Mackay Colleen Law Consultancy

How to move to Canada and settle as an international student

Here is a step-by-step guide on how you can study and settle in Canada.

Are you thinking about moving to Canada to study?

If so, you will need a study permit before you can pursue your education as an international student. A study permit is a document issued to foreign nationals by the Canadian government, allowing them to study at Designated Learning Institutions.

Here’s a list of the steps you will need to take to obtain your study permit and prepare for your move to Canada.

Step 1: Choose and enroll in a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
Before you can apply for a study permit, you will need to decide where you want to go to school. Provinces and territories designate different schools to enroll international students. These schools are known as Designated Learning Institutions (DLI). All primary and secondary schools in Canada are DLIs. You can find a list of post-secondary DLIs here.
Once you have selected a program and school of interest, it’s time to apply. Your application must include a letter of acceptance from a DLI.
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Step 2: Ensure you meet the eligibility requirements
In addition to an acceptance letter from a DLI, there are several other eligibility requirements you will need to meet to apply for a study permit. These include:
Proof of funds. You will need to provide proof you have enough money to pay for your tuition fees and living expenses (for you and any family members), as well as return expenses for yourself and any family members.
No criminal record. You may be required to prove you have no criminal record. You may be required to get a police certificate.
Good health. You may be required to get a medical exam to prove you are in good health.
Proof you will leave after permit expires. Finally, you will have to prove to an officer you will leave after your study permit expires.
Step 3: Get your documents in order
To apply for a study permit, you will need to provide the following documents:
Proof of acceptance. This is a letter of acceptance from your school. You can provide the original acceptance letter or an electronic copy.
Proof of identity. You and any family member travelling to Canada will need to provide a valid passport or travel document and two recent passport-sized photos.
Proof of financial support. You can use the following documents to provide proof of funds:
Canadian bank account in your name, if you’ve transferred money to Canada. The Scotiabank StartRight® Program provides banking support to international students. You can book an appointment with Scotiabank to set up a student account.
Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution. Scotiabank offers a Student GIC Program that can be used to help demonstrate proof of funds.
Student or education loan from a bank.
Bank statements for the past four months.
Bank draft that can be converted to Canadian dollars.
Proof of paid tuition and housing fees.
Letter from the person or school giving you money.
Funding paid from within Canada, if you have a scholarship or are in a Canadian-funded educational program.

You might also be required to provide:
Letter of explanation. Explains why you want to study in Canada and that you understand your responsibilities as a student.
Certificat d’acceptation du Quebec (CAQ). If you want to study in Quebec for longer than six months you must include the CAQ document issued by the Gouvernement du Quebec. You can contact your DLI for details on how to apply for the CAQ.
Custodian declaration (minors only). Minors who require a custodian must include the Custodianship Declaration form with their application.
Other documents. Other requirements may apply based on your country or region. You can check with the visa office for further instructions.

Step 4: Apply for Study Permit
You can complete your application for a study permit online or using a paper copy. Depending on where you apply (outside Canada, inside Canada or at a port of entry), there are different instructions on how to proceed. Instructions are on the Government of Canada website here.
To complete the application process, fill out the online or paper application, provide all documentation and pay your fees. Fees include application processing costs and a biometric fee. Biometrics includes your fingerprints and a digital photograph. Other fees may apply for a police certificate or medical exam based on your specific application.
You will get your study permit upon approval of your application.

Canada remains on track to welcome 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021, according to Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino.

In a new interview with Reuters, the federal government revealed that Canada welcomed about 39,500 new immigrants in July, even more than the 35,700 admitted in June.

Under the Immigration Levels Plan 2021-2023, Canada is aiming to welcome 401,000 new immigrants each year beginning in 2021. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic this annual target was set at 341,000 newcomers.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is pursuing the most ambitious immigration plan in Canadian history as it seeks to welcome more newcomers to support Canada’s post-COVID economic recovery. All told, Canada has admitted some 184,000 newcomers so far this year.

The levels welcomed in July and June are higher than usual and are among the highest monthly totals in Canadian history. They are a reflection of Canada needing to play catch-up if it wants to achieve its target this year.

To achieve the target, IRCC will need to land an additional 217,000 newcomers in the remaining five months of 2021, which is an average of 43,400 per month.

Admitting this figure on a monthly basis to close 2021 will be difficult, but there is a chance it can be done. Before the pandemic, Canada welcomed an average of 25,000 to 35,000 new immigrants each month.

IRCC has several things going for it that makes it possible to achieve its levels goal or come close to it by the end of the year.

First, there are some 23,000 additional Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) holders that can now move to Canada following the easing of travel restrictions on June 21st.

Moreover, anyone else newly approved for permanent residence can now move to Canada.

Coming to Canada as a tech worker
All about Canadian immigration and work permit pathways for tech workers in 2021.


Tech workers have several options for immigrating to Canada.
Foreign nationals need a work permit to legally work in Canada. Some of these work permits are specifically tailored to tech workers. Although, tech workers can skip straight to applying for permanent residency without ever setting foot in Canada.

That being said, studies have shown that immigrants with Canadian work experience tend to have better labour market outcomes. They tend to make more money and are more likely to be employed in the first year after landing.
Without further ado, here are some Canadian work permit options for tech workers.

1. Global Talent Stream
A major temporary path is the Global Talent Stream. This route is designed to process 80 per cent of applications in two weeks or less. Employers use it to bring in high-skilled staff quickly. An employer who qualifies can be either Category A or B.
Category A is for companies that are growing very quickly and need specialized talent from abroad. A Category A employer must get approval from a referral partner. This is usually a local, governmental or semi-governmental agency that has as its mission a city or area’s economic development.
Category B is for employers who are looking for certain skilled workers that Canada has listed as being needed, but in short supply. The list is known as the Global Talent Occupations List. Canada’s most recent list contains twelve occupations. Each of them is in the technology field.
Employers must meet certain other requirements. For example, they must show that hiring the foreigner will create permanent benefits for Canada. Proving the new hire will create jobs for Canadians or transmit skills or knowledge to Canadians are ways to do this. The employer must also show they are paying the foreigner a certain minimum wage. This can vary between occupations and provinces.

2. CUSMA
This the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, which replaced NAFTA. It has provisions which facilitate talent mobility between the three countries. The two categories relevant to tech workers are Professionals and Intra-Company Transfers (ICT).
CUSMA identifies 63 occupations that qualify under the Professionals category. Computer systems analysts are among these occupations.
ICTs are employees that are moving locations within the company to a branch in Canada. There is no list of which occupations qualify or are excluded. Generally, an intra-company transferee is a person who has worked for the company for at least one year and has either management roles or special knowledge.

3. Intra-Company Transfer (non CUSMA)
It is possible to make an ICT from a country other than Mexico or the United States. For example, the free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada (CETA) has provisions for ICTs, as does the agreement with the U.K.
A worker coming to Canada through any ICT does not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment. The LMIA, as it is often abbreviated, is a process that shows that hiring a temporary worker will not replace any Canadian workers.

The Government of Canada has always been committed to working with partners to improve the Employment Insurance program so that it continues to serve the evolving needs of workers, employers and the economy.

On August 5, Minister Qualtrough and commissioners from the Canada Employment Insurance Commission met with stakeholders to launch consultations on improving the EI program.