Apply to the closest visa office. Photocopy your application before mailing and keep copies in a safe place, in case it gets lost.
Request a Study Permit for the entire length of your studies, plus an additional 90 days beyond your expected graduation date. If you are not granted the amount of time you request, you can renew your Study Permit in Canada for a fee.
If your application is approved, the immigration office will send you a Letter of Introduction. Do not leave home until you receive this letter.
When you arrive at a Canadian port of entry, show your Letter of Introduction and the other required documents listed below to have an immigration officer issue your Study Permit.
In addition to your Study Permit, you may also require a TRV to enter Canada. A TRV is a stamp or sticker placed in your passport to show that you have permission to enter Canada for a specified period of time. Check CIC for countries whose citizens require TRVs.
Request a multiple-entry rather than single-entry TRV. A multiple-entry TRV allows you to leave Canada and return multiple times, whereas a single-entry TRV only allows you to enter Canada once.
If you need a TRV, you do not have to make a separate application. The immigration office will issue it at the same time as the Letter of Introduction, confirming the approval of your Study Permit. Unless you are citizen of a country that is exempt from this requirement, you must have a TRV before you arrive at a Canadian port of entry.
Carefully review the Letter of Introduction and the TRV to ensure that your personal information and term dates are correct. If you find a mistake, make sure the document is corrected before you leave for Canada. Unless you are a US citizen, do not leave for Canada until you have your Letter of Introduction and TRV, if required.
Documents needed for a Study Permit application made outside Canada
To apply for a Study Permit and/or Temporary Resident Visa from outside Canada, you will need the following documents:
Official Letter of Acceptance from UFV
This letter proves that you are accepted to study at the University of the Fraser Valley and is issued when you have submitted your complete application with all fees and documents needed for admission.(link to apply now)
Passport
You need a valid passport and/or official government-issued identification. Renew your passport before applying for a Study Permit if it is due to expire during your first year of study. Immigration documents, such as your Study Permit, can only be issued for as long as your passport is valid. Renewing your passport in advance can save you extra processing costs and paperwork.
Proof of Funds
You must prove that you have enough money to pay for your tuition and living expenses for at least one year, as well as for your return transportation to your home country. You can show proof of sufficient funds with a bank statement, savings account passbook, bank draft, official letter from a sponsor, or other proof that indicates you have sufficient funds to study and live in Canada.
Medical Examination
Depending on your citizenship and where you are currently living, you may be required to have a medical exam before entering Canada. Check CIC for a list of countries whose citizens require a medical exam. Start early as it can take up to three months for medical exam results to be processed.
Permits & visa information for international students currently in Canada
UFV students
Need to renew your visa or study permit? Check out UFV Study Permit and Temporary Resident Visa Guidebook or attend a Visa & Study Permit info session at UFV International, room B223, on the Abbotsford campus. Sessions run Monday and Tuesday 11:30 to 12:00.
Need a letter from UFV to renew your Study Permit? Request it online or visit UFV International, room B223, on the Abbotsford campus. It takes five business days to process your letter request.
High school students
If you are coming to UFV from a high school in Canada, immigration regulations restrict you from attending classes until the conditions of your Study Permit have been changed to reflect study at “a postsecondary institution in Canada.” Failure to change the conditions of your Study Permit can result in a fine or even deportation. Apply to extend and change the conditions on your Study Permit several months before your first term at UFV.
Students transferring from another Canadian university
If you are transferring from another university or college in Canada, you can normally do so without changing the conditions of your Study Permit as long as your Study Permit is valid for a postsecondary institution in Canada.
