Canada Shortens Study Permits for Nigerian Students,Other Foreign Students

Canada has changed its study permit rules for international students who must do a preparatory course before they can start their main programme.

Under the new rule, if you are doing a prerequisite course like a pre-degree programme, bridging course, or language class, your study permit will only cover that course plus an extra 90 days. After you finish the prerequisite, you must apply again for a new study permit for your main programme.

This affects students with conditional admission, including many Nigerians. For example, if you got admission for a four-year degree but your school says you must first do a four-month English course, your permit will cover the four months and then give you only 90 extra days. 

Within that time, you must apply for a new permit for the degree. If you apply from inside Canada, you can continue studying while Immigration processes the new permit, as long as you applied properly.

Canada also made it clear that even if your prerequisite course is less than six months, you still need a study permit if that short course is required before you can enter a longer programme. Many students used to think short courses did not need a permit, but that is not always true.

Before now, students in preparatory programmes could get permits that lasted for the course period plus an extra 12 months. That longer time helped students settle down and complete paperwork without rushing. The new rule reduces that extra time to just 90 days.

If your admission is conditional and you must do a prerequisite course first, plan early, confirm your school’s requirements, and prepare to submit a second study permit application as soon as you start the prerequisite.