Submitting your study permit application
The application for a study permit must be made online using IRCC secure account (GCKey).
Initial applications for study permits must be made from outside Canada, and approval must be obtained prior to arrival in Canada. Only certain people can apply for a study permit from within Canada. Visit the How to apply section on the IRCC website to see if you qualify.
Step 1: Create an account / Log in
The first step is to create a new account or to log into a secure IRCC account on the IRCC website.
There are two (2) options for creating an account:
Option 1: GCKey
By creating a username and a password. When you register for the first time, the tool will guide you in obtaining your GCKey.
Option 2: Canadian Interac Sign-in Partner
By using your Canadian online banking information. For this option, you must have an account with one of IRCC’s partner banks.
Step 2: Submitting an application
Once you have created your secure IRCC account, you can submit your application:
On the home page of your secure IRCC account, click “Apply to come to Canada.”
Complete the “Find out if you can apply” questionnaire to determine if you are eligible to apply to study here.
On the "Personal Checklist" webpage, upload the right documents directly to your secure IRCC account.
Before uploading documents, make sure that:
The forms with barcodes are not signed;
The forms without barcodes have been signed by hand. To sign these forms, you’ll need to print them out and then scan them.
Pay the fee required to apply for a study permit and submit your application online.
The application procedure must be completed within 60 days of starting it.
The IRCC website contains all the information you need about the study permit application process. It also offers an application package that will guide you through the various steps involved in applying for a study permit online. This how-to includes the following documents:
the instruction manual;
the document checklist;
visa office guidelines, if any, for your country of residence.
To verify if you qualify for application by mail or at a Canadian port of entry, see Other ways to submit your application.
To finalize an application for a study permit from outside Canada using the IRCC portal, consult the Submitting your application on the IRCC portal section.
To modify a study permit application that has already been completed, see the Modify a study permit application section.
To find out what to do once you’ve received the results of your application, see the Application result section.