Temporary learners

A study permit is not necessary for foreign students visiting Canada for a post-secondary program lasting six months or less.

relatives or employees of foreign delegates

You might not need a permission to study in Canada if you are related to (as a family member) or employed by (as a staff member) someone who has been recognized by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) as a foreign representative to Canada.

Note: To find out if you require a study permission, your embassy can get in touch with GAC.

Members of a nation defined by the Visiting Forces Act as foreign armed forces

A study permit is not required for certain foreign military personnel who are in Canada on official business and intend to continue their education here.

This specifically relates to those who serve in the armed forces of a nation that Canada has designated under the Visiting Forces Act (VFA), either as designated civilian personnel or as members of the armed forces. It is important to remember that minor children and other family members of foreign military personnel may still need a study permit in order to pursue their education in Canada.

Note: A letter of acceptance from Canada’s Department of National Defence is required for qualified members of the armed forces.

Canadian Indians with a registration

Keep in mind that being a Registered Indian does not equate to being an Indian citizen or resident. Rather, it alludes to being recognized as an indigenous person in Canada.

Canadian minors

Minor children can pursue their education in Canada without a study permit under the following five scenarios:

• The young youngster is either a refugee or a claimant.
• The little child’s parents are either refugees or asylum seekers.
• The parents of the minor kid are citizens or permanent residents of Canada.
• The minor child is accompanied by a parent who is permitted to work or study in Canada while attending preschool, primary school, or secondary school.
• The young person is enrolled in preschool, primary school, or secondary school in Canada, but they are not accompanied.

Students studying French language and culture who are both temporary residents and asylum seekers

In order to enroll in French language and cultural integration classes in Quebec, eligible temporary residents or asylum seekers in Canada need not need a study permission.

courses for integration and settlement for temporary residents

There is no need for a study permit for people who enroll in settlement and integration programs run by provinces or territories to aid in their adjustment to Canada.

Workers not needing a study visa to study

Without a study permission, foreign employees in Canada may be able to pursue their studies if they:

• Possess a current work permit that was granted on June 7, 2023, or before; or
• Received a letter from the IRCC by June 7, 2023, at the latest, allowing them to continue working while their work permit application or extension is being processed.

The advantages of requesting and being granted a study visa

There are advantages to applying for and receiving an IRCC study permit, even if there are some chances for foreign individuals to pursue an education in Canada without one.

For Canadian minors

The IRCC states that minors in Canada who have a valid study permit can access more opportunities, services, and programs, such as:

• Co-ops in secondary schools: work permits
• Social Services (in certain territories/provinces)
• The freedom to move between educational levels without having to seek for new permissions or change existing ones

When minor children reach the age of majority, which varies by province or territory and is either 18 or 19 years old, they must apply for a study permit in order to continue their education in Canada.

Advantages of a study permit in general: working while you study

Depending on the terms specified in their study permit, only enrolled full-time students at Canadian Designated Learning Institutions (DLI) are permitted to work either on or off campus while they pursue their degree.

Conversely, students who do not have a study permit are not allowed to work while they are enrolled in classes and must apply for a different kind of work permit.