Study Permit

Who’s eligible to apply for a Study Permit?

Study permits can be issued to international students who receive an official letter of acceptance at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada. Red River College Polytechnic is a Designated Learning Institution, and RRC Polytech’s DLI number is O19305836302 (please note that DLI# begins with the letter “O”).

See other eligibility criteria here.

When to apply for a Study Permit?

You should apply for a study permit as soon as you receive a letter of acceptance issued by Red River College Polytechnic. Make sure you meet all eligibility criteria and have the necessary documentation to avoid delays or refusal of your application.

How Much Does it Cost to Apply for a Study Permit?

Application fee: $150 CAD

* Additional fees may apply

How long does it take for a Study Permit to be processed?

To check the processing time on your study permit, click here and:

1. Select “Temporary residence (visiting, studying, working)”
2. Select “Study permit”

Notice that upon approval of your study permit application, you will receive a Letter of Introduction and a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), but you won’t receive your study permit. Your study permit will only be issued when you arrive in Canada at your port of entry (airport or land crossing into Canada). See the following section to understand the process.

How to apply for a Study Permit?

1. Get a Letter of Acceptance from RRC Polytech

Apply to study in an RRC Polytech program. If accepted, you’ll be issued a letter of acceptance. With that letter, you can apply for a study permit.

2. Apply for a Study Permit 

Visit the IRCC website and follow the steps to apply for a study permit. Depending on your country of citizenship, the application rules might change. We encourage you to apply as soon as you receive your letter of acceptance because processing times vary. If you need a Temporary Resident Visa or Electronic Travel Authorization to enter Canada, that application will be processed together automatically with the application of your study permit.

If your Letter of Acceptance, Section 22 shows “YES” to “Work Experience/Practicum,” this means you must complete a co-op to graduate. A co-op work permit is required, and you should include a co-op work permit when applying for the study permit. To ensure the inclusion of a co-op work permit application, you must answer YES when IRCC asks the question below:

• Is work an essential component of your studies?

Also, be sure to upload the valid Letter of Acceptance to “Supporting Documents” as the Evidence of Work Requirement in Study.

3. Get a Letter of Introduction from the IRCC 

Upon approval of your application, the IRCC will issue a letter of introduction (along with an eTA or a TRV). That letter will provide you with an official document to prove that your study permit has been preapproved. Your letter of introduction IS NOT a study permit. The study permit will only be issued at your port of entry (the first airport or land crossing that you stop at in Canada).

4. Come to Canada (Port of Entry)

When you arrive in Canada, you’ll be asked for some important documents at your port of entry. At this time, you have to present:

• Valid passport
• Letter of introduction (issued by IRCC)
• Letter of acceptance (issued by Red River College Polytechnic)
• Valid Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), depending on your country of citizenship
• Other documents as recommended by the Visa Office

5. Get your Study Permit

At your port of entry, upon successful acceptance of your documentation, the immigration officer will issue you a study permit and a co-op work permit (if you have applied).