Study In Canada
Colleges, universities, and other educational institutions that are approved by a provincial or territorial government to welcome international students to study in Canada are called designated learning institutions (DLIs). Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) publishes the list of DLIs. Please ensure that the university, college, or other institution you wish to attend is on that list. If you hope to work in Canada after graduation, also check that your program is eligible for a post-graduation work permit, because not every program at a DLI is.
CANADIAN STUDENT VISA
To apply for a Canadian student visa (study permit), the main requirement is a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution in Canada. Most applicants also need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (or, in Quebec, a Quebec Acceptance Certificate) and proof that they can pay for tuition, living expenses and return travel. Applicants must also satisfy an officer that they will leave Canada when their permit expires.
Upon receipt of a letter of acceptance, Law Wise will help you submit an application to the Government of Canada for a Canadian student visa. A Canada Student Visa is a document that many people need to be able to legally reside in Canada as a student.
Sufficient documentation is required as proof of appropriate financial resources to support your education and related expenses. Even if you receive financial support from your family in your home country, you may consider taking a job in Canada. Eligible full-time students at a designated learning institution may work off campus for up to 24 hours per week during regular academic sessions, and full-time during scheduled breaks. As an international student, you are also eligible and may apply for bursaries and scholarships through selected colleges and universities.
Post Graduate Work Permit:
After completing your studies, Law Wise can help you stay in Canada to get more professional experience and seek permanent residence. The PGWP is important for foreign students who wish to make their immigration applications to Canada more competitive.
International students graduating from post-secondary schools in Canada have many opportunities to extend their stay and eventually switch to permanent residency. Your education or study in Canada can put you in a good position when it comes to pursuing a permanent residence status in Canada. There are many immigration programs offered by the provincial and federal governments that favour Canadian education and work experience.
After graduating in Canada, you can gain professional experience in Canada by obtaining a Postgraduate Work Permit (PGWP) which, depending on the length and type of your program, may allow you to work in Canada for up to three years. Most applicants must also meet a language requirement, and graduates of some programs must have studied in an eligible field.
While holding the PGWP, there are many federal and provincial permanent residency programs you can pursue, such as:
Express Entry: With Express Entry, former international students may be well placed to qualify for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program, which allows tens of thousands of temporary foreign workers and international students to seek permanent residence each year.
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): This allows provinces and territories throughout Canada to identify immigrants who meet their local economic needs. Many PNP streams favour applicants who are former international students.
Quebec also encourages former international students to seek permanent residence. Quebec runs its own selection programs, and they have changed considerably: the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) ended in November 2025 and was later reopened only on a temporary basis, and the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) is now Quebec’s regular route.
The federal government provides special streams for international students and/or exemptions from the Canadian work experience requirements. These include the Atlantic Immigration Program, which is open to recent graduates of recognized post-secondary institutions in Atlantic Canada who have a job offer from a designated employer, and the Rural Community Immigration Pilot and Francophone Community Immigration Pilot launched in 2025. The earlier Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot closed to new applications in August 2024.
How Can Our Immigration Lawyer Help?
At Law Wise, our experienced immigration lawyers understand your specific circumstances and offer customized solutions for all your needs. We are committed to prompt communication and a professional approach.
Feel free to contact us. We speak English, Urdu, Hindi, and Punjabi, so you can be confident that we understand you.