Family Information form [IMM 5645]
    • the Schedule 1 – Application for a Temporary Resident Visa Made Outside Canada form [IMM 5257]
    • the Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union form [IMM 5409]
    • the Custodianship Declaration form [IMM 5646], for applicants who are minors
    • the Use of a Representative form [IMM 5476]
  • determine whether a processing fee(s) is required and that payment has been included
  • a Letter of acceptance has been provided, unless exempted under R219(2):
    • for initial and new study permit applications:
      • review the original letter of acceptance and confirm that it covers all the basic necessary information.
    • for study permit renewals:
      • review the letter of acceptance, transcript, or the letter issued by the DLI to ensure that the student has provided evidence of compliance with their study permit conditions. For detailed processing instructions see Study permits: Assessing study permit conditions.
    • See Study permits: Designated learning institutions for instructions when the letter of acceptance on file was issued by an institution that appears to no longer be designated or to have been placed on the suspension list

• that evidence of financial resources has been provided for the applicant and any accompanying family members for the first year of the course of study. Applications for extensions must meet the same requirement
• confirm that proof of identity, such as a valid passport or travel document has been provided

• based on the province or territory of destination, unless exempted:
  • Provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL), for rest of Canada
  • Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) for Quebec

Incomplete applications

If the documents are incomplete because they fail to meet the requirements of section 10 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, processing of the application cannot be initiated. This also includes applications where the application fee has not been included or is incorrect.

Officers must return the application and documents to the client along with a letter indicating which requirements were missing or incomplete.

Reviewing requirements

Officers must confirm that all the requirements are met, unless the applicant is subject to applicable exceptions. In addition to the below requirements, see the respective program delivery instructions for details on requirements related to:

• Designated learning institutions (DLIs)
• Letters of acceptance (LOA)
• Provincial or territorial attestation letters (PAL/TAL)
• Quebec Acceptance Certificates (CAQ)
• Scholarship and award recipients

Proof of identity

Applicants must provide proof of identity such as a passport, a travel document or official identity document, or photocopies of the following pages: identity pages, date and place of issue, and validity date.

Persons exempt from a passport requirement should provide an acceptable personal identification such as citizenship document, national identification document or birth certificate.

Financial resources [R220]

Section 220 of the Immigration and Refugees Protection Regulations states that:

An officer shall not issue a study permit to a foreign national, other than one described in paragraph 215(1)(d) or (e), unless they have sufficient and available financial resources, without working in Canada, to do all of the following:

1. pay the tuition fees for the course or program of study that they intend to pursue
2. maintain themself and any family members who are accompanying them during their proposed period of study
3. pay the costs of transporting themself and the family members referred to in paragraph (b) to and from Canada

Students are required to demonstrate financial resources for only the first year of studies, regardless of the duration of the course or program of studies in which they are enrolled. This encompasses:

• their tuition fees
• their stay in Canada (housing, transportation, food, clothing,)
• their travel costs to and from Canada

For example, a single student entering a 4-year degree program in Ontario with an annual tuition fee of CAN$15,000 must demonstrate funds of:

• CAN$15,000 for first year tuition requirements, and not the full CAN$60,000 for 4 years of tuition.
• CAN$20,635 for the required base funds to support themselves during their studies and
• Their travel costs to enter and leave Canada.

However, officers should be satisfied that the probability of funding for future years does exist (for example, parents are employed, scholarship is for more than 1 year). Applications for extensions made to CPC-Edmonton must also meet this requirement.

In assessing the adequacy of a student’s financial resources, officers may exercise discretion in the documentation they request from applicants:

• In situations where student applicants generally pose a very low risk regarding funds, officers may choose to limit or waive routine requirements for documentary evidence. Low-risk applicants are more likely to be exempted from the requirement to obtain a temporary resident visa (TRV). Based on the known incidence of indigent and non-bona fide applicants, and the reliability of financial documentation, individual processing offices are best placed to determine whether routinely requiring banking documentation and/or more extensive financial background information is necessary to ensure program integrity.
• In some very high-risk environments, reviewing and verifying the history of funds and supplementary individual or family financial and employment documentation may be necessary to ensure that only genuine students capable of supporting their program of studies are granted study permits.

Officers may take into consideration such sources of funds derived through scholarships, fellowships, assistantships and the like, as well as financial support or support in kind that may be available from relatives in Canada.

Assessing available resources

Applicants are asked to provide at least 1 of the following:

• proof of a Canadian bank account in their name
• a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution
• proof of a student or education loan from a bank
• bank statements for the past 4 months
• a bank draft that can be converted to Canadian dollars
• proof of paid tuition and housing fees
• a letter from the person or school giving them money, or
• proof of funding paid from within Canada, if they have a scholarship or are in a Canadian-funded educational program

All provinces except Quebec

The following base amounts will help to assess financial resources. The base amount for students includes all requirements related to transportation and other expenses, including the cost of books, equipment, and supplies.

The size of the community where the student is destined is not a consideration. Some provinces are examining the possibility of imposing fee differentials to children accompanying parents who are in Canada for study or work purposes. Officers should keep abreast of future changes when assessing the funds required for the family’s stay in Canada.

Quebec

To study in Quebec applicants must demonstrate their financial capacity to cover the costs outlined by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration.

Please refer to the program delivery instructions for studying in Quebec for more information on assessing available resources for applicants destined to Quebec.

Foreign exchange controls

Foreign exchange control measures are in effect in many countries. Where students are dependent on such controlled funds, they should be required to present 1 of the following:

• a letter from a Canadian financial institution stating that funds necessary for the entire upcoming academic year are on deposit in the applicant’s name
• a bank draft in convertible currency for an amount equal to the funds required for the upcoming academic year and made payable jointly to the educational institution and the applicant
• written assurance from the applicant’s bank that sufficient funds are on deposit and from the foreign exchange control authorities that the applicant will be permitted to export a sum adequate for maintenance costs in Canada.

Refusing an application for financial resources

Where the applicant is unable to demonstrate that they have sufficient and available financial resources, officers are to refuse the application on that basis (R220). This encompasses applicants who do not demonstrate they have sufficient and available financial resources to:

• pay the tuition fees for the course or program of studies that they intend to pursue (R220(a))
• maintain themself and any family members who are accompanying them during their proposed period of study (R220(b))
• pay the costs of transporting themself and the family members referred to and from Canada (R220(c))

R216(1)(b) cannot be cited exclusively as a refusal ground for failure to meet financial resources. Officers can only select/cite R216(1)(b) as a refusal ground in addition to R220, if refusing on financial grounds.

Failure to comply with conditions [R221]

Section 221 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations states that:

Despite Division 2, a study permit shall not be issued to a foreign national who has engaged in unauthorized work or study in Canada or who has failed to comply with a condition of a permit unless any of the following applies:

1. a period of 6 months has elapsed since the cessation of the unauthorized work or study or failure to comply with a condition
2. the work or study was unauthorized by reason only that the foreign national did not comply with conditions imposed under paragraph 185(a), any of subparagraphs 185(b)(i) to (iii) or paragraph 185(c)
3. the foreign national was subsequently issued a temporary resident permit under subsection 24(1) of the Act

If a foreign national has engaged in unauthorized work or study in Canada or has failed to comply with a condition of a permit, a study permit can only be issued if any of the following applies:

1. a period of 6 months has elapsed since the applicant ceased engaging in the unauthorized work or study, or since the applicant failed to comply with a condition that was imposed on them.
   • See the below regulations for conditions that may be imposed on temporary residents:
     • conditions – study permit holder [R220.1(1)]
     • general conditions [R183]
     • conditions imposed on members of a crew [R184]
     • specific conditions [R185]
2. if the work or study was unauthorized due to non-compliance with any of the following conditions:
   • period authorized for their stay [R185(a)]
   • the work they are permitted or prohibited from engaging in, specifically:
     • type of work [R185(b)(i)]
     • the employer [R185(b)(ii)]
     • the location of the work [R185(b)(iii)]
   • the studies they are permitted or prohibited from engaging in, specifically:
     • the type of studies or course [R185(c)(i)]
     • the educational institution [R185(c)(ii)]
     • the location of the studies [R185(c)(iii)]
     • the times and periods of the studies [R185(c)(iv)]
3. If they were subsequently issued a temporary resident permit (TRP)

To assess whether a study permit can be issued, officers should review the applicant’s history and identify:

1. The date on which they ceased the unauthorized work or study, or since they were non-compliant with their conditions
   • if 6 months has elapsed a study permit can be issued
   • if 6 months has not elapsed, proceed to step B
2. The condition of temporary residence they were found non-compliant
   • If the condition falls under R221(b) as it relates to work or study, a study permit can be issued
   • If it is another condition, proceed to step C
3. Issuance of a TRP
   • If they were issued a TRP, a study permit can be issued
   • If no TRP was issued, officers should proceed with refusing the application

Interviews

In addition to sending a procedural fairness letter, in certain circumstances, it may be necessary to interview the applicant. Reasons that may warrant the need for an interview include

• questions or doubts concerning applicant’s reasons for wishing to come to Canada, the arrangements made for their care and support, and their ability or willingness to leave Canada
• circumstances when the officer needs more information or clarification before finalizing an application:
  • For example, for study permit renewals, when the officer needs more information to determine whether the applicant is in compliance with their study permit conditions (for example, be enrolled and actively pursuing studies at the DLI listed on their study permit)
• suspicions that the foreign national may be a victim of human trafficking (see OP 20and the program delivery instructions on temporary resident permits (TRPs)

Next step

Once the application and documentation have been reviewed, officers will need to determine whether the applicant

• is inadmissible ^{Footnote 2}
• requires a temporary resident visa (not applicable in Canada)
• requires an electronic travel authorization (eTA)
• is bona fide;
• is from a country classified under the Visitor Information Transmission category as described in chapter IC 2
• requires a medical examination
• is in need of a work permit