Acadia University - Study Permits

What is a study permit?

A study permit is a government document that allows you to study in Canada. Most international students at Acadia require study permits; you must have a study permit unless you plan to study in Canada for less than 6 months.

We strongly encourage you not to begin your studies at Acadia without either a valid study permit or a study permit approval letter. We cannot contact IRCC on your behalf to manage your application or to check its status.

If you are an exchange student and plan to come to Canada for a program that lasts 6 months or less, you do not require a study permit unless you plan on working on- or off-campus during your stay.

Applying for your study permit

We encourage you to apply at least three months before the start of your first semester. To begin your application, visit the IRCC's study permit website. Their website includes step-by-step guidance and a list of documents that you'll need. Create or sign in to your IRCC account to begin the application process.

What you'll need

You should gather the required documents including your:

• proof of acceptance to Acadia
• Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)
• proof of identity, including your passport
• proof of financial support

IRCC may request additional documents as part of the process. Once you have your documents, you can pay the application fee and submit your application

What to expect

Processing times for study permit applications vary and can be long. You should apply at least three months before the start of your first semester to make sure you have your study permit ready for your arrival.

Please note that we cannot contact IRCC on your behalf to expedite your application or to check its status.

Once you are approved for a study permit, please upload a copy of the letter of introduction to your Acadia student portal. Follow the steps in the IRCC guide to prepare for your arrival in Canada.

Picking up your study permit at the airport

When you arrive at the first Canadian airport in your journey, you will go to the Canadian Border Services immigration area. The immigration officer can issue your study permit.

Before you leave the airport, check your study permit to make sure that it is correct. If there are errors, the immigration officer can fix them. This is much easier and faster than trying to have mistakes fixed later.

• Check that your study permit shows your correct name, gender, and date of birth.
• Make sure that your study permit indicates that you are eligible for work and includes the condition "May work 24 hrs off-campus or full-time during regular breaks if meeting criteria outlined in section 186(v) of IRPR". If the study permit does not say that you are eligible to work, you cannot work on- or off-campus, including as a research assistant, teaching assistant, etc.
• You will go to Canadian Border Services when you reach the first Canadian airport in your journey, not at your final destination in Halifax. For example, if you have a stopover or change planes in Toronto or Vancouver, you will speak with Border Services there.

For more information about arriving in Canada, please visit our Arrivals page or the Government of Canada's Information for International Students.

Extending your study permit

It is very important to have a valid study permit so that you can continue to study and work in Canada. If your study permit will expire before you complete your studies, you will need to extend it. Know the expiry date of your study permit: you should apply 2-3 months before the expiry date.

What you'll need

• Your Acadia transcripts
• Confirmation of enrolment in the current term and next term
• Proof of financial support, such as a bank statement, sponsorship letter, or student loan documentation
• A digital photo that meets specifications
• Scanned pages from your passport, only for the biography page and pages that show stamps, visas, or photos. You should merge these pages into one document under 4 MB. If your passport is also expiring soon, make sure you have your new passport before you begin your application for a study permit extension.

IRCC may request additional documents. It is helpful to gather these documents so that you can send them easily if you need to:

• An official transcript
• Your original Letter of Acceptance/Admission. You can request a copy from the Registrar's Office if you no longer have yours.

If you are contacted, make an appointment with an International Student Advisor to ensure you respond accurately and quickly to the IRCC request.

How to apply

Begin your application by signing in to your IRCC account. If you do not already have an account, you can register through GCKey or a sign-in partner; you will also need your Client ID from your study permit.

• Select "Apply to come to Canada". If you do not have a Personal Reference Code from completing an eligibility questionnaire recently, select "Visitor visa, study and/or work permit" in the section "I do not have a Personal reference Code".
• Complete the IMM5709 application form. We recommend saving a copy of the document to work on, and using Adobe Reader. You do not need to sign the form.
• Upload the application form and all the supporting documents.
• If you do not have complete biometrics but have paid for biometric collection, include your receipt as an Optional Document. Indicate "YES" to biometrics in the questionnaire, or you will be charged again.
• Pay the application fee using your credit card and save your receipt.
• Submit the application. IRCC will confirm that they have received the application. Once the application has been processed, they will mail you a new permit.

Expired study permits

If your Study Permit expired less than 90 days ago

Apply to Restore Your Status when you apply for a new study permit. This involves an additional fee. Contact our advisors to discuss the effects this may have on your studies.

If your Study Permit expired more than 90 days ago

You must leave Canada immediately and apply for a new study permit (and TRV, if needed) from outside the country.