International students and foreign nationals who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, must apply for their initial study permits through a Canadian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate outside of Canada. If you require a Temporary Resident Visa, this document may be requested at the same time. Since procedures may vary, applicants should contact the Canadian visa office responsible for their country for complete application requirements. Refer to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website for visa offices located outside of Canada.
When you receive your official letter of acceptance from Grant MacEwan University, you may apply for a study permit. Please refer to the Study in Canada: Study Permits section on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website for detailed information about the application process. International students planning to study programs of six months or less do not require study permits.
If you intend to study a program that is more than six months long, do not travel to Canada before your study permit application has been approved as you cannot change your status from ‘visitor’ to ‘student’ within Canada.
International students studying in Canada may apply to renew or extend their study permit within Canada online or by mail.
Since Citizenship and Immigration Canada processing times vary, you should apply for your new document(s) one to three months before the expiry date. Application forms and detailed information can be found on www.cic.gc.ca Your passport must be valid in order to renew your study permit.
If you passport is expiring, you must first renew it and then extend your study permit.
Implied Status: If your study permit expires after you have submitted your application to renew your document, you have implied status in Canada until you receive a reply from CIC.
You must remain in Canada if you have implied status as you will not be allowed to re-enter Canada without a valid study permit. While you are waiting for a reply from Citizenship and Immigration Canada regarding your application, you may continue your studies and work on campus.
On-Campus Work
International students may work on campus if they have a valid study permit and if they are enrolled full-time in credit courses. A work permit is not required for on-campus employment.
Off-Campus Work
A work permit is required for off-campus employment. International students must receive an off-campus work permit prior to working off-campus. Students may qualify for a work permit after 6 months of successful study in a recognized program.
Off-Campus Program Work
If you are registered in a program of study at MacEwan which has a practical experience component such as a co-op, internship, clinical or field placement, you must obtain a work permit prior to participating in this course. You may contact one of MacEwan’s International Student Counselors for assistance with this application.
Post-Graduation Employment
You may apply for a work permit to work in Canada as soon as you have completed all of your program courses and received your final grades. You have 90 days in which to apply for your post-graduation work permit. The length of the post-graduation work permit can vary, depending on the length of your program. For two-year programs or longer, they can be given for three years.
For information on applying for student work permits, visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.
