Foreign nationals are required to obtain a study permit for engaging in academic, professional, vocational or other education or training that is over six months at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada. A DLI is a school approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students.

The following activities do not require a study permit per the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA):

-    pre-school (pre-kindergarten)
-    courses of general interest or self-improvement
-    distance learning
-    audited courses (sitting in on an academic course without obtaining credit, or having the ability to obtain credit for it retroactively)
-    settlement and integration courses offered by a provincial or territorial government through settlement and integration providers (including francization courses offered by the Government of Quebec)

Who is exempt from the requirement for a study permit:

-    minor children inside Canada 
-    family members and members of the private staff of accredited foreign representatives 
-    members of the armed forces of a country designated for the purposes of the Visiting Forces Act (VFA) 
-    short-term courses 
-    registered Indians 
-    foreign nationals eligible for the temporary public policy allowing certain valid work permit holders or certain foreign nationals who are authorized to work to study without a study permit as of June 27, 2023

Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)

As of June 27, 2023, In Quebec, foreign nationals who qualify for the temporary policy no longer need a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) to start their studies. They still need to follow the conditions on their study permit if already issued, and those with a co-op work permit may study additional programs without exceeding the length of the existing permit.

Other Considerations
-     Study permit decisions must be based on the applicant's case, not general trends. Applicants must prove they plan to study and leave Canada after the authorized stay.

-     No study permit is needed for online courses unless they include an in-Canada component over six months.

-     Students can change schools before study permit approval, by submitting a new acceptance letter. However, once the study permit is approved, they need to apply for a new permit. Students must notify IRCC when they change school.

-     It's fine to study temporarily and later apply for permanent residence, so-called dual intent, as long as you intend to leave after your authorized stay.

-     When international students cannot meet their conditions as temporary residents due to circumstances entirely beyond their control (i.e. school strike), they would not face any sanctions from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) or the Canada Border Services Agency.

-     The study permit may be issued on a full-time or part-time basis as long as students are enrolled at a DLI. However, the student must have a full-time status in order to work on or off campus.

-     Studying in one of the official languages in a minority community isn’t a basis for refusal, but concerns about the institution’s practices might be addressed as per guidelines.

-     For programs with study and work (i.e. professional training program), a study permit only covers the study part, and a work permit is required for the work portion.

Disclaimer: The above writing is not intended to be a source of legal advice. Please seek legal advice and use your own good judgement before choosing to act on any information provided above. If you choose to rely on this article, you do so entirely at your own accountability.