As an international learner, you are considered a temporary resident. All temporary residents should receive official authorization to stay, study, or work in Canada.
Algoma's PACE international learners can apply either for a Study Permit or a visitor visa. For most of Algoma's Continuing Education Programs you will need a valid Study Permit for the duration of your education.
According to Canadian immigration laws you require a Study Permit if you engage in academic, professional, vocational, or other education or training programs exceeding six (6) months. You don't need a study permit for courses or education programs that last 6 months or less, but you will still need a valid travel document to enter Canada.
Please note that a Study Permit does not authorize you to enter or re-enter Canada. You will need either Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to get into Canada before you are provided with a Study Permit.
When you apply for a Study Permit, you do not need to apply separately for the Temporary Resident Visa or Electronic Travel Authorization – they will be issued at the same time as the Study Permit. You will need to apply for TRV or ETA if you are pursuing education programs which last 6 months or less and are ineligible for a Study Permit.
You can apply for a Study Permit after you receive an Acceptance Offer Letter from Algoma PACE confirming your admission. Since the offer letter is only valid after your full payment of the tuition deposit, you need to make the payment of tuition before you apply. Please check the Tuition and Fees section for more information about the available payment methods.
You can apply for a Study Permit online by creating an account on the Canadian government website. For a full list of eligibility criteria and detailed instructions on how to apply for a Study Permit please check the official requirements on Canada.ca.
After you apply, you can check your application status with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). If your application is approved the IRCC will issue you a letter of introduction as a port of entry (POE) letter, which you will need to show to the Canadian Border Security Officer upon arrival.
You should only travel to Canada if you possess all necessary documents, including your letter of introduction, which confirms that you have an approved study permit that will be issued to you at the border.
The list of documents which you should possess before entry includes:
Some visitors may also need valid immigration exam results, so please check if you need one. For information on COVID-19 restrictions, please check the Get Travel Ready section on our International Learners page.
Please note that the above list is for general information only and can change without notice. Make sure to check the valid requirements on the official portal.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid Study Permit at all times while you are enrolled in Algoma's Continuing Education programs. Some Study Permits are issued for a period of 4 months, while the program can be one year or longer. Your Study Permit can be extended as long as you continue your education program.
In most cases, you can renew your Study Permit online by logging in to your account on Canada.ca that you created when you applied for study authorization for the first time. Please note that you need to apply for renewal of the Study Permit before its expiry. We recommend that you make an application early, at least 30-60 days in advance. The fee for renewing your Study Permit is $150 CAD.
If you are a post-graduate learner who already has a Study Permit from studying in another post-secondary institution in Canada, you will need to update your details. You can do so by logging in to your account on the government website and updating your Designated Learning Institution (DLI) for Algoma U.
At Algoma, we have a team of immigration experts here for our international learners, including continuing education learners who are pursuing non-degree credits programs of study at our Algoma PACE Division.
If you have any questions or need any additional information about Study Permits or learner visas for studying at Algoma's Continuing Education Programs, please email us at immigration@algomau.ca for an initial consultation.
