Apply for an Initial Study Permit at a Port of Entry

A study permit is an official document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) which grants you temporary resident status and allows you to study at a designated learning institution (DLI) such as the University of Lethbridge.

• A study permit allows foreign nationals to remain in Canada temporarily as a student.
• Most foreign nationals coming to study at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada will need a study permit.
• To study in Canada for any period longer than six months, you will need a study permit.
• You can only apply for a study permit from within Canada in certain, specific cases.

Find the application package for the country you are applying from here. Once you have selected your country of residence, find the document checklist and the visa office instructions PDF (if applicable) and save or print both. Many countries require the checklist from the visa office instructions to be included with the study permit application.

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (Green Card holder), a resident of Greenland, or a resident of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, you can apply for a Study Permit at the Port-of-Entry.

If you are not eligible to apply at the Port-of Entry, you can:

• Apply through the IRCC Secure Account or 
• Apply through the IRCC Portal

We recommend that you fill out the application form and prepare your required documents so that you have everything ready to go when you arrive at the port-of-entry.

Download and fill the “Application for a Study Permit Made Outside of Canada (IMM 1294)” application form. When you click on this link, you may see a "Please Wait..." message on a white page. From here, use the download button in your browser to download the PDF document. If you do not have Adobe Reader, follow the instructions on the "Please Wait..." page to download it. Open the downloaded IMM1294 file in Adobe Reader, from the saved location on your computer.

Here are some important tips for completing the IMM 1294 application form:

• Use IRCC's step by step instructions to help you complete the form.
   
• UCI stands for “Unique Client Identifier” and is also known as Client ID. It is an eight or ten-digit number found on your immigration documents.
  • Note: If this is your first ever application to IRCC, you can leave the UCI (universal client identification number) blank.
     
• Designated Learning Institution (DLI) number: The University of Lethbridge's DLI (Designated Learning Institution) number for both the Lethbridge and Calgary campus is O18776949622 (the first letter is capital O and not zero)
  • ​Note: This number is also listed on your Letter of Acceptance.
     
• Letter of Acceptance: Use this document to answer duration of study questions.
   
• Employment: Enter the details of any paid employment from the past 10 years, whether part-time or full-time.
  • Note: If you have no work experience, include any secondary or post-secondary studies and duration and state that your occupation was “student”.
     
• Signature: If you are applying online, an electronic signature will occur prior to payment, so no physical signature is necessary for the IMM 1294. DO NOT print and scan this form.
   
• Validate & Upload: When you have completed the application form, click the blue “Validate” button at the end of the form. If you have made mistakes or missed any fields, these sections will be highlighted red and you will need to complete these areas prior to attempting to validate again. Once you have successfully validated, a page of black bar codes will be generated as the final page of the document. Save the validated form on your computer and then upload this form in the IRCC account.

IMM 5707 or IMM 5645 Family Information form

• Applicants from the United States will need to fill the Family Information (IMM 5707) form.
   
• When you are downloading the form, you may see a "Please Wait..." message on a white page. From here, use the download button in your browser to download the PDF document. If you do not have Adobe Reader, follow the instructions on the "Please Wait..." page to download it now. Use Adobe Reader to open the Family Information PDF file.
   
• Complete this form on a computer, then print it off and sign it by hand in BLACK ink.

You'll now need to gather your supporting documents. You can view the document checklist and visa office instructions for applicants from the United States here .

If you are not a citizen of the US, you may need to obtain an appropriate entry document to Canada.

Take care in ensuring that all documents are clear, legible and well-written.

When you arrive at the Canada/US border Port-of-Entry, you will tell the officer that you want to apply for a study permit. The officer will check:

• your passport or other travel document
• that you meet the eligibility requirements and
• that your medical certificate is valid, if you need one

If you’re eligible for a study permit and your application is approved, the officer will issue your study permit. If you’re not eligible, the officer will refuse your study permit. If your permit is refused, you may still be able to enter Canada as a visitor.

If your application to study in Canada is approved, a Border Services Officer will issue your study permit.

If you hope to work while you are a student, either on or off-campus, tell the border services officer. Ensure that one of the following statements is listed on your study permit before leaving the immigration area of the airport:

• May work 20 hrs off-campus or full-time during regular breaks if meeting criteria outlined in section 186(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
• May accept employment on the campus of the institution at which registered in full-time studies (for English for Academic Purposes program students or exchange students)

One of these statements must be present on your study permit to apply for a Social Insurance Number, which is required to work in Canada.

If your application to study in Canada is refused, please contact us for advice before re-applying.

If you have a Letter of Acceptance to the Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Nursing After Degree or Bachelor of Education, you will require a co-op work permit in addition to your study permit. The co-op work permit will allow you to complete the practicum components of your program.

To apply for the co-op work permit:

• Review your Letter of Acceptance. In Box 24, ensure that "Yes" is checked showing that co-op is an essential component of your program.
• This letter will been provided to you by email together with your Letter of Acceptance.

Please note that work which brings you in close contact with people, such as nursing or teaching, requires a medical exam performed by an IRCC panel physician.

Your co-op work permit will be issued to you along with your study permit.