Immigration Information | International Students

Students can learn more about the application process and what documents they will need to include.  This information is appropriate for both inside and outside Canada applications.

For additional resources in preparing your initial study permit application, visit the initial study permit application instructions page (login required). 

You should apply as soon as you receive your offer of admission. The time needed to process an application to study in Canada may vary at different visa offices. Current processing times can be found on the IRCC website.  

You must apply to extend your study permit before it expires to attend post-secondary school. You can start your studies at U of G while your application is being processed but must stop immediately if it is refused.

Note: If you finish secondary school early, your study permit expires 90 days after completion, even if the permit shows a later date.

You can learn more about changing your school or program and extending your study permit on the IRCC website.

In general, you should not apply for a study permit at a Canadian port of entry. You should apply online for a study permit before you travel to Canada.

Only certain people can apply at the port of entry. You may be able to apply at the port of entry if you’re a:

• U.S. citizen
• lawful permanent resident of the U.S.
• resident of Greenland
• resident of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon

​​​​​​​If you meet one of these requirements, you must have all the documents required to apply for a study permit with you when you arrive at the border. The border services officer who greets you will determine if you’re eligible to enter Canada as a student.

Please speak with your department and professors to get a better understanding of when is the latest you can join in-person courses:

• Undergrad Students connect with your Program Counselors in addition to their professors
• Graduate Students connect with your Program Coordinators and Advisors

Please ask if online options are available that would allow you to complete the necessary work while waiting for your permit. 

If online options ARE available, please keep in mind that the time spent studying while waiting for your study permit, will NOT count towards your PGWP and you must still be enrolled as a full-time student (not part-time).  For students in a 1-year program, starting online may not be the best option (please review your deferral options)

If online options are NOT an option OR your program is 1-year in length, speak with your department about the deferral process and when is the next available start date:

• Undergrad students connect with International Admissions to determine this process
• Graduate Students connect with your department

It will be important to note the last day to withdraw for a full refund. If you withdraw after this date, you could be subject to a smaller refund. In the event your permit is rejected, you would be eligible for a full tuition refund (for more information on this, please contact Financial Services: accquest@uoguelph.ca)

If your study permit application is denied, students will not be able to travel to Canada to take part in in-person classes. Reach out to the GPS Advisors for further guidance.

If your study permit is delayed, and you anticipate that you will not arrive on time for the first day of classes, please go through the Delayed Study Permit Next Steps resource (login required). 

If your study permit expires before you apply to extend it, you’ve lost your status as a student in Canada. You may be able to restore your status.

If you want to keep studying, you must apply to extend your permit at least 30 days before it expires.  Book an appointment with an ISA to discuss the process.

From your IRCC secure online account, you will answer your eligibility questionnaire which will provide a checklist of documents to be uploaded. Refer to IRCC's instruction guide for further information. Connect withan ISA for review of your application before submission.

The eTA is automatically provided once an initial study permit is approved.  Details on where to send your passport will be provided once this happens.  Some students may only need an eTA and not this visa.  To determine if you need a visa or eTA, see eligibility for visa/eTAs 

If a foreign national meets the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and is admissible, an immigration officer may issue a TRV, per subsection A11(1), in the form of an official counterfoil document placed in the individual’s passport. The expiry date of a TRV is the date by which the visa must be used to arrive at the port of entry (POE) and seek admission to Canada. The expiry date is not the suggested duration of the visit. A TRV does not guarantee entry to Canada, nor does it grant temporary resident status in Canada.

Upon arrival at a Canadian POE, the foreign national is required to report to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Per paragraph A20(1)(b), to become a temporary resident, every foreign national who seeks to enter Canada must establish that they hold the visa required by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) and will leave Canada by the end of the period authorized for their stay. The foreign national must satisfy a border services officer of the CBSA that they have the ability and willingness to leave Canada at the end of their authorized stay.

Temporary residents may apply to change or extend their status in Canada, under certain conditions. For more information, see eligibility for extending temporary resident status.