International Students in Canada
You can boost your chances of success by working with us through our International Student Program.
i. Student Health Insurance - Canada’s health care system varies from province to province. Foreign nationals planning to study in the country should familiarize themselves with the Canadian health care offered by their province of study. Some provinces do cover international students under provincial health insurance plans, but the majority of provinces require students to register for private health insurance plans. In many provinces requiring international students to obtain private health insurance, the educational institutions themselves offer health insurance packages to international students. No matter the situation, all educational institutions will be familiar with the health insurance requirements for international students.
ii. Compliance - All Designated learning institutes (DLI’s) at the post-secondary level, with the exception of institutions located in Quebec, must use the DLI portal to complete regular reports on the academic enrolment status of their international students and to submit these reports to IRCC. Study permit holders are required to actively pursue their studies. Each institution determines its own definition of full-time studies. However, full-time studies usually mean a minimum of 9 credits (3 courses) per semester.
iii. Renewing or Changing a Study Permit - Most people must apply online to extend their study permit from within Canada. You should submit an application to extend your study permit before your current permit expires. The processing time varies and can take several months. If you haven't applied for restoration of study permit and more than 90 days have passed from the expiry date, you have to leave the country and apply for a new study permit from your country of residence/citizenship.
- Visitor Visas for Canada - A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), also referred to as a visitor visa or Canada Tourist visa, is an official document issued by a Canadian visa office that is placed in your passport to show that you have met the requirements for admission to Canada as a temporary resident (either as a visitor, a student, or a worker). Certain applicants may need to undergo a medical examination. Criminality and medical issues may prevent a visitor from entering Canada. Visitors to Canada must be able to prove their ability to support themselves during their intended temporary stay in Canada. Citizens of certain countries may need to provide biometric information.
iv. Spouse and Family – If you want to call your family or spouse or common-law partner to come and live with you then you need to apply for their Visitor Visa / Spousal Work permit. Canada’s generous immigration policy allows certain family members of international students to come to Canada to work and/or study.
v. Working While Studying - Working while studying can be a great way for you to make a little bit of extra money, and while it does have its disadvantages, those are usually drastically outweighed by the benefits that it brings. That's probably why nearly 80% of college students work part time while studying. You may be eligible to work in Canada while studying, if your study permit includes a condition that says you can work on or off campus. You must also meet all the other requirements. You can only start working in Canada when you start your study program. You can't work before your studies begin.
vi. Post-Graduate Work Permits - A post-graduation work permit (PGWP) gives you permission to remain in Canada and work full time for up to three years after you graduate from a Canadian post-secondary institution. The length of the work permit depends on the length of your program.
How do you apply for a post-graduation work permit?
- Submit your PGWP application within 90 days of losing your status and pay both fees (open work permit fee and standard work permit fee) Restoring your status as a student has a fee of $350.
- Keep meeting the requirements for your stay.
- Meet all the remaining conditions listed on your permit.
vii. Immigrate after Studying - After graduating in Canada and getting a post-graduation work permit, knuckle down and complete a year of skilled work, prove your language ability through a recognized test, and enter the Express Entry pool. You can even apply through PNP and other immigration programs.
