Study Permits
If you are not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, you must obtain a Study Permit to study in Canada unless your program of study is six months or less and can be completed within six months.
To obtain a Study Permit you must meet the following requirements:
- have received an original acceptance letter from the University of Saskatchewan;
- be able to provide proof of enough money to pay for tuition and living costs for you and any accompanying family members;
- be able to prove that you will return to your home country after your studies at the University of Saskatchewan;
- pass a medical examination if required; and
- meet other visitor requirements, including a visa if required.
If you are not a resident in the country that you are applying from, you are required to provide proof of your current immigration status in the country that you are applying from.
For more detailed information, please refer to Citizenship and Immigration Canada's Information Guide for Applying for the Study Permit (PDF).
Before applying for a study permit, you should have received a letter of acceptance from the St. Peter's College & the University of Saskatchewan, which contains all the necessary information required by the Canadian Diplomatic Representative in your Country to issue a study permit. If the Diplomatic Representative requires additional information, please contact Student Services.
Follow these steps to obtain a study permit:
Step 1
Obtain a valid passport from your government. (Passports are not required for U. S. citizens applying from the United States.)
Step 2
Contact the nearest Canadian Diplomatic Post and ask for an Application for a study permit or download an application form.
To complete this application you will need to know the cost of transportation to and from Canada. You will also need to know the cost of tuition, room and board, and other living and education costs. The financial requirement for the first year of university in Canada is $10,000 CAD plus the cost of tuition. Request that the duration of your study permit be the same as your program. The Canadian Diplomatic Post in your country will want you to give evidence of financial support. This evidence might be:
- a bank statement;
- a notarized statement of willingness and ability of another person to support you while in Canada;
- a foreign exchange control authorization to transfer funds to Canada; or
- written confirmation of financial award granted by a scholarship granting agency.
Step 3
Return the completed application to the Canadian Diplomatic Post along with passport photos, your original letter of acceptance (not a photocopy) and your evidence of financial support. You may be called for an interview with a Canadian immigration officer. You may also be asked to obtain evidence of good character (e.g. a letter from your local police), and you may be required to undergo a medical examination. These requirements vary from country to country and are established by the Canadian government.
Step 4
If the duration of your studies at the St. Peter's College is less than six months you do not need to take a medical examination. If you intend to stay in Canada for more than six months and are a citizen of a designated countries you must undergo a medical examination.
If a medical examination is required, a medical form will be provided along with a list of designated medical practitioners. Normally, the Canadian government requires vaccination against smallpox, cholera or yellow fever only for persons coming from areas where these diseases are endemic. Be certain to ask about Canadian quarantine regulations before leaving home. You are advised to undergo the medical examination as soon as possible because results may take a long time to come back. Students have been delayed because of failure to act quickly on this matter.
Once you have satisfied these requirements, you will be issued a study permit or letter of intent. If you are granted a letter of intent, you meet all the criteria for visitors to Canada. You will have to present this letter at the port of entry and you will be issued a study permit by a Canadian immigration officer.
Note that your spouse and dependants, if they are to accompany you, must meet all the criteria for visitors to Canada. They may also be required to provide evidence of good character, to have a medical examination, to have vaccination or to obtain a visa.
Understanding
Your Study Permit is the most important immigration document you have other than your passport. International students studying in Canada for more than six months must have a valid Study Permit.
The Study Permit is sometimes mistakenly referred to as a "student visa." A visa is the stamp or sticker placed in your passport that entitles you to enter Canada. Not all students require a visa.
Depending on your country of origin, most Study Permits will be issued for the duration of your program of studies (B.A. General or B.Sc. General-four years; M.Sc.-three years; Ph.D.-four years). If it is not, be sure to renew your Study Permit before it expires. Allowing a Study Permit to expire is considered a violation of the Immigration Act. This means that you may not be eligible for an extension. You may also be subject to an inquiry, which could lead to your removal from Canada.
Students who transfer to St. Peter's College from another Canadian institution must check their Study Permit. Unless it states that you can study at any post-secondary institution, you must have the "Place of Study" designation changed to the University of Saskatchewan before you begin your studies here. Most Study Permits now state that international students can study at any post-secondary institution in Canada.
Do not let your Study Permit expire! A new one cannot be issued in Canada, even if it has expired by only one day. Renew at least four weeks in advance of the expiry date. Contact Student Services or Citizenship and Immigration Canada if you have any questions. What seems like a complex situation can often be explained or worked out quite easily. Please ask. We are here to help.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
#660 - 410 - 22nd St. E.
Saskatoon, SK
Tel: 1-888-242-2100
Website: www.cic.gc.ca
Renewal of Study Permits
If you wish to renew or change the conditions of your Study Permit, make sure you apply early-at least 30 days before your Study Permit expires. To renew your Study Permit you must mail in an application to the Case Processing Centre (CPC) in Vegreville, Alberta. All application forms are now available and can be filled out online and printed. Please read the online guides for information that will help you to complete the application forms. The required receipt needed to pay the fees are not available online.
To extend your stay as a student you are required to provide transcripts of your last six months of study. A transcript issued to the student will be accepted.
Please note:
- It is not necessary to mail your passport. Photocopies of your passport are accepted.
- Make sure that you apply well in advance of the expiration of your document (30 days before expiry) to allow time for this mail-in procedure.
- The fee for renewing your student authorization is $125.00 CAD. Payment can be made at most banks. Send the receipt with your application.
Visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada for more information about extending your Study Permit.
Renewing your Passport
Because Citizenship and Immigration Canada cannot extend documents beyond the expiry date of your passport, it is impossible for you to have a valid Study Permit without a valid passport. It is thus very important to note your passport expiry date and begin the renewal process about eight months prior to expiry.
