Study Permits

As per Canadian immigration regulations: A foreign national may study in Canada without a study permit if the duration of their course or program of studies is six months or less and will be completed within the period for their stay authorized upon entry into Canada.

Therefore, Exchange and Study Abroad students planning to study at BCIT for only one term are exempt from BCIT’s standard study permit requirement.

Note that even if you are not required to apply for a study permit, you may still consider applying for one if you would like to be be eligible to work in Canada during your studies as a study permit holder.

Note that the BCIT’s standard study permit requirement applies to any student (including Exchange, Study Abroad, or Dual Degree) planning to come to study at BCIT for two terms or more.

IRCC has announced a temporary public policy to allow foreign nationals with valid work permits to study without a study permit starting on June 7, 2023. Note that not all work permit holders will qualify for this temporary policy.

IRCC has sent a confirmation letter (PDF attachment via email) to each qualifying work permit holder.

You may satisfy BCIT’s requirement by providing a copy of either:

• your valid work permit issued on or before June 7, 2023; or
• a copy of you valid work permit plus you receipt letter from IRCC (associated with that work permit application) dated on or before June 7, 2023.

Even if you qualify for the temporary policy mentioned above, we would still generally advise applying for a study permit for two important reasons:

1. Ensuring that you remain authorized to study until the end of your program, even if your work permit expires.
2. Maintaining eligibility for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP), in case you choose to apply for one upon completion of your program.
   

As per Canadian immigration regulations: A foreign national may study in Canada without a study permit if the duration of their course or program of studies is six months or less and will be completed within the period for their stay authorized upon entry into Canada.

If you have a valid status in Canada refugee, worker, or visitor; then you may be authorized to study short-term without a study permit as described above.

If you are considering short-term studies at BCIT without a study permit, first understand that:

• There may be no option to legally extend your studies beyond six months, and therefore it is generally not suitable for individuals wanting to complete an entire program or credential.
  
• We strongly advise applying for a study permit before beginning your studies, unless you only want to take a specific course on it’s own.
• Students studying short-term without a study permit are responsible for their own compliance with Canadian immigration regulations.
  

You may encounter a hold on your account blocking registration if you have not provided a study permit or other status in Canada document. In order to remove the hold, you will need to provide, by email to statusdoc@bcit.ca or during in-person drop-in service at the ISC, one the following documents demonstrating your valid status in Canada :

• work permit,
• positive Notice of Decision (for Refugee status), or
• your passport information page, and date of entry to Canada (for visitor status).

Fully online courses are considered to be distance learning, and do not require a study permit. You may take distance learning courses from outside of Canada, or while having a valid status in Canada such as refugee, worker, or visitor.

You may encounter a hold on your account blocking registration if you have not provided a study permit. In order to remove the hold and proceed with registration, send a short message to statusdoc@bcit.ca with the following information:

1. Your name
2. Your BCIT student number
3. Your current country of residence (if outside Canada) OR your current status in Canada (if inside Canada)
4. Which course(s) you are interested in taking

Our staff will review your message and confirm once you are able to register.

Note that most credential programs at BCIT have some required classes, labs, or exams on campus.

If you are family or a staff member of a foreign representative to Canada that has been accredited by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), then you are considered to have Diplomatic status and may be authorized to study in Canada without needing a study permit.

You must submit proof of Diplomatic status in order to be exempt from BCIT’s standard study permit requirement.

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Brazil
• China
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• India
• Morocco
• Pakistan
• Peru
• Philippines
• Senegal
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Vietnam

If you studied at a different post-secondary institution and will transfer to BCIT, you must notify IRCC of your change of school. Institutions have different Designated Learning Institution (DLI) numbers. The DLI number for BCIT is O19330128542.

You will need to change your institution number in your secure online IRCC account.

If your study permit is still valid, you don’t need to change or apply for a new permit if you’re moving between school levels, for example from a high school to a post-secondary. You must apply to extend your study permit within 90 days of receiving written confirmation of high school completion, or before your study permit expires – whichever comes first.

If you’re moving to post-secondary school and want to be able to work while you study, you must apply to change the conditions of your study permit. There is a fee to make this change. To do this, you’ll need to apply for a new study permit from within Canada.

Full-time programs

If your study permit is denied, please notify your Admissions Officer as soon as possible.

Your application fee is non-refundable and non-transferrable. However, you can request a full refund of your commitment fee and all tuition fees paid by submitting a scanned copy of the study permit denial letter from Immigration, Refugee & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to International_Admissions@bcit.ca within 60 days of your program start date.

Please follow the links below for refund deadline details regarding:

• Full-time programs
• TPP programs

Flexible Learning programs

Your application fee or declaration fee for a Flexible Learning program is non-refundable and non-transferrable. However, you can request a full refund of your tuition fees by submitting a scanned copy of the study permit denial letter to isep.support@bcit.ca before your first day of class.

As long as you applied to extend your study permit before your study permit expires, you are considered to have maintained status. This means that you can stay in Canada under the same conditions as your current study permit until IRCC make a decision on your application.

It is very important to understand that you must remain in Canada while on maintained status. If you leave the country you may not resume study in Canada until you receive your new study permit.

If your study permit has expired, you need to:

• Stop your studies immediately
• Email isc_info@bcit.ca to notify the International Student Centre as soon as possible
• Apply to restore your status within 90 days of losing your status.

See Work Eligibility to understand if your study permit allows you to work during your studies.

You’ll need to apply for a new study permit from within Canada.

When you apply online, your personalized checklist will include the Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Student [IMM 5709]. On that form, check the box to Apply for a study permit for the first time or extend my study permit and fill out the rest of the required fields.

Include a letter with your application explaining why you need the condition removed from your study permit.

In order to get a copy of a lost, stolen or destroyed study permit you must fill out an application and pay a fee to replace the permit.

Your study permit will become invalid on the date marked on the permit or 90 days after the day you complete your studies, whichever comes first.

The 90 days begin:

• on the date you get the first notification from your school (such as an email, letter, transcript, etc.) that you completed your program, or
• when you get your degree, diploma or certificate, or
• the last day of your final course (if you do not complete a program).

To stay in Canada, you would need to apply for a new status such as another study permit, work permit, or a visitor record.

It’s always best to review your study permit immediately when you receive it at the port of entry. If you discover later that there is an error such as your name being misspelled, you can apply to amend your study permit. If an error was made my the officer who issued the permit, then there is no fee.

If you are an international student under 19 you might need to show proof that you have a custodian. A custodian is a responsible adult, who is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, who will take care of and support the minor child. A custodian is optional for minors 17 years of age and older, but an officer can request one on a case-by-case basis.

See Studying in Canada as a minor and Study permits: Guidelines on minor children on the IRCC website for more information.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) are piloting the Voluntary Compliance Portal (VC Portal), which is an optional measure that may help to reduce your study permit wait time at the airport.

New BCIT students are invited to submit their study permit approval information to YVR through the VC portal prior to their travels.   With this advance notice of your arrival, CBSA will prepare to have your study permit printed before you arrive to YVR.

You must meet the following eligibility criteria to use the VC Portal:

• Have a Port of Entry Letter of Introduction (study permit approval)
• Your initial entry into Canada must be at YVR (no domestic connecting flights)
• Submit the required information through the VC Portal at least 72 hours before arrival to YVR

Using the VC portal does not guarantee entry into Canada. CBSA will assess your eligibility to enter Canada as usual.

The VC portal is only being used for study permits at this time.  If you have been approved for a co-op work permit as well, you may still submit your study permit information.

If you submit incorrect information or your information changes, you may simply resubmit with updated information.

Using the VC portal is completely optional and is meant to save time and limit congestion at the airport.