Student
Students from around the world are encouraged to apply to Canadian schools and take advantage to the world class education that is available here. The government of Canada tries to provide the similar advantages to foreign students as they do to citizens. Students who would like to work are given the opportunity to do so, while they study. They are given the opportunity to bring or invite their spouse; so that they do not need to be separated during their time of study and a spouse may be eligible to work here as well!
For most students you need a study permit to attend school in Canada. If you have already obtained admission to a Canadian school you can apply for your study permit here. If you have not yet gained admission, the first step is to gain admission to a recognized school, university, college or test preparation course (such as Kaplan). If you plan on studying in the province of Quebec you would need the equivalent, which is called a certificate of acceptance or CAQ. There are also a few other requirements that may apply.
As a student you can still travel, however, there are restrictions on how long you can leave for without compromising your study permit status. If your study permit lapses while you area here you can apply to have it reinstated if done in the appropriate time. If you need an extension of your study permit you should complete your paperwork 30 days prior to expiration off the permit.
While you are here on your study permit, you may decide that you want to take up extracurricular activities or want to lighten your workload. Many students come with their spouse or invite them at a later date, which may lead you to want to change your course load to allow for more time with your spouse. If you need or want to, you can apply to change your status from full time to part time.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) believes in the contribution of international students to Canada’s economic and cultural environment. To encourage international students to study in Canada, the federal government has designed programs to attract and retain more international students, which permit them to stay and work in Canada after having completed their studies and, in some cases, eventually apply for permanent residency, including the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program and the proposed Canadian Experience Class.