Applying for a Study Permit
Once you’ve been admitted to Regent College, the next step for international students is to apply for your Canadian study permit. Regent College has partnered with BorderPass to help you secure your study permit and begin your academic journey as part of the Regent community. BorderPass is a secure online platform that walks you through the study permit application process, including review by Canadian immigration lawyers prior to filing your application, to help increase the likelihood of a successful study permit application.
Apply for your study permit using BorderPass
Through BorderPass at Regent College, you have access to:
- A secure online platform for study permit application preparation, review, and filing services. BorderPass submits your study permit application to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on your behalf.
- Guidance and support from Canadian immigration lawyers who will walk you through the entire study permit application process to ensure accuracy and compliance with Canadian immigration regulations.
- Monitoring of visa status, reminders of important deadlines, and tracking of immigration documents.
- Additional services such as spousal permits, visitor visa applications, study permit extension applications, and other immigration services are available at preferred rates.
Who Needs a Study Permit
International and American students who wish to study at Regent for six months or longer will need to apply for a study permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This process can take months for international students, so we recommend that you start early.
Regent College is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) with the Canadian federal government (DLI: O19283912352). IRCC requires Regent College to report on your enrollment status (e.g., full-time, part-time, etc.) at the beginning of each academic year.
Process
You must apply for your study permit outside of Canada. You can apply online through our BorderPass partner, or through the IRCC website.
Once your application is accepted, the Canadian Embassy, Consulate, or Immigration Office will provide you with a letter of introduction regarding their decision. You must present this letter to the Immigration Officer at the Canadian port of entry. Do not leave for Canada until you have received your letter of introduction.
Required Documents
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Official Letter of Acceptance and Provincial Attestation Letter from Regent College.
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Proof of Funds: You must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover your first year tuition and living expenses for one year for yourself and any family members who accompany you (See IRCC website for details).
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Valid Passport: If your passport will expire during your first year of study, you should renew your passport before beginning the application process for your study permit.
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Medical Examination: Depending on your country of citizenship and where you are currently living, IRCC may require a medical exam. It can take several months for the medical exam results to be processed.
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Biometrics: You will need to provide fingerprints and a photo to confirm your identity.
Extending Your Study Permit
Your study permit can be extended. You need to start the process 3-4 months before your study permit expires. You are also advised to visit the IRCC website for current processing times. Before you apply to extend your study permit through IRCC, you will need to fill out the Request for Study Permit Renewal Letter from Regent College. Your renewal request letter will then be ready for pick-up at Reception one week after we receive your form.
Once you’ve picked up your Study Permit Renewal Letter, you must complete the Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada found here.
Note: Your study permit renewal requires you to renew your BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) and Social Insurance Number (SIN). If you have further questions, please see the Associate Dean of Students or e-mail: [email protected]
Other considerations
Already in Canada on a study permit
If you are already in Canada on a study permit and studying at a school other than Regent, and you wish to transfer to Regent, you will need to apply for a new study permit.
Already in Canada with no study permit
If you have been visiting Canada or studying English in Canada without a study permit, you must apply for a study permit in order to attend Regent. You must apply for this at a Canadian Consulate, Embassy or Immigration Office outside of Canada. The closest consulate to Vancouver is located in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Coming to study for less than six months
If you study for less than six months and are not enrolled in a program, you do not need a study permit, but you may want to consider applying for one anyway. Then, if you decide to study longer than six months, you can simply extend your study permit and avoid a complicated application process.
Students from certain countries will need to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (entry visa), even if they don't need a study permit. See the list of countries that require an entry visa into Canada. You can apply for this visa through your local Canadian embassy or consulate. We recommend that you apply for a multiple entry TRV (Temporary Resident Visa).
If you are not enrolled in a program and need to apply for a study permit or visitor's visa, you will need your Term Invoice. A copy of your Term Invoice may be obtained online through REGIS, our student account portal, once you have been issued a Regent Login. You may also request a letter officially verifying your registration, or email [email protected].
Working as an international student
Your study permit will allow you to work up to 24 hours per week during the regular academic sessions, and full-time during academic breaks such as winter break, spring break, and summer holidays, provided you meet the following criteria:
- you have a valid study permit,
- you are a full-time student (see below)
- you are studying in a program that leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate that is at least six months in duration.
If you plan to work in Canada, you will need a Social Insurance Number (SIN). See below.
For more information on working in Canada, visit the IRCC website.
For work opportunities at Regent College, check our Student Employment page.
Defining "Full-Time Study" for Working under a Study Permit
Regent College offers full-time graduate studies programs. Students on study permits are expected to take a minimum of 9 credits per term in the Fall and Winter terms, unless otherwise permitted by the Registrar’s Office due to exceptional circumstances, an internship placement, or enrollment in a final project.
Students on study permits enrolled in the ThM program are expected to take a minimum of 6 credits per term in the Fall and Winter terms or be enrolled in a final project.
Students on study permits enrolled in the MALTS program are considered full-time. As a low-residency program, international students should not normally reside in Canada for the duration of the program.
Getting a Social Insurance Number (SIN)
You need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) from Service Canada to work in Canada or to receive benefits and services from government programs.
You must have one of the following conditions or remarks printed on your study permit in order to apply for a SIN for off-campus work (when you first enter Canada, please ask the border guard to write the statement that applies to you on your study permit):
- May work 20 hrs per week off-campus or full-time during regular breaks if meeting criteria outlined in section186(v) of IRPR
- May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186(f), (v) or (w). Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria
If your study permit does not have one of the above conditions or remarks, you must submit a request for an amendment to your study permit before you can apply for a SIN. There is no fee for this request.
If your study permit has: This permit does not permit the holder to engage in off campus employment in Canada, printed on it and you have changed your program of study, you must apply to change the conditions of your study permit and pay the applicable fee.
Co-op work permit
All international students who will be paid for their placement for completion of either APPL 693 Supervised Ministry or APPL 691 Field Education need to apply for a Co-op Work Permit. More information can be found on the IRCC website.
This work permit is free of charge, as your placement is considered an essential part of your program of study. You can apply online through CIC and we recommend that you do this as soon as possible.
In order to apply, you will need a letter from Regent College to include with your application. You can request a letter by emailing [email protected] and we will provide this for you.
Post-graduate employment
Regent College graduates are not eligible to apply for a post-graduate work permit. This is a change from previous practice: the Ministry of Advanced Education has recently informed the College that graduates from a variety of private colleges are now no longer eligible for post-graduate work permits.
Document checklist
Before you leave home, make sure all your documents are in order. Make photocopies of important original documents and keep the photocopies in a safe place at home, or with a friend for safekeeping.
- Valid passport and/or official government-issued identification
- Letter of Introduction from Canadian Embassy, Consulate or Immigration Office (except US citizens)
- Temporary Resident Visa (if required for your country) or eTA
- Proof of funds available
- Identification document with photo
- Driver’s License or International Driver’s License, driving insurance records (plus vehicle registration and insurance papers if you are bringing your car)
- Medical records, immunization records
- Medical insurance documents (if you are going to rely on medical insurance from your home country)
- Credit card(s)
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Two years of official school records for school-age children
