Study in Canada Without Study Permit

Study in Canada Without Study Permit

When planning your studies in Canada, there are a number of things you have to consider first: find the information you need about the Designated Learning Institutions; prepare the documents you are required to submit; learn more about the peculiarities of the application process in Canada and the average time of admission to your chosen school; consider various accommodation options available for the international students in your district. However, it is not the full list of things you have to know if you wish to receive education in one of the Canadian schools, colleges, or universities.

It is important to remember, that, in most cases, you cannot study in Canada without a study visa. This official document is issued by the Government of Canada and allows international applicants to study in the country. Nevertheless, there are four common situations in which prospective international students can study in Canada without a study permit.

The first situation concerns short-term study in Canada. If the international student is going to pursue a study program that lasts no more than six months in one of the Designated Learning Institutions, the individual can study in Canada without a study document. It is worth mentioning, that the international students can choose the courses that include any subject(s) and require full- or part-time involvement within this short-time educational stay in Canada.

If you are interested in pursuing the short-term study program in Canada, you can visit the websites of the different schools, colleges, and universities and find out whether they offer such programs to international applicants. Additionally, you have to check whether you are eligible to apply for the chosen short-term program in Canada. Remember, you have to be aware of the fact that international students are not allowed to ask for a visa extension to complete a short-term study program. In other words, international students have to be sure that their visa is valid for no less than six months when they are going to study in Canada without a study visa.

The next thing you should know is that prospective international students, who stay in Canada without a study visa and want to study in one of the Designated Learning Institutions, have to apply for a Canadian study permit from outside the country. However, they can choose the short-term course, which is possible to complete within the allowed period of stay in Canada. It is an exception that the international students can use to have a possibility to study in Canada without a study permit.

You have to be aware of the fact that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada recommends applying for a study permit for those international students who are going to complete the study program that lasts no more than six months and, at the same time, plan to work on campus. Additionally, if international students are going to study in Canada after completion of the initial short-term study program, they have to apply for a study permit before entering Canada and taking a study program in one of the Designated Learning Institutions of the country.

The second situation concerns minor children who are allowed to study in Canada without a study visa. It is officially stated that all children, who legally live in Canada, have a right to attend pre-school, primary, or secondary educational institutions without a study permit. However, it is worth mentioning that children of individuals, who reside in Canada but are not authorized to work or study in the country, are not included in the group of children who can study in Canada without a study permit. In other words, only minor children of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, as well as temporary students or workers, have the right to study in Canada without a study permit.

The third situation applies to the members of the families and private staff of foreign diplomats. It is worth mentioning, that family members and members of the private staff of foreign diplomats and foreign accredited representatives have an opportunity to study in Canada without a study permit.

The last case allows members of foreign armed forces to study in Canada without a study permit. This implies that members of the armed forces of a country that has a status of a designated state according to the Visiting Forces Act do not have to apply for a Canadian study permit. Moreover, you can contact the Ministry of Defence of your country and ask whether you are eligible to study in Canada without a study visa. Additionally, the Ministry of Defence of your country can help you to prepare and submit the required documents if this right applies to you.

If you are interested in whether your country of residence has the designated state status, the Visiting Forces Act includes a list of them. There are 66 countries on this list that include Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Brunei, Cameroon, the Commonwealth of Australia, Croatia, Dominion of New Zealand, Ethiopia, France, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Guyana, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of Greece, the Kingdom of Nepal, the Kingdom of Norway, the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Sweden, Malawi, Malaysia, Niger, Nigeria, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Portugal, the Republic of Albania, the Republic of Azerbaijani, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of El Salvador, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Finland, the Republic of Georgia, the Republic of Ghana, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of Nicaragua, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Sierra Leone, the Republic of Singapore, the Republic of Slovenia, the Republic of the Ivory Coast, the Republic of Uganda, the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Republic of Venezuela, the Republic of Zambia, the Republic of Zimbabwe, Romania, the Sultanate of Oman, Swaziland, the Czech Republic, the Democratic Republic of Sudan, the Slovak Republic, the State of Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, the United Republic of Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, and the United States of America.

As you can see, there are four situations in which international students can study in Canada without a study permit. If you relate yourself to one of these categories, but you want to be sure that you do not need to apply for a Canadian study permit, please visit the official website of the Government of Canada. There you can find up-to-date information and recommendations whom you can contact in your country of residence if you have any questions regarding your future studies in Canada.

It is worth mentioning, that almost all international students, who study in Canada, must have a study permit. It means that you do not have to be upset if you cannot relate yourself to one of these cases. The main steps you have to do are: first, apply to the Designated Learning Institution in Canada; second, receive the Letter of Acceptance from the chosen institution; third, submit the application for a Canadian study permit, and fourth - receive it.

You have to remember, that your main goal is to study in Canada. If you have a right to study in the country without a study permit, you do not have to worry whether you receive a study permit or not. Nevertheless, if you are required to receive a Canadian study permit, together with it you can get even more options, like to study and work in Canada in the future. Keep in mind, that each situation has its benefits, as well as drawbacks.

 

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