Comprehensive reference for international students at UBC.
Visas & permits
There are three categories of people in Canada: citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents. International students, workers, and visitors are all temporary residents. As a temporary resident you may have two or three types of immigration documents.
1. Permit (study permit, work permit, or visitor record)
A valid permit authorizes you to remain in the country while you study, work, or visit. Visitors who are not studying or working might have a stamp in their passport or a paper visitor record.
If you’re going to attend UBC and are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, you must obtain a study permit from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
If your program of study is less than six months long, you do not need a study permit, but you should consider applying for one anyway. Then, if you decide to study longer than six months, you can simply extend your study permit and avoid a complicated application process.
2. Temporary Resident Visa
A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is used only for entry into Canada. It is recommended that you maintain a valid TRV while you are in Canada but it is not mandatory. Only citizens of certain countries require a TRV. A TRV may allow “single entry” or “multiple entry;” it can be obtained only from a Canadian visa office (such as a consulate or embassy) outside of Canada.
A TRV is only used to enter Canada, while a study permit allows you to stay in the country.
3. Passport
If your passport will expire while you are in Canada, your immigration documents will normally expire at the same time. In most cases you can apply to extend them after you obtain a new passport. Passport applications can take up to three months, so apply for a new passport as soon as possible to avoid interruptions in your studies. To apply for a new passport, contact the nearest visa office for your country (search online for foreign embassies and consulates in Canada).
