Study Permit Application Information

Important: We recommend you check your personal checklist (generated based on your answers in the online eligibility questionnaire) for these and any other required documents. Please also remember check the country-specific application requirements provided by IRCC for additional documents that may be required or recommended.

Note: There is a $150 CAD processing fee.

Apply online using the IRCC's Online Application.

Please check the Initial Study Permit Application Webinar and Resource section on the YI website. This resource is to help guide newly admitted international students who are applying for a study permit for the first time.

Start by reviewing IRCC’s instruction guide for this application.

Admitted students also have access to the immigration advising hosted by York International's Student Advisors and Immigration Specialists. Please check the YI calendar for upcoming dates.

Other considerations for your application:

If you need to notify IRCC about a change regarding your application, you can use their web form. 

If you wish to track the status of your application, you can create a special IRCC “tracker account” to do so (note: this is not the same account where you submitted the online application). 

Even if you already have a visa or travel authorization that may allow you to travel to Canada, we usually recommend waiting outside Canada for the study permit to be approved, because you are not generally eligible to begin studying until the study permit has been issued. 

If your application is approved, the Canadian visa office serving the country where you submitted your application will issue you an approval letter, known as a Port of Entry Letter of Introduction, and an entry visa or an eTA (if applicable). Do not book travel to Canada until you’ve received your Letter of Introduction. Present the letter to the border officer when you enter Canada to get the hard copy of your study permit. 

If you require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV, also known as an entry or visitor visa), you will be asked to submit your passport so that the visa officer can affix the visa into it. You do not need to make a separate application. 

If you require an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), you don’t have to submit your passport. An eTA will be issued electronically and associated with your passport number. Your eTA number and expiry date will be included in the Letter of Introduction. 

Find more information about entering Canada or check out our Arriving at the Canadian Border Pre-Arrival Webinar (under Fall 2023). 

Note:

If you decide to change schools after your study permit for York University has been approved, but before you travel to Canada, you must re-apply for a new study permit.

If you change schools after arriving in Canada, you can just notify IRCC of your change of Designated Learning Institution (DLI) through their website.  

We recommend that you review the information about Initial Study Permit applications our Immigration Application Resources page first. You can then try filling out the application on your own and make note of any questions you have. Bring those to one of our weekly Study Permit Webinars for New Students in April and May, where you can get more tips and ask your questions to one of our International Student Advisors.

Estimated processing times give an idea of how long an application could take to be processed. If something outside of your control makes urgent processing important, you can contact IRCC through their web form to inquire. It may take up to two weeks to get a response. Use the ‘Update or ask about your application’ option and then the ‘Other’ section, as the ‘Ask for urgent processing for your permanent resident card’ section doesn’t include study/work permits. 

If you already have status in Canada, and have applied from within Canada for a new permit, you can remain in Canada under ‘maintained status’ (formerly known as ‘implied status’) while you wait for an answer. While you can remain in Canada, you cannot necessarily begin studying until the permit is issued. Only those already in Canada on a study permit or exchange students transitioning from visitor to student status can begin studying while waiting for a decision to be made on their application. If the application is refused, you must stop studying immediately.  

If you applied outside Canada, you generally need to wait until your application is approved to travel to Canada. Even those who may be allowed to travel to Canada as a visitor are encouraged to wait and only travel to Canada after the study permit is approved and the Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is issued (if required).  

Only citizens or permanent residents of the United States and residents of Greenland, or St. Pierre and Miquelon are eligible to apply at a port-of-entry. 

We strongly encourage you to apply for your study permit as soon as you have the letter of acceptance and all other required documents. 

Generally, you must apply for a study permit before you come to Canada. Only citizens and permanent residents of the United States and residents of Greenland or St. Pierre et Miquelon can apply when entering Canada. 

You can check the estimated study permit application processing time for applications submitted from outside of Canada. 

For more information about applying for an initial study permit, visit our Application Resources page. If you have further questions about your study permit application, connect with an International Student Advisor & Immigration Specialist via virtual drop-in advising or one of our workshops. Find the schedule and sign up via YI’s Events Calendar.

If you applied through the in-Canada application process, from within Canada you can remain in Canada under maintained status. 

If you are in Canada, you can contact IRCC  through their in-Canada call centre (1-888-242-2100) or through their web form. 

If you are outside Canada, you can contact IRCC through their web form. 

Each section will only allow one file to be uploaded. You will need to use software to merge the documents into a single file that is an acceptable format (ie. PDF) and fits within the file size limits. 

IRCC provides instructions in their Help Centre.

IRCC has confirmed that the mailing address on your PAL can be different than the address you are using on your study permit application. You do not need a new PAL if the addresses don't match. As each Designated Learning Institution only has a limited number of PALs, York will not issue more than one PAL per student.

If your study permit application is refused, York will return your new student deposit to you. You'll be asked to provide a copy of your refusal letter to York before your deposit is returned.

Scholarships are applied to a student’s account in September when they begin their studies. The deposit is required shortly after you accept your offer. As a result, the scholarship cannot be used to pay your new student deposit.

All admitted undergraduate international students must pay the non-refundable $1500 CAD new student deposit. We cannot issue a PAL without this deposit.

The new student deposit must be paid shortly after you accept your offer while scholarships are applied to your student account in September. You will not be able to use any York scholarships or awards to pay the deposit.

Yes. All new students must pay a non-refundable deposit when they accept their offer to York so they can enrol in courses. Please ensure to pay your deposit within 10 business days of receiving your offer of admission.

Since you've already paid $300, you will only need to pay $1200 for your deposit. Don't worry, this will go towards your total tuition payment so it's not an extra fee or a fee you're paying on top of tuition.

Some international students are eligible to pay domestic fees. This includes those who have a work permit or who are dependents of a work permit holder. You can check the Academic Tuition Fees webpage for eligibility and to apply.

Only students who have already been approved to pay domestic fees are able to pay the $300 deposit. If you still need a PAL, please fill out the Provincial Attestation Letter Request Form.

If you have applied for a tuition category change but not yet heard back from York, please pay the non-refundable $1500 deposit. This amount will be applied to your tuition fee.

International graduate students should check the Admitted Graduate Students page for the Incoming Student Checklist to see what your next steps are in order to accept your offer and get you started!

These new measures are not applicable to international students currently in Canada and pursuing their post-secondary studies. Study permit renewals (or extensions) will not be impacted.

The requirement of a PAL applies to most new undergraduate international students, but not all.

You do not need a PAL when applying for a study permit if you:

• are applying to study in a preschool, primary school or secondary school (up to grade 12)
• are applying to study in a master’s degree or doctoral degree program or
• have entered Canada and one of the following situations applies to you:
  • You have a study permit and are applying for a study permit extension.
  • You have a work permit.
  • You’re a temporary resident who is a visiting or exchange student studying at a designated learning institution (DLI).
  • You’re a temporary resident who has completed a course or program of study that is a prerequisite to you enrolling at a DLI.
  • You’re under a removal order, but can’t be removed from Canada at this time.
  • You have a temporary resident permit valid for at least 6 months.
  • You’re a protected person.
  • You’re eligible for permanent residence
    • based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds
    • based on a current public policy or
    • as a spouse or common-law partner (through the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class)
  • You’re the family member of a foreign national who lives in Canada and is one of the following:
    • a study permit holder
    • a work permit holder
    • a temporary resident permit holder with a permit that’s valid for at least 6 months
    • a member of armed forces in another country under the Visiting Forces Act
    • an accredited foreign government representative
    • a participant in certain sports activities or events
    • a worker in Canada who is a member of a foreign news company
    • a religious worker
    • a protected person
    • eligible for permanent residence based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds
    • eligible for permanent residence based on a current public policy
    • eligible for permanent residence as a spouse or common-law partner (through the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class)

For full details, please visit IRCC's Study Permit page.

Current international students may need a NEW study permit for a variety of reasons. If you need a a PAL, please fill out the Provincial Attestation Letter Request Form and we will review your request.

We also recommend you speak with an academic advisor about your course selections or if you have deferred exams or grades.

You can also attend one of our Study Permit Webinars for New Students for more information on the PAL and tips on submitting your study permit application.

Students on exchange to York University for one semester (less than 6 months) will NOT require a PAL.

Students who have received special authorization to study for two semesters (more than 6 months) at York University WILL require a PAL. The PAL will be issued to the student at the same time as the admission letter.

If you are unsure if you have received special authorization for a two-semester exchange, please contact exchange@yorku.ca

Incoming exchange students to York University are NOT required to pay a tuition deposit. Students should proceed to accept their offer, and disregard the prompt to pay a deposit.

Students on exchange to York University for one semester (less than 6 months) typically do not require a study permit. Please refer to the following Government of Canada website and refer to section “Short-term courses [R188(1)(c)]”.

Students who have received special authorization to study for two semesters (more than 6 months) at York University WILL require a study permit. Once you receive the admission letter and PAL, please proceed to apply for the study permit to Canada.

Whether you’re coming to York for one semester or two, you may still need an entry visa or eTA. Visit the York International Entry Visa webpage for more information.

Global Affairs Canada Scholarship recipients are admitted to York University as either exchange students or international visiting research trainees (IVRT). Students coming for a semester exchange (less than 6 months) will not require a PAL. Students comings under the IVRT program will need to complete the application process and further information will be provided by the immigration team about visas/permits required to enter Canada. Further questions about the Global Affairs Canada Scholarship can be directed Ashley Laracy, Associate Director, Global Learning at alaracy@yorku.ca

More information can be found on Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Study Permits website, and the official news release.

Rest assured that York will email you important information and updates as soon as they are available, to guide you through this process. Please check this FAQs page often for any additional updates.

Check out our Immigration Application Resources page for more support. We also have weekly Study Permit Webinars for New Students in April and May, open to all new international students and others needing to apply for a new study permit.