Immigration: Avoid Hassles by Having all the Official Documents on Hand

The validity of your Canadian study permit will not extend past the expiry date of your passport. If your passport will be expiring within the next year, verify whether you can renew it before applying for your immigration documents. Otherwise, you will have to renew all of the documents during the course of your studies, which will entail paying all of the fees again.

NOTICE! You can begin the process of applying for a CAQ even if you must renew your passport. You might save some time by beginning both procedures at the same time. However, you must wait until you receive your new passport before applying for a study permit.

All international students (with the exception of those in programs that last less than 6 months and certain other specific cases) must obtain a CAQ from the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation de l’Intégration (MIFI) in order to study in Québec. You should begin this procedure as soon as you receive your admission letter.

The CAQ is issued based on the normal length of your study program for a single level of study. The level of study is clearly indicated in your admission letter: Bachelor = 1^st level (undergraduate) / Master and Specialized Graduate Studies (DESS) = 2^nd level (graduate) / Doctorate = 3^rd level (post-graduate).

Procedure

1. Submit your application and pay the processing fees ($116) using the CAQ application form.
2. Collect all of the required documents and follow the memory aid.
3. Sign and date the forms and attach the required originals.
4. Make a printed or digital copy of your file.
5. Send your file by registered mail.

Processing times

If your file is complete, the processing time will be between 4 and 6 weeks following reception of your documents by mail. If your file is not complete, you will receive a notice of refusal. This will increase the processing time. Contact us immediately if this happens.

Approval

If your CAQ is approved, you will receive an electronic confirmation in your online file. You can then apply for a study permit. The original will be sent to you by mail. If it is lost, or if there is an error in the address, you can request a copy once you arrive in Montréal.

All international students (with the exception of those in programs that last less than 6 months) must obtain a study permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in order to study in Canada. You should begin this procedure as soon as you receive your letter of approval for your CAQ (the original is not required).

Procedure

1. Submit your application online using the GCKey service (recommended).  
   OR
2. Mail a printed application or submit it to the visa application centre (VAC) for your region in person.
3. Pay the processing fees ($150).
4. Collect all of the required documents and keep a printed or digital copy of your file. If you submit an application through the Student Direct Stream, contact accueilbdr@etsmtl.ca to arrange for payment of your tuition fees.

NOTICE! Depending on your country of origin, there may be additional requirements for obtaining a study permit. Consult the application package for instructions pertaining to your Canadian Visa Office. It is important to understand that the refusal rate for study permits is extremely high for certain countries. For example, if your application is processed in Dakar, please consult the document entitled Comprendre un refus (Understanding a refusal – in French) and attach a detailed letter of explanation (lettre explicative détaillée – in French). In all cases, be sure to submit a complete file along with adequate proof of financial support.

Processing times

Check processing times online (processing times vary widely from country to country). If the indicated processing times are exceeded, you can submit a request using the IRCC Webform. If you still do not receive a response, you can contact IRCC from outside of Canada by calling 613-944-4000. You will first have to select your preferred language, and then select the Immigration, citizenship and visas for Canada option. Please note that this is not a toll-free number, and patience will be required.

If your application is refused, you must begin the process again, with additional supporting documents. Refer to the document entitled Comprendre un refus (Understanding a refusal – in French).

Approval

If your application for a study permit is approved, you will receive a letter of introduction from your embassy. Keep this document safe and present it to the Border Services Officer when you arrive in Canada.

The vast majority of international students (aside from those coming from the United States and certain other exceptions) must provide biometric data (photographs and fingerprints) in order to obtain a study permit and visa. Verify whether you must provide your biometric data. A fee of $85 (CAD) applies.

NOTICE! The processing of your study permit application will only begin once you have provided your biometric data. You will receive a letter of instruction via your GCKey account a few hours after you submit your application for a study permit.

Determine whether you must undergo a medical exam, depending on the countries in which you have resided within the previous year. If you are affected, you will receive instructions from IRCC, and you will have 30 day to undergo the exam. The results will be sent directly to IRCC by the designated physician, and they remain valid for a period of 12 months.

Determine whether you must obtain a temporary resident visa (TRV) in order to enter Canada, depending on your country of citizenship. The TRV will be issued with your study permit, at no extra cost, and will be valid for the same period. It is recommended that you send your passport to the CVO for your country of residence, where the visa will be appended.

If you come from a country that requires an eTA, you will automatically receive it with your study permit, at no extra cost. The eTA is valid for a period of 5 years or until the expiration date of your passport.

You should plan to arrive at least 5 days before the start of the semester in order to make it easier to establish yourself in Montréal, attend orientation activities and finalize your registration. If you prefer to arrive earlier, there is no official immigration deadline. However, if you decide to arrive several months before the official start of your semester, a Border Services Officer may question your intentions and refuse to allow you to enter Canada. In addition, you must subscribe to private health and hospitalization insurance coverage for this period.

NOTICE! You must wait until you have received all of your immigration documents before boarding a flight to Canada. Otherwise, you may be subject to an immediate deportation order! In light of this, it is strongly recommended that you do not arrive in Canada before obtaining your letter of introduction for the study permit, regardless of your nationality.

In order to avoid placing yourself in a non-legal position, pay particular attention to the various options for transitioning from a study permit to a work permit before applying for a Post-Graduate Work Permit.

Off-campus work and completion of a program of studies

• If you have completed all of your academic activities, you can continue to work in compliance with the conditions indicated on your study permit while waiting for confirmation of program completion and your final transcript.
• You must cease working with your study permit immediately once ÉTS has issued your confirmation of program completion and your final transcript.

Find all of the necessary information and the procedure for applying in the section entitled Working after completing your studies.

Student Services is not legally authorized to guide you through the procedure for immigrating to Canada on a permanent basis (CSQ, permanent residence). However, we organize a number of information sessions every year, in cooperation with Québec and Canadian immigration authorities. Check the Interface newsletter (in French) for information about attending one of these sessions. The presentations are available for consultation at any time:

• IRCC presentation - Immigrating to Canada
• MIFI presentation - Immigrating to Québec

Procedure

• Request your official documents from ÉTS (in French): Final transcript and confirmation of program completion.
• Apply for a Post-Graduate Work Permit in order to maintain a valid legal status during the processing of your application for permanent residence, which may take between 18 and 24 months.
• Apply for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ – Québec selection certificate) from the MIFI.
• Apply for permanent residence from IRCC.

If you have completed your studies earlier than expected and your study permit is still valid, you can remain in Canada with your study permit for up to 90 days after completing your studies, or until it expires, whichever comes first. If you wish to extend your stay in Canada beyond these dates, you must change your status to that of a visitor.

The following elements should be taken into consideration if you decide to undertake a new study program after having completed your current studies at ÉTS. Remember that you must maintain a valid legal status at all times.

Renewal of immigration documents

• If you are changing your study level (e.g.: from Master to Doctorate), you must apply for a new CAQ immediately.
• If you are not changing your study level, you must begin the process of renewing your CAQ at least 4 to 5 months before the expiration date of your current CAQ.
• If your permit is still valid, you do not need to apply for a new one in order to begin another program.
• If the expiration date of your permit is coming soon, you must renew it before the expiration date in order to maintain implied status. Refer to the procedure for the renewal of immigration documents in the section entitled During your studies, or follow the instructions given by your new educational institution, as applicable.

Working on a full-time basis between two study programs

If your study permit is still valid, you have completed your study program and you will be beginning the new program within 150 days, you can work on a full-time basis during this period if you meet the various conditions described in the section entitled Off-campus work and completion of a program of studies.

If the time between programs exceeds 150 days, you are permitted to work on a full-time basis for the first 150 days, but you must then submit a request to change your status (e.g.: to that of visitor) or leave Canada and return for the beginning of the new program.

Your spouse can submit an application for an open work permit (not job-specific, no requirement to obtain a CAQ for work or a Labour Market Impact Assessment – LMIA). The fee for an open work permit is $255, plus the fee for biometrics ($85). For more detailed information, consult the section entitled Help your partner work in Canada.

You must fill out the various forms required, including the IMM1295 - Application for Work Permit Made Outside of Canada, provide proof of your relationship and your status as a student (study permit, confirmation of registration from ÉTS) and comply with all of the other requirements of your CVO (e.g.: biometrics, medical exam, etc.). If your application is accepted, the permit will be approved for the same duration as your study permit.

Your spouse or other members of your family can come and visit you in Canada for one or more periods of 6 months by applying for a temporary resident visa (TRV). The fee is $100.

Instructions and requirements for applying for a TRV may differ from one Canadian Visa Office (CVO) to another, so it is important to get the proper information. You must fill out the various forms required, including the IMM 5257 – Application for Temporary Resident Visa, provide proof of your relationship, etc.

It is strongly recommended that you attach a letter of invitation, written by you, that contains the following information. Those who you are inviting must also attach a signed and dated letter of explanation indicating the following: the purpose and duration of the visit to Canada, ties to the country of origin, reasons for returning to the country after the visit, proof of employment in the country of origin, proof of financial capacity, etc

If your spouse also wishes to begin studying in Québec, they must obtain an offer of admission and a CAQ, and demonstrate adequate proof of financial support. In short, the procedure is almost identical to the procedure that you must follow. You can consult the procedures for obtaining immigration documents in the section entitled Before your studies.

Study permit for your children

Consult the information pertaining to applying for a study permit for a minor child.

Maintaining valid legal status for the members of your family

As is the case with your study permit, the members of your family must maintain a valid legal status throughout their stay in Canada. If you must renew your study permit, take advantage of the opportunity to renew the authorization to stay for your spouse or your children at the same time.

If you no longer meet the requirements indicated on your study permit (e.g.: leave of absence in excess of 150 days), take the time to consult Section H. Spouses or common-law partners of full-time students (C42) and Section I. Children of a full-time student.

NOTICE! If your spouse has a work permit, it is possible that they may qualify for the Québec Experience Program (PEQ - Temporary foreign worker) before the completion of your study program, which may accelerate access to permanent residence status for your family.

Applying for an open work permit within the context of your PGWP

When you submit your application for a Post-Graduate Work Permit, you may be eligible to apply for an open work permit, in compliance with the C41 exemption for spouses or common-law partners of skilled workers.

If you do not meet these criteria, take a look at the other types of work permits.

ÉTS allows students to postpone their admission up to two times, for a maximum of three sessions. Postponement of admission is not automatic. It is your responsibility to contact admission@etsmtl.ca in writing and as soon as possible, indicating your permanent code, your program and the session to which you wish to have your admission applied.

Impact on immigration documents

• CAQ: When you request a postponement, please note that you do not need to apply for a new CAQ if you are postponing from the Fall semester to the Winter semester of the same school year. However, in all other cases, you must apply for a new CAQ.
• Study permit: You do not need to apply for a new study permit, but it is important to verify the expiration date.
• TRV or eTA: You do not need to apply for a new TRV or eTA, but it is important to verify the expiration dates.

NOTICE! If you are already in Canada, and you decide to postpone your admission, you must ensure that you meet the study permit conditions in order to maintain your legal status (e.g.: do not work before the official beginning of your program, obtain a new admission letter, begin within 150 days of entering Canada or change your status to that of visitor or worker, leave Canada, etc.).

You are permitted to change your educational institution or your study program at the same institution if the conditions indicated on your study permit allow you to do so. If you change institutions, you must inform IRCC immediately, and change the number of your designated educational institution (DEI) in your GCKey account.

In all cases, you must begin or return to your studies within 150 days. Otherwise, you must do one of the following:

• Change your status to that of visitor or worker;
• Leave Canada.

Read Section C carefully to familiarize yourself with the details associated with changing your institution or program.

NOTICE! If you interrupt your studies, you are not permitted to work on or off campus, because you are not considered to be a full-time student, and therefore, you do not meet the requirements of Section 186 f) or v). You can only return to work once you have returned to your studies and meet all of the requirements for working on or off campus.

Sometimes, a student must temporarily interrupt their studies for exceptional reasons (illness, pregnancy, family emergency, etc.). Please verify in advance whether you are required to request an authorized absence from ÉTS.

For immigration purposes, a leave of absence cannot exceed 150 days, beginning with the start date of the leave, and it must be authorized by the DEI, as applicable. If you do not return to your studies within 150 days, you must do one of the following:

• Change your status to that of visitor or worker;
• Leave Canada

NOTICE! You are not permitted to work on or off campus during a leave of absence, whether authorized or not, because you are not considered to be a full-time student, and therefore, you do not meet the requirements of Section 186 f) or v). You can only return to work once you have returned to your studies and meet all of the requirements for working on or off campus

If you are expelled from your program, ÉTS will close your file and cancel your registration for all courses. Request an official confirmation (in French) of non-registration indicating the reason for cancellation of your session (e.g.: missing immigration documents, inadequate GPA).

This confirmation can be used as a supporting document for immigration procedures undertaken at a later time.

You must maintain health and hospitalization insurance throughout your stay in Canada. Contact an ÉTS international student insurance advisor to determine whether you are eligible for Desjardins insurance.