New and returning students from outside Canada

Requirements to apply for a study permit:

• Your official Offer of Admission and Letter of Acceptance from the University of Waterloo downloaded from Quest.

• A Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). See above links to begin the process of requesting this document.

• A valid passport or travel document issued by your country of citizenship. When possible, obtain a passport that is valid for the entire duration of your study in Canada.
• Evidence of sufficient funds. You must provide proof that you have enough money for your tuition fees and living expenses, and to financially support any accompanying family members.
• A passport-sized photo of yourself that meets Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) specifications.
• A statement of purpose of study/study plan letter that you write.
• Give biometrics ​once the Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL) appears in your online account after you submit the application. If you have given them in the past, check if your biometrics are still valid.

Supporting documents may include:

• Proof of immigration medical exam
• Police certificate
• Custodianship declaration - Neither the University nor the Canadian government can assign a custodian. For more information, please see minor children guidelines 
• Proof of tuition payment - Use the tuition fee estimator. The estimator will email you a PDF letter with the approximate amount of your total costs and instructions on how to pay your tuition in advance. After you have accepted your Offer of Admission and your payment has arrived, usually within 7-14 days after paying, you can log into your Quest account and email yourself an official tuition receipt to include in your study permit application
• Country-specific documents
• Documents requested by the visa office based on individual circumstances

Verify your country-specific study permit application requirements by:

• Viewing specific visa office instructions by selecting a country
• Reading the study permit Instruction Guide
• Contacting the Canadian visa office processing your application with questions

Student Direct Stream:

The Student Direct Stream (SDS) was a program set up for applicants residing in specific countries who could benefit from faster study permit processing if meeting the stream requirements. IRCC announced that the Student Direct Stream was discontinued on November 8, 2024, at 2 PM ET.

If anyone submitted a complete SDS application before this time, it would still be processed under the SDS stream. However, all SDS applications submitted on or after November 8, 2024, at 2 PM ET would instead be processed as regular study permits. 

1. All study permit applications must be submitted online. Please visit the IRCC study permit webpage to get specific instructions on how to apply. Depending on how you answer the questions, you may be instructed to use either an IRCC secure account (GC Key) or the IRCC Portal. 
2. If you are using the IRCC secure account (GC Key) to apply, watch our video about the account creation process in detail.

If you are accepted into a co-op program at the University of Waterloo, you can apply for your co-op work permit together with your study permit. Make sure to indicate in your study permit application that you are also applying for a co-op work permit. Use your Letter of Acceptance in the application twice; once for proof of university acceptance, and again for proof of a co-op letter, with the Internship section highlighted. Application approval is determined by the Canadian visa office, and is not guaranteed.

If you are not issued co-op work permit approval or a co-op work permit at the port-of-entry into Canada, you can still apply for a co-op work permit once in Canada. We recommend applying right away after arriving at Waterloo. 

You need your co-op work permit for all co-op placements. Make sure you have it before starting your first one.

• If you need to extend both your study permit and temporary resident visa (TRV) from within Canada, the study permit extension application is completed first, and the application for a TRV is submitted after the new study permit is received. If you are from a visa-exempt country, a new eTA number would be issued with your extended study permit if needed.
• If you apply for an extension before your current study permit expires, you will have maintained status to continue studying in Canada after your old study permit expires until a decision is made on your application as long as you remain in Canada. If you leave Canada while your application is being processed and are outside of Canada with an expired study permit, you will lose your maintained status and must then ensure that you have a valid entry visa (TRV) or eTA (electronic travel authorization) before re-entering Canada. If you then re-enter Canada, you cannot study until the study permit extension application has been approved. The same policy applies to a co-op work permit extension.
• It is very important to have valid status in Canada. If you do let your study permit expire, you have 90 days after loss of status to apply for restoration of status in Canada with an explanation as to why your status expired, with supporting documentation if applicable. However, you cannot study or work in Canada until your status has been restored.
• Approved study permits are mailed to the Canadian mailing address that you provided in the application form.
• A valid study permit is required if you are in Canada and taking some online courses. Too many online courses or terms completed outside of Canada could impact post-graduation work permit eligibility or length.
• Study permits become invalid 90 days after you complete your studies unless you've been accepted into further education in Canada. If the expiry date on the study permit is less than 90 days after you complete your studies, the study permit expires on that date.
• You can extend your study permit to remain in Canada for 90 days after you complete your last term. This would allow you to apply for the post-graduation work permit, if eligible. It will also give you more time to extend your study permit again if you're accepted into further education. If there's going to be a term or more between the end of your current program and start of your next, please see our working in Canada page for information on working in between programs.

If your study permit application is approved, you will be given a Letter of Introduction (study permit approval letter) and, if applicable, a TRV in your passport or eTA number. If you require a TRV to enter Canada, the visa office will need your physical passport during the study permit application process in order to put the TRV in your passport. 

To receive your study permit at the port of entry into Canada, you need to present the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer with your passport, Letter of Introduction, and official Letter of Acceptance from the University of Waterloo. The CSBA officer must also be satisfied that you are a bona fide student. 

Please read the International Student Guide for more information about documents you should have in your carry-on luggage and detailed steps about the process of entering Canada. 

For more information on documents to prepare to enter Canada, please visit the Government of Canada website. 

Q: I applied for a study permit with a different University’s offer letter, and have now accepted my Waterloo offer. What do I do?

A: If you've transferred post-secondary schools or used another post-secondary school's Letter of Acceptance for your study permit application, you must notify Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) via your IRCC account.

You don't have to complete a DLI transfer when switching programs within the University of Waterloo.

If you are outside Canada

If your study permit application is in progress with a different university’s offer letter please update IRCC as soon as possible. You can do this by submitting your new offer letter from the University of Waterloo using the IRCC web form.

If your study permit application has been approved please submit a new study permit application with your new letter of acceptance from the University of Waterloo. and pay all the fees. Your new application must be processed and approved before you come to Canada.

If you are inside Canada

If you're already inside Canada and change your Designated Learning Institution (DLI), then you will need to apply for a new study permit as soon as possible.  In addition to all of the mandatory documents, you should include a letter explaining why you are changing schools. You would only be able to start studying at your new DLI once your new study permit had been approved. 

Q: How do I apply for a co-op work permit with your study permit application?

A: If you're accepted into a co-op program at the University of Waterloo, you can apply for your co-op work permit together with your study permit. Be sure to indicate in your study permit application that you're also applying for a co-op work permit. Use your Letter of Acceptance in the application twice: once for proof of university acceptance and again for proof of a co-op letter, with the Internship section highlighted. Application approval is determined by the Canadian visa office, and is not guaranteed.

If you are not issued co-op work permit approval or a co-op work permit at the port-of-entry into Canada, you can still apply for a co-op work permit once in Canada. We recommend applying right away after arriving at Waterloo. 

You need your co-op work permit for all co-op placements. Make sure you have it before starting your first one.