Migration & Relocation Guidance

TEMPORARY RESIDENCE VISAS

STUDY PERMIT

If you are enrolled into a qualifying course at a Canadian tertiary institution, you can apply for a study permit. The study permit is a document that allows foreign nationals to study at designated learning institutions (DLI) in Canada. This permit allows you to study full-time and to work a limited number of hours per week.

A study permit is usually valid for the length of your study program, plus an extra 90 days. This extra time lets you prepare to leave Canada or apply to extend your stay.

Please Note: 

Your study permit is not a visa. It alone doesn’t allow you to enter Canada. You may also need a temporary resident visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA). If so, IRCC will issue it as part of your study permit application.

Designated Learning Institutions (DLI)

To apply for a study permit, you need an acceptance letter from a designated learning institution. A designated learning institution is a school approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students.

All primary and secondary schools in Canada are designated learning institutions. However, not all post-secondary school (tertiary institution) are designated learning institutions. Therefore, if you plan to attend a post-secondary school, make sure it is on the designated learning institutions list. Contact Achievers Consult for this list.

Post-Graduation Work Permit

If you graduated from a designated learning institution, and want to stay in Canada temporarily while working, you may be eligible to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP).

However, not all designated learning institutions make you eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program. This is why it is extremely important for you to know if you will be eligible to work after you graduate at the time you are applying to the DLI.

Nevertheless, along with graduating from an eligible designated learning institution, you need to meet all other criteria to get a post-graduation work permit.

Please contact Achievers Consult for the list that will let you know if your designated learning institution offers programs that will make you eligible for a post-graduation work permit.

Minimum Requirements

Before you apply for a study permit, you need the following:

1. an acceptance letter from a designated learning institution (DLI). Achievers Consult can help you get admission in a DLI

2. a valid passport or travel document

3. show proof that you have enough money to pay for your:

• tuition fees

• living expenses for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada and

• return transportation for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada

1. be a law-abiding citizen with no criminal record and not be a risk to the security of Canada. You may have to provide a police certificate.

2. be in good health. You may need to complete a medical exam.

3. convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your studies.

Contact Achievers Consult to find out which other documents you may need to apply for a study permit.

Please Note: 

If a school asked you to take some courses before they will accept you into the main program (conditional acceptance), IRCC will only issue your study permit for the length of these courses. When you get accepted into the main program, you can apply to extend your stay as student from within Canada.

TEMPORARY RESIDENCE VISAS

TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA / VISITOR VISA

A temporary resident / visitor visa is an official document stamped in your passport. It shows that you meet the requirements needed to travel to Canada.

Most travelers require a visitor visa to travel to Canada. You may also need a visa if you are transiting through a Canadian airport on your way to your final destination.

A temporary resident / visitor visa allows you to:

• Visit your children or grandchildren for more than six months

• Come to Canada as a tourist, visit family or friends, or study (up to six months)

• Attend a business meeting, conference, trade show

• Transit through Canada

Basic Travel Requirements

You must meet some basic requirements to travel to Canada. You must:

1. have a valid travel document, like a passport

2. be in good health

3. have no criminal or immigration-related convictions

4. convince an immigration officer that you have ties—such as a job, home, financial assets or family—that will take you back to your home country

5. convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit

6. have enough money for your stay - The amount of money you will need depends on how long you will stay and if you will stay in a hotel, or with friends or relatives.

7. You may also need a medical exam and letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.

Some people are not admissible to Canada, which means they are not allowed to enter the country. You can be inadmissible for several reasons, including being involved in: criminal activity, human rights violations, and organized crime. You can also be inadmissible for security, health or financial reasons.

Multiple Entry Visa: While valid, a multiple entry visa will let you travel to Canada for six months at a time as many times as you want. It will be valid for up to 10 years or one month before your passport expires, whichever is shorter. You must arrive in Canada on or before the expiry date on your visa.

Single Entry Visa: A single entry visa lets you travel to Canada only one time. In most cases, once you have left Canada, you will need a new visa to enter Canada again. However, you won’t need a new visitor visa to return to Canada if you are travelling directly to the United States (including its Territories and Possessions) or St. Pierre and Miquelon.

You don’t need to choose any of this entry visa. A multiple entry visa is what all visa applicants are automatically considered for. IRCC will normally review your application and issue you a visa depending on your situation.

Most visitors to Canada cannot work or study in Canada without a permit.

TEMPORARY RESIDENCE VISAS

WORK PERMITS

If you are offered a job that cannot be filled by a Canadian and the Canadian employer is able to satisfy a Service Canada Labour Market Assessment, then you may be able to apply for a work permit. The permit is issued for the duration of the employment contract usually up to a maximum of 3 years.

Please Note: 

Canadian employers are generally reluctant to sponsor offshore candidates unless there are specific skills shortages, and do not consider applicants unless already in possession of a Canadian residence visa and present in Canada for interview. So unless you are to be transferred to Canada by your current employer, this can be a very difficult visa to obtain.

Other temporary visas include International Experience Canada (IEC) program (International Co-op Internship, Young Professional, Working Holiday Programs) and visas for Live-in Caregivers.

TEMPORARY RESIDENCE VISAS

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE CANADA

International Experience Canada (IEC) provides youth with the opportunity to travel and work in Canada.

To participate:

• your country of citizenship must have an agreement with Canada that allows you to apply for an IEC work permit, or

• you may be able to use a Recognized Organization.

Depending on where you are from, you can choose from up to three travel and work experiences:

Working Holiday

This program allows you to fund your vacation with temporary work in Canada. The type of work permit you get for Working Holiday is an open work permit.

This category is for you if:

• You don’t have a job offer yet

• You want to work for more than one employer in Canada

• You want to work in more than one location

• You’d like to earn some money so that you can travel

Young Professionals

This program allows you to gain Canadian professional work experience to better compete in a global economy. The type of work permit you get in the Young Professionals category is an employer-specific work permit.

This category is for you if:

• You have a job offer in Canada that contributes to your professional development

• You’ll work for the same employer in the same location during your stay in Canada

Under this category, work must be paid and not self-employed. Your employer must meet all labour laws in the province or territory you plan to work including meeting minimum wage requirements.

The job you are offered in Canada must be classified as a National Occupational Classification (NOC) Code Skill Type Level 0, A or B to be considered as contributing to your “professional development.” A NOC C job might be accepted if you can submit a post-secondary diploma, certificate or degree, with your work permit application. Your diploma, certificate or degree must be translated to English or French.

International Co-op Internship

This program allows you to get valuable Canadian work experience related to your field of study. The type of work permit you get in the International Co-op (Internship) category is an employer-specific work permit.

The internship you are offered in Canada must be directly linked to your field of studies and classified as a National Occupational Classification (NOC) Code Skill Type Level 0, A or B to be considered. A NOC C job might also be accepted if your internship is directly linked to your field of studies with a post-secondary institution in your country.

This category is for you if:

• You’re a student registered at a post-secondary institution

• You have a job offer for a work placement or internship in Canada

• You need to do this work placement or internship to complete your studies

• You’ll work for the same employer in the same location during your stay in Canada

Wages must follow the labour laws in the province or territory you will be working in. The labour code of the province or territory will determine if an internship needs to be paid or not.

Become A Candidate of IEC

If you want to travel and work temporarily in Canada as part of International Experience Canada (IEC), your first step is to become a candidate in one or more IEC pools. Contact Achievers Consult if you wish to become a IEC candidate

ABOUT US

Caution

Immigration Regulations can change without advance notice. You are strongly advised to always check the official Canada Immigration Website before applying.

Important Notice

Achievers Consult is not your attorney. We only provide you answers for general information purposes only. So, this information and/or guidance should be used as a starting point for addressing your legal issues. It is not a substitute for a consultation with a registered/regulated agent or an attorney licensed to practice in your jurisdiction about your specific legal issues. You should not rely on the information we provide as legal information and are not subject to attorney-client privilege. Likewise, we are not lawyers and we will not provide you with legal advice. we strongly recommend that you consult a licensed lawyer for legal advice.

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