Next steps for admitted students
From accepting your offer to building a budget, to choosing where you’ll live and registering for courses, learn what lies ahead.
Apply for a study permit
International students need a valid study permit to attend UBC. Getting a permit can take several months, so be sure to begin the process as soon as you can.
Next steps for admitted students
From accepting your offer to building a budget, to choosing where you’ll live and registering for courses, learn what lies ahead.
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Who needs to apply
You will need to apply for a study permit if:
- You are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
- Your UBC program of studies is more than 6 months long.
Special instructions apply if:
- You are under 19 years of age.
- You are attending high school in Canada on a study permit.
- You are coming to UBC from a Canadian college or university.
- You are a United States citizen, permanent resident of the United States, or a resident of Greenland or St. Pierre and Miquelon.
When to apply
You need to be admitted to UBC and receive your letter of admission from UBC before you can apply for a study permit. You also need a Provincial Attestation Letter from the province of British Columbia.
You should apply for your study permit as soon as you receive your UBC letter of admission and your Provincial Attestation Letter.
Study permit processing times can be long so be sure to submit a complete application as soon as possible.
How to apply
Study permits are issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the government department that handles immigration. As an international student, you’ll either need to extend your existing study permit from inside of Canada or apply for a new study permit from outside of Canada. You’ll use both your PAL and your Letter of Admission to apply for your study permit.
Depending on your country of residence and citizenship, you may need a medical exam in addition to providing other supporting documents.
Study permit steps
Verify your personal information with UBC. Log in to the Applicant Service Centre, click Edit Profile and select Contact Summary to confirm that your name matches the name on your passport and that your home address and date of birth are correct. You can update your address in the system if needed. To update your name or date of birth, email ubc.pal@ubc.ca.
Accept your offer of admission and pay your deposit.
Wait for UBC to send you your BC Provincial Attestation Letter in about 3 business days. Check your email account that UBC has on record to get your BC Provincial Attestation Letter. You can confirm that you’re exempt from requiring a Provincial Attestation Letter on the IRCC website.
Download your letter of admission from UBC. Log in to the Applicant Service Centre, click Admissions, and select Letter of Admission. You will need both your offer of admission and your Provincial Attestation Letter in your study permit application.
Follow the steps to apply. If you are an international student applying from outside of Canada you will need to apply for an initial study permit for UBC Okanagan or UBC Vancouver. If you are an international student applying from inside of Canada you will need to follow the steps to apply for a study permit extension at UBC Okanagan or UBC Vancouver and be sure to review the Important Considerations section.
Study permit concierge
To help you apply for a study permit and navigate Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), UBC offers complimentary study permit concierge services. These services are designed to provide you with resources and real-time guidance as you work through your study permit application process.
Find out more about how the study permit concierge services can help.
After you apply
You should not travel to Canada until your study permit is approved. Check the travelling to Canada guide before making travel plans.
If your study permit is delayed, check our FAQ to consider your next steps.
Contact an advisor
Only certain people can legally provide Canadian immigration advice. UBC’s international student advisors are authorized to provide immigration support and can help you through applying for study permits, free of charge. They can answer a wide range of questions about immigration advising, health insurance, and general transition support. If you decide to hire someone outside of UBC to help you, make sure they are authorized.