Global Affairs Canada

1. Proof of Citizenship (PC)

• A copy of the candidate’s valid passport or national identity card showing photo identification and valid dates.
• The proof of citizenship must correspond to the country/territory selected in the online application form.
• The following documents are not accepted as proof of citizenship:
  • Driver’s licence
  • Permanent resident card
  • Work permit
  • Student card
  • Health card
  • Birth certificate
  • Baptismal certificate

2. Proof of Full-Time Enrolment (PFE)

• Must be issued by the home institute on official institutional letterhead.
• Dated within the last six months.
• Must confirm that the candidate is currently enrolled in a full-time program. Documents that do not confirm full-time enrolment will be deemed incomplete and ineligible.
• The following are not accepted as proof of enrolment:
  • Academic transcripts
  • Student cards
  • Letters of admission

3. Letter of Intent from the Candidate (LIC; Maximum one page)

• The letter must include:
  • Describe the proposed studies or research to be undertaken in Canada.
  • Provide a clear rationale for choosing Canada, the University of Waterloo, the program, and (if applicable) the supervisor.
  • Explain how the proposed study or research aligns with the candidate’s academic and professional goals.
  • Identify the specific Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) that the proposed study or research will support. (Applications that do not identify an SDG will be deemed incomplete.)
  • Explain how undertaking study or research in Canada will support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
  • Describe how the candidate intends to apply their learning to reduce poverty and narrow the development gap in their country or region.
  • Country-Specific Requirements: Certain applicants must include an explanation of how their learning in Canada will contribute to poverty reduction:
    • Applicants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, or Vietnam must explain how their learning will reduce poverty in their home country.
    • Applicants from Brunei or Singapore must explain how their learning will reduce poverty in one of the other eligible ASEAN countries.
    • Applicants from eligible Pacific Island countries (including Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu) must explain how their learning will reduce poverty in their home country.
    • Applicants from the Cook Islands must explain how their learning will reduce poverty in one of the other eligible Pacific Island countries.
    • Applicants from Mongolia must explain how their learning will reduce poverty in their home country.

4. Letter of Support from the Candidate’s Home Institution (LSHI; Maximum one page)

• Must be on official letterhead.
• Dated within the last six months.
• Written by the candidate’s instructor, professor, or international director.
• The letter must include:
  • Describe the proposed study or research in Canada.
  • Explain how both the candidate and the home institution will benefit from participation in the scholarship program.
  • Assess the candidate’s commitment and capacity to apply their learning to reduce poverty and narrow the development gap in their country or region.

5. Letter of Invitation from a Canadian Supervisor (LICS; Maximum one page) (required for graduate research applicants only)

• Must be on the University of Waterloo letterhead.
• Dated within the last six months.
• Signed by the Canadian supervisor.
• The letter must include:
  • Describe the nature and scope of the research collaboration.
  • Confirm the supervisor’s willingness to mentor and support the candidate during the exchange period.
  • Explain how the supervisor, research team, and institution will benefit from the exchange.

6. Privacy Notice Statement (PNS)

• A copy of the Privacy Notice Statement for non-Canadian participants.
• Must be signed by the candidate and dated within the last six months.

Visa processes differ depending if your are at Waterloo to study or conduct research:

• Study (Exchange) applicants: Connect with immigration consultants at the International Experience Centre.
• Research applicants: You are considered a visiting worker. Please contact Legal and Immigration Services at lis-imm@uwaterloo.ca for guidance. 

• Undergraduate study (exchange): An active exchange agreement is required.
• Research (undergraduate or graduate): A formal exchange agreement is not typically required.
  • Where appropriate and in cases of established academic or research collaborations, the Global Engagement Office may facilitate a letter of agreement between the home institution and the Waterloo supervisor.

For graduate research applicants requiring International Visiting Graduate Student (IVGS) program approval, please contact sforsyth@uwaterloo.ca

Review the following websites for housing-related matters:

• On-campus residences
• Off-campus housing resources
• Undergraduate housing support through the International Experience Centre
• Graduate housing information through Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs

For all programs, selected candidates may arrive no earlier than August 1, 2026 and no later than February 1, 2027.