Have you ever wanted to study in Canada? Or wondered if you would need a study permit to study Online in Canada? If those thought are on your mind and you are reading this then you’re in the right place.
1. Distance learning to Study Online
If your educational program is considered distance learning, you can not apply for a study permit to study in Canada.
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) consider distant learning as a process where a student doesn’t need to be where the teaching is taking place physically.
It should be known that distance learning is not the same as courses or programs that are temporarily online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If your distant learning requires some of the program to be finished in Canada (ex. in-person exams, tutorials). If this is the situation, and the total course is more than 6 months, you will need a study permit for the in-Canada part of the program.
If you are studying a program that is totally distance learning, you can have t in Canada on a visitor permit. Likewise, if you are already in Canada on a work permit, you complete your distance learning without applying for a study permit.
Read also: How to Apply for a US Visa
2. Programs that are less than 6 months long
If your educational course in Canada is six months long or less, you will not require a study permit to study online.
Based on Canada’s immigration laws, international nationals that wish to attend a program of study that is up to six months long, or less, do not need a study permit.
However, international nationals would still have to apply for a study permit, even if the duration is up to six months or less. This will make it easier to change or renew the conditions of their study permit if its neededfor further studies.
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3. Courses about general interest or self-improvement
If you’re planning to finish a course that is of general interest to you, or for self-improvement, you may not need a study permit to study online in Canada.
A self-improvement or general interest course is one that’s taken for non-academic reasons and doesn’t really result in a degree or diploma.
Read also: How to get a Canada Temporary Work Permit
These courses are not considered studies for Canada’s immigration laws, and therefore don’t require a permit.
4. Audited Courses
If you are auditing a course without claiming your credits, or without the ability to claim credits in the future, you may be eligible to Study Online without a study permit.
Read also: How to Work and Study in Canada at the Same Time
Other exemptions
Other individuals that are not required to obtain a study permit to Study Online or in-person include little children living in Canada, members of the family and private staff of diplomats, and members of the Foreign Armed Forces in Canada.
Also check: [Easiest and Fastest] Ways to Immigrate to Canada in 2022
Studying at a Canadian Designated Learning Institute
For anyone studying online from outside of Canada, it may be worth getting a Canadian study permit. Many international nationals choose to study in Canada with the end goal of getting a Post-Graduate Work Permit.
If you want to travel to Canada to study at post-secondary level, make sure your school and program of study are on this list of Canadian DLIs.
Related post: Canada Permanent Residence – Application + Requirements
Some students that complete a Canadian course online from outside of Canada may count a large portion of their studies toward the length of a Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP).
A PGWP can be issued for up to 3 years and permits an international graduate to work anywhere in Canada, in any job. The duration of a PGWP depends on the duration of an international graduate’s studies.
Since COVID-19 pandemic, Canada has permitted international students to count time spent studying online outside of Canada toward the length of their PGWP. This policy was extended at the end of November until August 2022.
That means any time spent studying online outside of Canada can count toward the length of a PGWP until August 31, 2022.
Also read: Canada Student Visa – Application Method
It is important to note that, to count this time toward your PGWP, you must be on a valid study permit. Canada has continued issuing permits to students abroad that wish to study in Canada.
Do I need a permit to study in Canada?
Most foreign nationals need a study permit to study in Canada. Some people in specific situations may not. Learn more about who needs a study permit.
You should apply for a study permit before coming to Canada. Only some people can apply for a study permit from within Canada. Before you apply, you must have a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution in Canada.
How you can apply for a study permit depends on if you’re applying from outside Canada, inside Canada or at the port of entry. Find out what options are available for you.
Your study permit isn’t a travel document. Your permit lets you study in Canada, but you may also need a visitor visa (temporary resident visa) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada.
If we approve your study permit, we’ll also give you either a visitor visa or an eTA, depending on which document you need. This document will let you enter Canada.
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