Apply for or extend your study permit

Citizenship and residency status

Before entering Canada

Before coming to Canada, make sure you have your documents: 

  • Study Permit: If you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada and you wish to study in Canada for longer than six months, you must get a study permit.
  • Temporary Resident Visa (TRV): Depending on the country of your citizenship, you may also need to obtain a Temporary Resident Visa.  Information on how to apply for a TRV can be found on the CIC website.
  • Medical Exam: Depending on the country in which you have most recently lived, you may need a CIC-approved medical exam before a study permit will be issued.  Medical exams are not dependant on your country of citizenship, but rather if you have resided or stayed temporarily for six or more consecutive months in a designated country or territory in the year immediately preceding the date you are entering Canada.  For more information about medical exams, including the contact information for your local visa office, refer to the CIC website.

Canadian citizen

A Canadian citizen is a person who was born in Canada or who has been granted Canadian citizenship, and will have one of the following documents:

  • Canadian birth certificate
  • Canadian citizenship card
  • Canadian passport

Permanent resident

In Canada, a permanent resident is someone who is not a Canadian citizen but who intends to live in Canada on a permanent basis. Individuals with permanent resident status may enter, live, study, and work in Canada, and will have one of the following documents:

Change of status (study permit to permanent resident status)

Tuition fees at the University of British Columbia are assessed based on the citizenship or permanent residence status of the student and whether they are studying at the undergraduate or graduate level.

  • Permanent resident status is attained as of the "Landed on" date indicated on the Record of Landing, not the "Date Issued."
  • If you become a permanent resident of Canada on or before the tuition fee due date of the term, domestic fees will be assessed for that term.
  • If you become a permanent resident after the tuition fee due date for the term, international fees will be assessed for that current term and regular fees will be assessed for subsequent terms.

Students must report any changes to their status with supporting documents to Enrolment Services. Documents must be in their original form and presented to staff at Enrolment Services.

Visit the Faculty of Graduate Studies for more information on requirements for prospective and current international graduate students.

Note: Any applicant or student may be asked to provide proof of their citizenship, immigration status, and/or study permit.

Apply for a study permit and TRV (if required)

As a student who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, you must obtain a study permit from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) in order to live and study in Canada for more than six months. A study permit also allows you to work on the campus where you are registered in full-time studies.

Apply early!

It can take weeks (or in some cases, months) to process your study permit application. Contact the Canadian embassy, consulate, or immigration office nearest you and ask for a study permit application.

If you are visiting or stopping in another country on your way to Canada, you may require additional travel or immigration documents. Check with the country you are visiting before you leave your home country.

Studying for less than six months?

If you plan to study for less than six months, consider applying for a permit anyway. That way, if you decide to study longer than six months, you can avoid a complicated application process.

Are you a US citizen?

Citizens of the United States can apply for a study permit at the immigration desk of most major US/Canada border crossings or at an airport in Canada. Full immigration services are available at the Huntingdon border station in Sumas and at the Pacific Highway border station in Blaine. Be sure to bring the required documents with you.

If you prefer to apply for the permit in advance, contact the nearest Canadian visa office or download the forms from the CIC website.

Letter of introduction

Once your study permit application is accepted, the Canadian embassy, consulate or immigration office will provide you with a letter of introduction advising of the decision. In some cases, TRV will also be included with this letter.

Documents required

In order to apply for a study permit, you will need the following documents:

  • Offer of admission letter
    This letter is signed by an officer of the University and proves that you've been accepted.
  • Passport
    You must have a valid passport and/or official government-issued identification. If your passport will be expiring during your first year of study, renew it before applying for a study permit.
  • Proof of custodianship (may be required if you are under 19 years of age)
  • Medical conditions and criminal history
    The application will ask about serious medical conditions and criminal history; if you have concerns about either, check the Application Guide on the CIC website for details before applying.
  • Proof of funds
    You'll need to show you can cover the cost of one year in Canada (including tuition and living expenses) by bringing a bank statement, savings account passbook, bank draft, or other proof that indicates you have sufficient funds. Depending on your country of citizenship or residence, you may also need to get a medical examination and apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (called a visitor visa or an entry visa) in order to enter Canada:
    • Medical examination report
      Refer to the CIC website to see if a medical exam is required of you. Start this process early as it can take up to three months to process medical exam results.
    • Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)
      To find out if you need a TRV, check the CIC website. If you need one, apply for it when you apply for your study permit. You should request a multiple-entry, not a single-entry TRV.

If you are visiting or stopping in another country on your way to Canada, you may require additional documents. Please check with a consular office of that country before you leave home to see what documents, visas, or immunizations you may need.

Are you already in Canada?

Coming to UBC from a Canadian secondary school?

If you are coming to UBC from a secondary school in Canada, you will need to obtain a new study permit prior to starting classes at UBC.  You may not attend university with a high school study permit. Please apply as soon as possible for a university (post-secondary) study permit.

Already have a study permit?

If you already have a valid study permit for post-secondary study in Canada, you can use that permit to study at UBC. As a post-secondary student, you can transfer between programs of study and institutions without applying for a change to the conditions of your study permit. You must apply to extend your current study permit 90 days prior to its expiry in order to maintain your status in Canada.

Need to change or extend your study permit?

If you need to change or extend your study permit from within Canada, you can apply by online through the secure CIC website. For application processing times, please visit the CIC website.

Are you in Canada on a work permit?

If you are working in Canada with a valid work permit, you must obtain a study permit to begin your program of study. You may hold a study permit and a work permit at the same time. You can apply for a study permit from Canada. You can apply online and the processing time is about one month. You must have your valid study permit before classes start.  

Are you in Canada as a visitor?

If you have been visiting Canada or studying English in Canada without a study permit, you must obtain a study permit before you begin studying at UBC.

If you are a visitor in British Columbia, you can apply for an initial study permit by mail through the Consulate General of Canada in Seattle, Detroit or Buffalo.  Effective May 7th, 2012, in-person applications are no longer accepted at the Detroit and Buffalo visa offices.  Effective June 1st, 2012, in-person applications are no longer accepted at the Seattle visa office and documents will not be returned by courier.  If you have concerns about the safety of your passport and other documents being returned, you may choose to submit an application to the Canadian Consulate in Buffalo or Detroit as both have mailboxes in Canada and accept pre-paid return Canada Post Xpresspost envelopes.

We highly recommend that you check the website of the visa office to which you plan on applying.  It is also important to make note of processing times. Some applications may also take longer than average to process, such as those requiring a medical examination. You may wait up to three months to receive the results of a medical examination. 

TIP

Visit I. House for details on how to complete your application for an initial study permit.  You may also download the I. House tutorial for step-by-step instructions on completing an initial study permit application (1.00 MB) specifically through the Canadian Consulate in Seattle.  This tutorial will also be of basic assistance in completing an initial study permit application to other Canadian Consulates in Buffalo or Detroit. 

Bring your prepared documents and completed application forms to see an Advisor at I. House before sending out your application.  I. House Advising Drop-In hours are Monday through Friday from 1-4pm.

Are you in Canada as the dependant partner, spouse, or child of an international student or worker?

If your spouse, partner or parent is studying or working in Canada with a study permit or a work permit, you require a study permit to study at UBC. You can apply for a study permit from Canada. You can apply online and the processing time is about one month. You must have your valid study permit before classes start.  

Do you want to bring your family to Canada with you?

It is possible for your family members to accompany you to Canada for your studies. Your family members must apply for immigration documents that allow them to enter Canada with you (or join you after you have arrived here). Spouses and partners of international students may have the opportunity to apply for work permits for the duration of your studies.

Be sure to review the housing and child care opportunities for families at UBC.

Pre-arrival immigration tips 

  1. See if you can get study permit assistance through the Canada Education Centre Network offices (CECN).

    UBC is a member of the CECN in Bangkok, Beijing, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Canberra, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Mexico City, New Delhi, Oslo, Säo Paulo, Seoul, Singapore, and Taipei.

  2. Request that your documents remain valid until the end of your studies.

    It's a good idea to request a date three months after your expected graduation date in case you decide to pursue short-time employment in Canada. If your study permit expires before your studies are complete, you can apply to renew it within Canada, but you will have to pay an application fee.

  3. Check the terms outlined in your letter of introduction, TRV, and study permit. 

    Make sure your name is spelled correctly and that dates and other information are correct.

  4. Make photocopies of important documents and keep the copies in a safe place.

    • Valid passport and/or official government-issued identification
    • Letter of introduction from Canadian embassy, consulate, or immigration office
    • Temporary Resident Visa (if required)
    • Original UBC offer of admission letter
    • Proof of sufficient funds (such as a bank statement)
    • Credit card(s)
    • Marriage certificate (if you are married)
    • Identification document with photo
    • Driver's license or international driver's license, driving insurance records, vehicle registration, and insurance papers (if you plan to drive/bring your car)
    • Medical and immunization records
    • Medical insurance documents (if you are going to rely on medical insurance from your home country)
    • Two years of official school records (for school children who will accompany you)

  5. Unless you are a US citizen, do not leave for Canada until you have obtained your letter of introduction and TRV (if required).

  6. Be prepared at your port of entry.

    Have your passport and letter of introduction ready. Service is available in both English and French. If you do not understand what is being said, ask if an interpreter is available for your preferred language of communication.

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