Gemstone Immigration

Processing times vary by country of residence, application volume, and complexity. They begin the day IRCC receives your complete application and end when a decision is made. IRCC publishes regularly updated processing-time estimates on the official processing-times tool at canada.ca. For doctoral students applying for a graduate study permit, IRCC has committed to a 2-week processing standard. For most other applicants, processing typically takes several weeks to several months depending on the visa office handling your file.

Off-campus work rules changed in late 2024. If you're an eligible study permit holder, you can: Work up to 24 hours per week off campus while classes are in session Work unlimited hours during scheduled academic breaks — summer, winter holidays, reading week — for a maximum of 180 days per calendar year combined Work unlimited hours on campus while your studies are active You cannot start working until your study program has officially begun, regardless of when your permit was issued.

Yes, accompanying family members may apply for related permits: Spouse or common-law partner: May be eligible for an open work permit, particularly if you're enrolled in a master's, doctoral, or eligible professional program at a public DLI. Minor children: May study at the primary or secondary level in Canada, and minor children of study permit holders are generally exempt from the PAL/TAL requirement. Family members must each submit their own applications, and your financial proof must cover everyone joining you. Use the funds table above to confirm the right amount.

A Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL) is a document issued by the province or territory where you intend to study. It confirms your study permit application falls within that province's allocation under Canada's national study permit cap. Who needs one: Most undergraduate, college, language, and private-institution applicants must include a PAL or TAL with their study permit application. Who is exempt (as of January 1, 2026): Master's and doctoral students at public Designated Learning Institutions, primary and secondary school students, and certain in-Canada extension applicants. The exemption list changes — always confirm with your school and a licensed consultant before applying.

Yes. A refusal is not a permanent bar. You can reapply at any time, but a strong second application must specifically address the reasons the first one was refused. Refusal letters from IRCC contain officer notes (often accessed through a GCMS notes request) that reveal exactly which factors weren't satisfied — usually one or more of: weak study plan, insufficient funds, weak ties to home country, or document inconsistencies. Reapplying without changing anything material is the most common reason for a second refusal. We typically recommend a full file rebuild — new study plan, refreshed financial documentation, additional ties-to-home evidence — rather than a quick resubmission.

Yes. If you want to keep studying past your current permit's expiry, you must apply to extend it at least 30 days before it expires. You may also apply to change conditions (e.g., switch DLI or program) without leaving Canada — but rules around changing schools were tightened in late 2024, and certain transfers now require submitting a new study permit application rather than an in-Canada change. If your status expires while you're in Canada, you have 90 days to apply for restoration of status, but you cannot study during that period. Don't let your permit expire — start your extension early.

These are two separate documents, both required (where applicable): Letter of Acceptance (LOA): Issued by the Designated Learning Institution confirming you've been admitted to a specific program. Required for every study permit applicant. Provincial / Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL): Issued by the provincial or territorial government confirming your application fits within their cap allocation. Required for most applicants, but not all. You need both documents (when PAL/TAL applies). Having only the LOA is not enough for cap-required applications.

Yes, in most cases. Applicants aged 14 to 79 must provide biometrics (fingerprints and a photo) within 30 days of submitting their application. Biometrics are collected at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) — IRCC will send instructions after you submit. Biometrics are valid for 10 years, so future Canadian temporary-resident applications (visitor visa, study extension, work permit) within that window typically don't require new biometrics.

The PGWP is an open work permit issued after you complete an eligible program of study in Canada. It allows you to work for any Canadian employer and is one of the most important bridges to permanent residence. If you applied for your study permit on or after November 1, 2024: Bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree graduates are exempt from the field-of-study requirement. Graduates of non-degree programs (most college diplomas, certificates) must complete a program in an eligible field of study, identified by a 6-digit CIP code on IRCC's PGWP-eligible list at the time you apply. Always confirm your program's CIP code is on the eligible list before enrolling — this is one of the most important strategic checks we do at the program-selection stage.

RCC itself does not require a language test for study permit applicants, but in practice almost every Designated Learning Institution requires one for admission. Common accepted tests include IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, CAEL, PTE Academic, or Duolingo English Test for English; TEF or TCF for French. Required minimum scores vary by school and program — undergraduate programs typically expect IELTS 6.0–6.5, graduate programs IELTS 6.5–7.5 or higher. Even where the school doesn't require a test, strong language scores strengthen the credibility of your study plan and can support PGWP and Express Entry plans down the road.

No. No representative — licensed RCIC, lawyer, or otherwise — can guarantee approval of any IRCC application. All decisions are made by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada officers based on the merits of the file. What a licensed consultant can do is significantly improve the quality, clarity, and consistency of your file: choosing a strategically appropriate DLI, drafting a credible study plan, organizing financial documentation to officer standards, anticipating and addressing weak points before submission, and responding professionally to any procedural fairness letters IRCC sends during processing.