STUDY PERMIT CANADA 2026 – FULL REVIEW PROCESS FROM THE VISA OFFICER’S PERSPECTIVE

At SICON, we’ve consolidated the full study permit application assessment process based on the official internal IRCC guidelines (as of November 2025). This is how officers actually assess your file—not just based on the checklist.

I. 📑 WHAT IS A “COMPLETE” APPLICATION?

The first thing officers do is check for completeness.
If your file doesn’t meet section 10 of the IRPR, it will be returned without processing.

✅ Your application is considered complete if it includes:

• Valid application form:
  • IMM 1294 (if applying outside Canada)

  • IMM 5709 (if applying within Canada)

• Supporting documents (if applicable):
  • IMM 5645 (Family Information)

  • IMM 5257 (TRV application)

  • IMM 5409 (Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union)

  • IMM 5646 (Custodianship Declaration for minors)

  • IMM 5476 (Use of a Representative)

• Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)

• Correct and full processing fee payment

• Proof of financial support (see section III)

• Valid passport or identity document

• PAL/TAL or CAQ (depending on the province of study)

II. 🧷 KEY REQUIREMENTS BEFORE A STUDY PERMIT IS ISSUED

Once the file is complete, officers assess 5 core areas:

1. Clear Identity

• A valid passport or recognized ID

• The study permit cannot extend beyond the passport’s expiry

2. Valid Letter of Acceptance

• Must be issued by a valid DLI

• If the DLI is suspended, officers may refuse or delay processing

• For extensions: include transcripts or a letter confirming active enrollment

3. PAL or CAQ

• Required for Quebec: CAQ

• Required for most provinces (from 2024 onward): PAL or TAL

4. No Previous Status Violations (in Canada)

If you’ve:

• Studied at the wrong institution

• Worked in violation of permit conditions
  You must wait 6 months or hold a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) to reapply.

👉 IRCC will review your visa history, entry records, and GCMS notes from schools

III. 💰 PROVING FINANCIAL CAPACITY – REGULATION R220

According to Section R220 of the IRPR, you must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to cover:

1. Tuition for the first year

2. Living expenses for yourself and family

3. Travel costs to and from Canada

📌 Real-World Example:

For a 4-year bachelor’s program in Ontario:

• Year 1 Tuition: $15,000 CAD

• Living expenses (2025): $20,635 CAD

• Return flight: $2,000 CAD
  👉 Minimum amount to prove: $37,635 CAD

💡 IRCC only requires proof for the first year, but they will assess sustainability:

• Are your parents employed?

• Do you have stable assets?

• Is your scholarship renewable?

📁 ACCEPTABLE FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS

IRCC looks beyond just the amount—they assess:

• Is the money legally sourced?

• Is the money readily available for use?

• Are there signs of document fabrication?

✅ A. Proof of existing funds:

• Bank passbooks or certificates (in your or sponsor’s name)

• Bank statements for the past 4 months

• GIC from an IRCC-approved Canadian bank (mandatory for SDS)

• Receipts for tuition or housing paid

• Bank drafts convertible to CAD

✅ B. Proof of financial source and consistency:

• Sponsor’s employment contracts

• 6-month salary statements

• Business licenses, tax filings, invoices (for self-employed sponsors)

• Real estate sale agreements (if applicable)

• Student loan documents

✅ C. Third-party support:

• Sponsorship letters + proof of relationship

• Scholarship confirmation letters from schools or organizations

• Research or teaching assistant contracts (if applicable)

⚠️ Mandatory Notes:

• All non-English/French documents must be certified translated

• GICs must be issued by a participating IRCC-approved bank

• Vague “promises of support” are not accepted without documentation

📌 Foreign Exchange Controls (like in Vietnam):

You may need to provide:

• Letter from a Canadian financial institution confirming deposit

• Joint bank draft payable to both the school and applicant

• Written permission from your local bank and foreign exchange office to transfer funds

❌ YOU MAY BE REFUSED IF:

• Funds were deposited days before application

• Proof of tuition + living + travel costs is insufficient

• Source of funds is unclear or undocumented

• No sponsor relationship or financial capacity is proven

• Suspicious or inflated bank documents are submitted

IV. ⚠️ REGULATION R221 – STATUS VIOLATIONS

If you have:

• Studied at a non-authorized school

• Worked beyond authorized hours

• Overstayed or failed to maintain valid status

👉 You will be refused unless:

• 6 months have passed since the violation ended

• The violation was minor (e.g., switched DLIs)

• You’ve been issued a TRP

V. 🔍 WHEN DO OFFICERS REQUEST INTERVIEWS?

Not all applicants are interviewed. They will, however, if:

• Your study plan lacks clarity or logic

• There’s confusion about who is funding you

• Documents raise red flags about authenticity

• You’re applying to extend a study permit and school compliance is unclear

📍 Study permit applications are now scrutinized more than ever—especially your financials and study intentions. Submitting fake documents or a weak study plan risks a refusal and may impact future visas, work permits, or PR pathways.

🎯 SICON – STRATEGIC STUDY PERMIT SUPPORT FROM A TO Z
We don’t use templates. We craft a custom strategy for each case:

✅ Financial analysis based on real IRCC decision criteria
✅ Purpose-built study plans and LOE writing
✅ Refusal recovery and case rehabilitation
✅ School + program selection that fits long-term immigration goals

📩 Message us or call today for a 1-on-1 consultation.