Visa information

Immigration-Quebec and Immigration-Canada determine the rules and regulations for visas which are subject to change. It is important that you always double-check the information with Immigration-Quebec in Montreal and with your nearest Canadian Embassy or Consulate.

Basically, you have 3 options in order to come study in Canada:

1. The Visitor visa (for stays in Canada for up to 6 months): international student who wish to study in Canada for less than 6 months, you do not need a visa to come to Canada, unless you are a citizen of one of the following countries listed here. In that case, you may need a Visitor visa (or TRP – Temporary Resident Permit) to enter Canada. Once you register, we will send you the letter of acceptance that you will show Immigration-Canada at the point of entry in Canada (e.g. airport, border). The Visitor Visa will be directly issued at the point of entry for a length up to 6 months.
2. The Study Permit (for stays in Canada for up to 6 months): if you are an international student who wish to study in Canada for up to 6 months, you do not need a visa to come to Canada. However, you may want to have a Study Permit and it is possible for you to get one even if your stay in Canada is 6 months or less. This is recommended if you think of studying longer. Remember that you can extend your Study Permit from within Canada but you cannot get a Study Permit from within Canada. Remember also that applying for a Study Permit will mean being issued a CAQ – Certificate of Acceptance of Quebec (i.e. "Quebec student visa") first.
3. The Study Permit (for stays in Canada longer than 6 months): if you are an international student who wish to study in Canada for more than 6 months, you will need to apply for a CAQ – Certificate of Acceptance of Quebec (i.e. Quebec student visa), and a Study Permit (Canada official study authorization). It takes about 4 weeks to be issued a CAQ. The delays regarding Canadian Embassies or Consulate may vary, from one day to several weeks. The average period to be issued both a CAQ and a Study Permit is about 8 weeks. Please note that the application for a Study Permit automatically includes the processing of a Visitor visa – TRP (if you need one).

Please find more details below:

The CAQ (i.e. Certificate of Acceptance of Quebec) is known as the "Quebec student visa". It is necessary to get a CAQ before applying for a Study Permit. All CAQ applications must be submitted to the CAQ Office in Montreal with all the required documents. It takes about 4 weeks to be issued a CAQ.

Once your CAQ is issued, Immigration-Quebec will send you a copy which you will use to apply for the Study Permit in your country. In some countries, the Study Permit can be issued the same day of the appointment at the Canadian Consulate or Embassy. In other countries, it can take up to 4 weeks to be issued a Study Permit.

It is wise to plan a study trip to Canada at least 2 months in advance in the case you need to apply for a CAQ and a Study Permit. Delays can be shorter or longer, depending on the period of the year. More information can be found on these 2 official websites:

• Immigration-Canada: www.cic.gc.ca
• Immigration-Quebec: www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca

Please note that M.I.I.L.A. cannot and will not interfere with the CAQ Office in Montreal and any Canadian Embassy or Consulate abroad. It is up to the CAQ Office and to your local Canadian Embassy or Consulate to issue or to refuse a visa. M.I.I.L.A. does not have any control on the issuing of visas and is not authorized to retrieve information on your behalf (except for the CAQ only if you have filled out the authorization form allowing us to retrieve information).

For those who need to apply for a CAQ, we can help you. This service is free of charge. We can send your application directly from Montreal. However, you need to make sure to send us all the required documents before. If one document is missing, your application could be delayed for weeks or simply refused.

Feel free to contact us for information. Our staff is well trained and has a lot of experience on immigration matters.

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