Canada is one of the world's top destinations for international students. We help you navigate every step, from school admission to your study permit and beyond.
Studying in Canada can involve more than one application. You may need admission support, a study permit, a study permit extension, and later a post-graduation work permit strategy. Each step should make sense with your education plan and timeline.
This service is for students who want a coordinated plan instead of handling each stage in isolation.
Canada is a popular destination for international students, with a wide range of colleges, universities, and specialized programs. RA Migration helps students handle the full journey, from admission planning and school selection to study permits, extensions, and post-graduation work options.
Most foreign nationals need a study permit to study in Canada. A study permit is different from a visitor visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA), and many applicants also need one of those travel documents depending on their citizenship.
A valid study permit alone does not authorize off-campus work. You generally must have started your studies, be a full-time student at a DLI in an eligible program of at least 6 months that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate, have an off-campus work condition on your permit, and hold a Social Insurance Number. A limited final-semester exception exists for some part-time students; students in only ESL/FSL, general-interest or prerequisite programs, or on an authorized leave, are not eligible.
If you meet all conditions, you may work up to 24 hours per week off campus during regular academic sessions and unlimited hours during a scheduled break when you are a full-time student before and after the break. On-campus work has separate eligibility rules. Check IRCC's current student-work rules.
Before you can apply for a study permit, you need an acceptance letter from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada. We help students choose the right school and program while keeping immigration strategy in mind from the beginning.
We work with a wide network of DLIs across Canada, including:
Degree programs in arts, sciences, business, engineering, health sciences, and more at accredited Canadian universities.
Diploma and certificate programs at public and private colleges, including Niagara College and Trillium College. They are ideal for faster pathways to employment and PR.
Not every DLI or every program leads to the same immigration outcome. We help you compare program length, school type, PGWP eligibility, field-of-study rules, and long-term pathways to permanent residence before you commit.
If you need more time to finish your studies, you must apply to extend your study permit before it expires. This is one of the most important deadlines for international students because missing it can affect both your status and your future PGWP eligibility.
IRCC recommends applying at least 30 days before your current permit expires. If you apply before expiry and remain in Canada, you may continue studying under maintained status until a decision is made.
You will normally need updated enrolment proof from your DLI, proof of financial support, a valid passport, and any transcripts or academic records requested by IRCC.
If you apply after your study permit expires, you can stay in Canada while restoration is processed, but you cannot continue studying until your status is restored and a new permit is issued.
The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) remains one of the most valuable immigration tools available to international students. It lets eligible graduates gain Canadian work experience after finishing their program, and that experience can support future permanent residence applications.
| Program Length | PGWP Duration |
|---|---|
| Eligible master's degree program of at least 8 months | Up to 3 years, even when the program is less than 2 years |
| Other eligible programs: 8 months to less than 2 years | Up to the same length as the study program |
| Eligible program of 2 years or more | Up to 3 years |
| Two or more programs (combined 2+ years, each 8+ months) | Up to 3 years |
See IRCC's official PGWP length rules. The permit cannot be issued beyond the applicant's passport validity.
After gaining eligible Canadian work experience on a PGWP, many graduates may qualify for permanent residence through:
Student immigration planning works best when the admission, study permit, status extension, and post-graduation steps are aligned. RA Migration helps students understand the immigration side of their education plan from the beginning.
We help organize school documents, financial proof, explanations, forms, timelines, and next-step planning. Our team focuses on clarity and consistency so the application is not left vague or incomplete.
If studying in Canada is an important step for your future, RA Migration can help you prepare with confidence and attention to detail.
Choose a program and secure admission to a designated learning institution, obtain a provincial attestation letter if your category requires one, then apply for a study permit and arrange travel once approved.
Each step gates the next, which is why the whole sequence usually takes closer to a year than a few months. Language testing and credential evaluation come before admission; the attestation letter generally follows admission; the study permit follows that. Building the plan backwards from your intended start date is the only reliable approach.
The federal cap limits how many study permit applications are processed, and provinces allocate their share through attestation letters, so most new applicants now need a PAL or TAL in addition to an acceptance letter.
The practical effect is that admission alone no longer guarantees you can proceed. Allocations vary by province and by institution, and both the cap and the exemption categories have been adjusted since introduction. This is one area where relying on advice given to someone who applied a year ago is genuinely risky.
A Post‑Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is an open work permit granted to eligible international graduates of Canadian programs. Open means you can work for almost any employer in Canada, no LMIA, no employer‑specific permit. It’s one of the most valuable tools in Canadian immigration because it lets you build the Canadian work experience you need to apply for PR through Express Entry’s Canadian Experience Class.
Key rules to know: your program must be PGWP-eligible and generally at least 8 months long, and you can receive only one PGWP. For most programs shorter than 2 years, the permit may be issued for up to the program's length. An eligible master's degree program of at least 8 months is an important exception: it may support a 3-year PGWP even when the program is shorter than 2 years. Language and field-of-study requirements may also apply. See IRCC's PGWP length rules.
Most students need help at four separate points: admission, the study permit, extensions during the program, and the transition to post-graduation work and permanent residence.
Treating these as one continuous plan rather than four unrelated applications is what prevents the common failures, including permits that lapse mid-program, program changes that quietly affect PGWP eligibility, and graduates who discover their options only after the 180-day window has started running.
Family members can apply to accompany a student, but the work rights that used to come with that have narrowed considerably.
Spousal open work permit eligibility now depends on the student’s program of study rather than on student status generally, and many students’ spouses are no longer eligible. Accompanying children may attend school. Because required proof of funds increases with each accompanying family member, plan the financial evidence around the whole family from the beginning.
The usual route is study, then a post-graduation work permit, then permanent residence based on the Canadian work experience gained during it.
The Canadian Experience Class is built on skilled work performed in Canada, Canadian experience improves an Express Entry ranking, and several provincial streams specifically target graduates working in the province. What makes this work is sequencing, because the PGWP is time-limited and cannot be repeated. Students who plan the PR step during the permit rather than at its end have materially more options.
For applications submitted on or after September 1, 2026, a single applicant studying outside Quebec must show at least $23,448 CAD for the first year of living expenses. Tuition and transportation to and from Canada are additional costs. Accompanying family members increase the required amount, and Quebec has separate financial requirements.
IRCC updates these amounts annually. Check the official financial-support requirements for your application date, family size and destination, and provide evidence that your funds are available and explain their source.
RA Migration serves clients across Ontario and Quebec, online and in person from our Burlington office, with Arabic-speaking service.
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