Permits and Visas

A study permit is required for anyone that wants to study in Canada for 6 months or more.  Study permits will only be issued for study at Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs).

Queen’s University is a Designated Learning Institution and its DLI number is: O19376023352

Study permit applications require a valid DLI number.

Those that will study in Canada for less than 6 months, can do so as a visitor (ie. no study permit is required, you may need a TRV or eTA to enter Canada as a visitor), but they will need to apply for a study permit if they want to extend their studies.

Exchange students can change their immigration status from visitor to student without leaving Canada if they decide to extend their studies, but most other students must apply outside of Canada.

A study permit application can take many months to be processed.  It is a good idea to apply as soon as you have your proof of admission to Queen’s.

Citizens and permanent residents of the United States of America have the option of applying when they enter Canada (processing is done immediately).

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) publishes regularly updated expected processing times. 

 Apply through the Canadian Visa Office serving your country or region of residence. Make sure to follow instructions on Study Permit application from that local office as requirements are very localized.

If you are already in Canada, please note that only specific groups of people are allowed to apply for study permits inside Canada.  They include those that:

• have a work permit or study permit, OR;
• have a visitor status in Canada but are:
  • the spouse/partner of an international student or worker, OR;
  • an exchange student, OR;
  • a visiting student.

In this case, application procedure will be the same as extending current Study Permit. Check information under Study Permit Extension section.

If your application is successful, the visa office will give you a Port of Entry Introduction Letter to confirm your Study Permit approval, together with a Visa on your passport or eTA linked to your passport depends on your citizenship.  You must present this letter to Canadian immigration officials when you enter Canada.  They will print you your actual Study Permit paper (as the sample above) at that time.  See our Arrival section for more details.  You are not eligible to study based on the Port of Entry Introduction Letter alone (without the actual Study Permit paper).

You should not travel to Canada until you have been issued the Port of Entry Introduction Letter and Temporary Resident Visa or eTA.

If your citizenship requires you to have a temporary resident visa (TRV), sometimes known as an entry visa, it must be valid on the date that you enter Canada.  It can expire any time after that.

Temporary resident visas (TRV)s are about the size of a passport page and placed in the passport by Canadian immigration officials.

If you submit a successful application for an initial (first) study permit outside of Canada (and your citizenship requires you to have a Temporary Resident Visa), the visa will be issued with your letter of introduction.   It is not necessary to submit a separate application.

Therefore, the following information only applies if you already have a study permit but your TRV has expired or if you do not require a study permit (because you will study for no more than 6 months).

An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is an entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals travelling to Canada by air. An eTA is electronically linked to a traveller’s passport. It is valid for up to five years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.  If you get a new passport, you need to get a new eTA. The same as TRV, if you apply Study Permit to Canada, you will be granted an eTA together with approval of your Study Permit application. No separate eTA application needed.

Only specific groups of people are allowed to apply for a new study permit inside Canada.  They include those that:

• Are already in Canada, AND;
• have a work permit or study permit, OR;
• have a visitor status in Canada but are:
  • the spouse/partner of an international student or worker, OR;
  • an exchange student, OR;
  • a visiting student.

Study permits will only be issued for study at Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs).

Queen’s University is a Designated Learning Institution and its DLI number is: O19376023352

 A study permit for high (secondary) school studies can only be used for high school studies. According to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, you must apply for a new study permit for your studies at Queen’s.

Coming from Canadian College or University

 Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada allows post-secondary students with valid study permits to change schools or programs without applying for a new study permit.

While a new study permit is not required, you must notify Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada of the change in schools.

 It is recommended to apply online. Follow our Guide for online application at the beginning of this web page.

You must apply before your current study permit expires.  If you submit your application before your current study permit expires then you can stay in Canada while your application is processed.  In this time you have “implied status“.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada publishes regularly updated current processing times for temporary residency document applications .