International Student Permits & Visas

Study Permits, Visas & Travel Documents

If you’re planning to study at Northern College for more than six months and you’re not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you’ll be required to apply for a study permit from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Study Permit

A valid study permit is required for all international students studying in Canada for more than six months.

A Study Permit is your official permission to study in Canada. You can learn more about this by visiting the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. Obtaining your Study Permit can take 1 – 6 months, so start the application process as soon as possible.

Here’s how to get yours:

Before Arrival: Apply for your study permit online through IRCC’s website. The processing time can take several months, so apply early.
At the Border: When you arrive in Canada, present your Letter of Introduction (approval letter) to the border officer. They will issue and print your study permit.
Check Your Permit: Ensure all details, including work authorization, are correct before leaving the airport.

You can apply for the Study Permit through the nearest Canadian Visa Office (or online if you are eligible for this option). A processing fee of $125 applies. (U.S. citizens can apply at the Port of Entry upon arrival in Canada – no advance application is required). You may need to undergo a medical examination. Please consult the Immigration Medical Exam section of Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s website for details. Students from certain countries may also require a Temporary Entry Visa (also known as an “Entry Visa”) to enter Canada.

Students in programs of study with mandatory work terms such as co-op terms/ /internship/precepting/field placements, etc., must obtain a Co-op/Intern Work Permit (along with their Study Permit prior to arriving in Canada. Students can expect delays if they wait until they arrive in Canada). Please refer to the Student Work Permit section below.

Once your study permit is approved, you’ll receive a Letter of Introduction from IRCC. Make sure to present this letter to the border officer when you arrive in Canada—they’ll issue your study permit at the border upon your arrival.

Keep in mind that a study permit is not a travel document doesn’t grant you re-entry into Canada. Depending on your citizenship, you may also need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter or re-enter Canada. You can check your requirements on the IRCC website for more information.

Most new international students can apply for their study permits online from their home country. You must apply for your initial study permit before coming to Canada. Application instructions are available on IRCC’s Study Permits page or on BorderPass. Processing times may vary, so be sure to apply as early as possible—it can take anywhere from one to six months or longer depending on your location.

Passport

All travellers entering Canada require a passport from their home country. If you are already in Canada and need to renew your passport, consult Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s list of foreign diplomatic representatives in the country here. Make sure you have a passport that is valid for at least 1 year.

Leave of Absences

If you require a leave of absence from your studies, it must be authorized by the College prior to departing the campus and the leave cannot exceed 150 days. You must also consult with an International Student Advisor from the Advising Department at your campus.

Leave of Absence Request Procedure

This procedure must be followed in the order below:

1. Meet with an International Student Advisor on your campus.

Obtain a Leave of Absence Form.
Review the IRCC rules and guidelines and how this may affect your student an immigration status.

2. Meet with your Program Coordinator.

Discuss and create an Academic Plan that will be in place while you are away.
The Program Coordinator’s signature is required on the Leave of Absence Form.

3. An International Advisor emails the completed form to the Registrar for approval.

The Registrars signature is required on the Leave of Absence Form.

4. Once the form has been completed, approved and returned to you/the student, then you have an authorized leave.

The student email address must be a valid Northern College email account.

5. Upon re-entry to Canada, you must report in with the Advising Department.

International students with a valid study permit must meet the conditions of their permit to maintain their legal status in Canada. One of the study permit conditions is to pursue your program of study actively. An unauthorized leave of absence will violate the conditions of the study permit. In addition, the length of the leave of absence may affect your status as a student and your eligibility for the Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) after completing your program.

Please review your conditions as a study permit holder in Canada:
www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/studypermit/while-you-study/study-permit-conditions.html

Please refer to the Northern College Academic Calendar and Refund Policy Deferrals, Withdrawals & Refunds to determine the financial impact of your leave.

Students considering travelling outside of Canada during their studies need to ensure that they have the correct/valid exit and re-entry documents/visas prior to departure.

This is your/the student/the traveler’s responsibility to ensure you have the required visas to enter and exit a country.

You cannot work on or off campus during an authorized leave from your study program, even if your study permit says you are allowed to work in Canada.

Please review your conditions as a study permit holder in Canada:
www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/studypermit/while-you-study/study-permit-conditions.html

Immigration, Citizenship and Refugees Canada only considers students to actively pursue their studies program if the leave is less than 150 days.

For leave periods longer than 150 days, a student must do one of the following:

Change their status to visitor
Leave Canada

Work Permit for Mandatory Internship/Co-op Terms

If you are in a program of study with mandatory co-op or internship terms, you must obtain an Internship Work Permit (along with your Study Permit).

The application for the Co-op/Internship Work Permit must be made at the same time as the Study Permit if the co-op/internship starts in the first term of classes.

Review your Offer Letter / Letter of Acceptance to see if your program requires a co-op/intern Work Permit or not.

If a co-op/inter permit is required, please refer to the information via the IRCC website:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/intern.html

Apply for your co-op/intern work permit along with your application for your study visa.

You will not be allowed to start your work term, field placements or clinical practice if you do not obtain the co-op/intern permit. It usually takes 6 months or longer to obtain a work permit after you arrive in Canada. Please visit the link below for more information on how to apply.

You are encouraged to apply for your co-op/internship work permit at least 3 months before your internship is due to start in case there are processing delays. This application is fee exempt (i.e. free).

You are eligible for this permit if: you have a valid Study Permit, the employment in question is a requirement of your program and/or the employment constitutes less than 50% of your program. For specific study permit processing times, visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

When you apply for certain documents, such as your Study Permit, there is no guarantee that you will be approved. You should not purchase plane tickets or make other final travel arrangements until your documents are in order. Be sure to place your travel documents, prescription medication, eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vital information in your carry-on bag.

For tips on how to fill out the CIC online Work Permit application, please review our Work Permit Application Guide. For more details, visit the Co-op/Internship page of Citizenship and Immigration Canada website: Work as a co-op student or intern.

You can only start working in Canada when you start your study program. You can’t work before your studies begin.

You can work as an international student in Canada if your study permit lists a condition that says you’re allowed to work on- or off-campus.

You can work on your school campus, without a work permit, if you

are a full-time post-secondary student at a public post-secondary school, such as a college, university, trade or technical school
have a valid study permit or maintained status
have printed conditions on your initial study permit allowing you to work on campus and
have a social insurance number (SIN)

You and your employer must make sure you can work off campus without a work permit before you start working. If you start working off campus but don’t meet the requirements, you may have to leave Canada.

You can only start working in Canada when your study program has started. You can’t work before you start your studies.

If you’re able to work during your studies, it’ll say so in the conditions on your study permit.

If you’re eligible for off-campus work, you don’t need a work permit.

Eligibility requirements

You can work off campus without a work permit if you meet all of these requirements:

You’re a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI)
You’re enrolled in either of the following a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program
Your study program is at least 6 months long and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate
You’ve started studying
You have a social insurance number (SIN)

Social Insurance Number

A Social Insurance Number is required if you plan to work in Canada (on-campus or off-campus). You can apply for a Social Insurance Number online, or in person at a Service Canada office. You can get more information on how to get a SIN at the Government of Canada website.

To apply in person, bring:

Your study permit (must state you are authorized to work)
Your passport
Additional documents (if needed)

Service Canada Locations Near Each Northern College Campus:

Timmins Campus
Service Canada – Timmins
120 Cedar St. S, Timmins, ON P4N 2G8

Kirkland Lake Campus
Service Canada – Kirkland Lake
13 Government Rd W, Kirkland Lake, ON P2N 3R3

Haileybury Campus
Service Canada – New Liskeard
33 Armstrong St. N, New Liskeard, ON P0J 1P0

Moosonee Campus
Service Canada – Moosonee
34 Revillion Rd, Moosonee, ON P0L 1Y0

A SIN card is necessary to work in Canada, as employers must ask all new employees to see the SIN card upon hire. You may apply for a SIN card before you start working or up to three days after your start date. A SIN number is also required for taxation purposes. You can apply for your SIN card in person at any Service Canada location, and there is no charge for first-time applications. Your Social Insurance Number will be issued immediately, and your card should be received by mail within ten business days. If your SIN card is lost or stolen, you will be charged a $10 replacement fee.

If you plan to work on-campus, you will need to bring your passport, your Study Permit and a completed Employment Contract from Northern College printed on Northern College letterhead when you apply for your SIN card. If you plan to work off-campus, you will need to provide your passport, your Work Permit, and a letter of employment from your employer

International Students may apply for the SIN at their local Service Canada Centre.

To locate the nearest Centre, call 1-800-O-CANADA (1-800-622-6232), or use Service Canada’s online locator.

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

International students who have completed a Northern College diploma can obtain an Open Work Permit (valid for 1 to 3 years, depending on the length of your program of study) under the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program, with no restrictions on employment type and no job offer requirement.

The application for the PGWP must be made within 90 days of the issuance of your final grades or the confirmation of your graduation, whichever is earlier, and while your Study Permit is valid. Students may hold more than one employment position within the PGWP period. You can continue to use your Off-Campus Work Permit for 90 days after you have met the requirements to graduate, while waiting to receive your Post-Graduation Work Permit. It is important to note that during this time, your Study Permit must still be valid. See the full explanation in CIC’s Operational Bulletin 193. If you need to extend your Study Permit to cover these 90 days (known as a “bridging extension”), please refer to the CIC website.

If you are applying for a PGWP, it is recommended that you apply online from within Canada, and remain in Canada until you receive your permit in the mail. Citizens of Temporary Resident Visa or Visa exempt countries can apply for the PGWP at the Canada/US border. For more information, see the CIC Temporary Resident Permit website.