Application to study in Canada – Study permits

If you’re a legal resident of certain countries, you may be able to get your study permit faster by applying online through the Student Direct Stream.

How to apply on paper for a study permit

Step 1: Read the guide and get your application package

Read the instruction guide carefully before you complete your application. We won’t refund your application fee, so make sure you’re eligible for a study permit before you apply.

Once you have read the guide, you can prepare your application package. You must select the country/territory from which you will be applying to get your local visa office instructions.

This application package is for applicants in South Africa:

• Document Checklist: Study Permit [IMM 5483] (PDF, 1.08 MB) (opens in a new tab)
• Visa office instructions – Study [IMM 5845]
• Application for a Study Permit Made Outside of Canada [IMM 1294]
• Family Information Form [IMM 5707] (PDF, 1.55 MB) (opens in a new tab)
• Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union [IMM 5409] (PDF, 2.22 MB) (opens in a new tab)
• Custodian Declaration [IMM 5646] (PDF, 2.43 MB) (opens in a new tab)
• Visa application photograph specifications
• Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (PDF, 1.39 MB) (opens in a new tab)

Step 2: Complete your application and attach your documents

To make sure you submit all the pages of form IMM 1294 with your application package, follow these steps:

Click the “Validate” button at the top or bottom of the form.

Note: If you validate the form before printing, you can make sure that you have answered all the questions and help avoid delays in processing your application.

• print on white, bond-quality, non-glossy paper
• use a laser printer

Find out more about barcode forms.

Your application may be delayed if any information or document is missing. The document checklist in the application package lists all the documents to include. Answer all questions carefully, completely and truthfully.

You and each one of your family members must fill out and sign their own forms even if you are travelling together as a family. If you are under the age of 18, your parent or guardian must sign your form.

Step 3: Pay your application fees

If you need an electronic travel authorization or visa

If you need an electronic travel authorization (eTA) or visa, we’ll issue it automatically at the same time as your study permit. You don’t need to apply separately or pay another fee.

In most cases, your fees will include:

• processing fees for you and anyone you include in your application
• biometrics

You’ll need to pay your fees before you submit your application. Our instruction guide (opens in a new tab) can help you understand which fees apply to you.

Third-party fees

Depending on your situation, you may need to pay fees to third parties for:

• medical exams
• police certificates
• language testing
• services at a visa application centre, if you use one

If you need to use a third party, pay them directly for their services.

Biometrics fee

In most cases, you should pay a biometrics fee when you pay your application fees. If you don’t, you may experience delays. The biometrics fee covers the cost of collecting fingerprints and a digital photo. Find out if you need to give your biometrics.

Step 4: Submit your application

When you submit your application, you also need to submit:

• your original travel passport
• good quality photocopies (minimum 300 dpi) from your current and previous passports for the last 5 years, including
  • all pages with visas
  • all pages with stamps
  • all pages with your biographical data (name, date of birth, passport number), including your photo

  You can submit your application to the closest visa application centre to

  • receive service in the local language
  • take advantage of the centre’s extended hours of service
  • track your application online
  • have the assurance that your application is complete and all the proper documentation is included

  Application for a Study Permit made outside of Canada

  You can’t fill out and save the application form using your Internet browser. To use the form, you need to:

  1. Use your computer (Mac or PC). The form won’t open on mobile devices (iPads, tablets, mobile phones, etc.)
  2. Install Adobe Reader 10 (or higher)
  3. Download the PDF file to your computer. Save the file in a place you can remember.
  4. Make sure you use Adobe Reader to open the form. Sometimes if you try to open the form directly, it will use your Internet browser to try to open it.

  Note: If you are applying online, you don’t need to print and sign the form. Leave the signature section empty.

  Get the form

  Having issues with the form?

  • I can’t open my visa application form in PDF format. What can I do?
  • After clicking the “validate” button on my visa application form, nothing happens and I don’t see the barcodes. Why is this happening?