Immigration Information for People Who Have Visitor Status in
Canada and Would Like to Study English in The University of
Winnipeg’s English Language Program (ELP)
At the Port of Entry (airport or land border), an officer places an ‘entry stamp’ in
your passport or gives you a ‘Visitor Record.’ An entry stamp in your passport
allows you to stay in Canada for six months as a visitor, unless the officer writes
down a different date on or under the stamp. A Visitor Record is a piece of paper
which tells you how long you can stay in Canada. If you did not receive either an
entry stamp or Visitor Record when you entered Canada, then your visitor status
will expire six months from the date you arrived in Canada.
It is important that you check your Visitor Record or your entry stamp for how
long you are allowed to stay in Canada. You must leave Canada by the day stated
on your entry stamp or Visitor Record. If you wish to stay in Canada longer, you
must apply for a visitor status extension.
1. What is visitor status?
Visitor status means that you were allowed to enter and stay in Canada for a short
period of time as a visitor or tourist. Usually, visitors are not allowed to work or
study in Canada,1 except in some situations. To enter Canada as a visitor, you
must prove that you will leave Canada by the date on your entry stamp or Visitor
Record, and that you have enough money to pay for your expenses during your
visit.2 Some visitors to Canada need to apply for and obtain a Temporary Resident
Visa (TRV)3 or an Electronic Travel Authorization4 before coming into Canada.
Example of an entry stamp
E
Example of a Visitor Record
2. What is a Study Permit?
A Study Permit is a piece of paper issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(CIC) and is required by most people who want to study more than 6 months in
Canada and for people who want to study for a short period of time but whose
visitor status does not allow them to study. A Study Permit looks almost exactly
like the picture of the Visitor Record (above) but has the words ‘Study Permit’
written on it.
3. Can I Study English in the ELP Program with visitor status?
If you have already been allowed to enter Canada as a visitor you may be able to
study in The University of Winnipeg’s English Language Program (ELP) if you will
study for six months or less AND you can complete your studies within the
length of time you were initially allowed to remain in Canada as a visitor when
you came through the airport (or border point). Before starting your studies in
the ELP, you will need apply for admission to The University of Winnipeg’s ELP
program, receive a letter of acceptance and pay your tuition fees by the ELP’s
deadline for payment of fees.
Study in the ELP
for 6 months or
less
Finish ELP studies
within the time
that you were
first allowed to
come into
Canada.
Come to Canada
as a visitor. Travel
in Canada for
several months.
Will not be able
to finish ELP
without renewing
visitor status.
After travelling,
decide to study in
the ELP.
Study with visitor
status (entry
stamp or Visitor
Record). No Study
Permit needed.
CANNOT
STUDY IN ELP
UNTIL
GETTING A
STUDY
PERMIT
Look at the chart below for some examples of situations where you can study
with visitor status and situations where you would need to get a Study Permit in
order to study. The chart provides some examples only. You should always talk
about your specific situation with an advisor at The University of Winnipeg or
another authorized representative before making any decisions.
When did
you come to
Canada as a
visitor?
How long were
you allowed to
stay in Canada
when you
entered?
What do you want to do
in Canada?
Can I study with visitor
status?
September 1,
2015.
Six months (until
April 30, 2016).
Yes. You can study for up to 6 months
September 1,
2015.
Six months (until
April 30, 2016).
I want to start the ELP right
away and study for 4 months.
After my studies, I want to
travel in Canada for 1 month
before going back to my
home country.
I want to start the ELP right
away and study in the ELP for
8 months.
September 1,
2015.
Six months (until
April 30, 2016).
I want to visit my sister for
four months in Canada. Then
I want to start the ELP and
study for 4 months.
No. If you will not finish your studies
after entry with visitor status. You can
travel after your studies as long as you
leave Canada before your visitor status
expires.
No. If you are planning to study more
than 6 months you must apply for a
Study Permit outside of Canada..
within your first 6 months in Canada, you
must apply for a Study Permit outside of
Canada.
4. Can I apply to extend my visitor status so that I can study longer?
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) 5will not give you an extension of your
visitor status for the purpose of completing your ELP studies. In order to study
with visitor status, you must finish your studies within the period of time you
were initially allowed to stay upon entry to Canada. If you want to study longer
in Canada, you will need to apply for and be given a Study Permit before you can
study more. You can apply to extend your visitor status in Canada if you have
some other valid reason for wanting to stay longer as a visitor, such as to visit
friends or to travel around Canada.6 For more information on extending your
visitor status, please see question 8.
5. Can I apply to switch from a visitor to a Study Permit holder through a CIC
office in Canada?
In most cases, you must apply for a Study Permit through a visa office outside of
Canada and cannot apply through a CIC office in Canada to change your status
from a visitor to a Study Permit holder.
However, some people can switch their status from visitor status to that of a
Study Permit holder through a CIC office inside Canada. These people include:
 those studying in Canada at the preschool, primary or secondary level;
 visiting or exchange students studying at a designated learning
institution;7or
 those who have completed a course or program of study that is a
prerequisite to enrolling at designated learning institution.8
Have visitor
status in
Canada
Apply at a visa
office outside
of Canada (in
the USA)
Completed A5 of the
ELP and have
conditional letter of
acceptance for
undergraduate
studies
Visiting/exchange
student
Apply
through a
CIC office
in Canada
6. I have been accepted to study at the undergraduate university level with the
condition that I must successfully finish the Academic 5 level of the ELP. Can I
apply for a Study Permit inside of Canada?
If you have completed a course or program of study that is a prerequisite (or
condition) to enrolling at a designated learning institution9, you may be able to
apply for a Study Permit at a CIC office inside of Canada. If you have been
accepted to study in an undergraduate program at The University of Winnipeg or
another designated learning institution on the condition that you can pass
Academic level 5 of the ELP, you may be eligible to apply for a Study Permit
through a CIC office in Canada.
7. If I need to apply for a Study Permit outside of Canada in order to continue
my ELP studies, can I remain in Canada as a visitor while my application for
Study Permit is being processed outside of Canada?
It may be possible for you to remain in Canada as a visitor while your application
for a Study Permit is being processed outside of Canada. However, there are no
guarantees that you will be able to do so.
8. Will CIC extend my visitor status?
CIC will only extend your visitor status if they believe that you:




are a genuine visitor who is in Canada for a temporary purpose;
have a valid reason for being in Canada*;
will leave Canada by the day listed on your Visitor Record/entry stamp;
will not to work or study in Canada without a Work Permit or a Study
Permit; and
 have enough money to support yourself while in Canada.
*Staying in Canada to wait and see whether or not your application for a Study
Permit will be approved may not be a valid reason to extend your visitor status in
Canada, particularly if this your only reason for asking to remain in Canada longer.
9.
What should I know about applying for a Study Permit outside of Canada?
You may need to leave
Canada for an interview.
If you apply for a Study Permit outside of Canada (i.e.: submit an application to
the United States), you may be asked to travel to the United States for an
interview. If you are asked to attend an interview in the United States and you
are from a country whose citizens require a visa or travel authorization to enter
the United States, you would need to make sure that you have a United States
visitor visa10 or an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)11 before
travelling to the United States.
You must leave Canada and
re-enter in order to get your
Study Permit
If your application for a Study Permit is approved, you will have to leave Canada
and come back into Canada in order to get your Study Permit and for it to be
validated. If you plan to leave Canada and come back into Canada by driving or
flying to the United States and returning to Canada from there, a United States
visitor visa or ESTA may be required.
10. If I enter Canada on a Study Permit, will I be able to apply for an extension
of my Study Permit from within Canada?
Yes, if you get a Study Permit from outside of Canada, and enter Canada on that
Study Permit, you should be able to apply for future extensions of your Study
Permit through a CIC office in Canada.
11. May I work on-campus at The University of Winnipeg or off-campus if I am
studying in the ELP at The University as a visitor?
If you are studying in the ELP and currently have visitor status, you are not eligible
to work either on- or off-campus.
12. May I work on-campus at The University of Winnipeg or off-campus if I have
a valid Study Permit and I am studying in the ELP at The University of
Winnipeg?
If you are a full-time student in the ELP at The University of Winnipeg and hold a
valid Study Permit, you are able to work on-campus without need for a work
permit.12 Before beginning work you will need to obtain a Social Insurance
Number. You are not eligible to work off-campus without a work permit, because
you are a student in the ELP program.13
13. Where can I get more information on immigration topics like applying for a
Study Permit, extending my visitor status, or working in Canada?
In order to find out more about immigration topics like applying for a Study
Permit or renewing your visitor status, you can look at information on the
International Student Services (ISS) ‘Visas and Study Permits’ webpage at:
http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/student/intl/visas-study-permits.html.
You can find out more about working in Canada by viewing the International
Student Services (ISS) ‘Employment’ webpage at:
http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/student/intl/international-student-employment.html
You may also contact International Student Services to meet with an immigration
advisor (iss@uwinnipeg.ca or 204-786-9469) or you can visit Citizenship and
Immigration Canada’s website at: www.cic.gc.ca.
DISCLAIMER: This document does not constitute legal advice, and should not be relied upon as a source of legal advice. It is a
reference sheet designed to provide information on Citizenship and Immigration Canada's (CIC’s) requirements for individuals
coming to study in Canada and describes existing requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the
regulations made under that Act in general terms. CIC’s regulations, policies and procedures are subject to change and may
change without notice. For the most current information, please visit CIC’s website (www.cic.gc.ca). This reference sheet was
prepared by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant in good standing with the ICCRC. It is accurate as of October 14,
2015.
1
See section 183(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).
To be allowed to enter Canada you must show that you meet security requirements, are in good health, and are
not inadmissible for any other reason. If the officer at the airport or land border does not think that you meet
these requirements, you may not be allowed to come into Canada.
3
A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is the official document showing you meet the requirements to enter Canada. It
is a sticker that is the approximate size of a passport page which has been pasted into your passport by Citizenship
and Immigration Canada (CIC) authorities. It is a separate document from a Study Permit.
4
An Electronic Travel Authorization is required by certain TRV exempt people prior to coming to Canada. For more
information, please visit: www.canada.ca/eta
5
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is a department of the Canadian federal government which is
responsible for many immigration matters, including whether or not to extend your status in Canada as a visitor or
issue you a Study Permit.
6
If you are interested in extending your status in Canada as a visitor, please see CIC’s website at:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/extend-stay.asp.
7
How do you know if you are a visiting or exchange student? Visiting or exchange students will have the words
‘visiting’ or ‘exchange’ written on their Letter of Acceptance. If you are not sure if you are a visiting or exchange
student, please see a university staff member for more information. The University of Winnipeg is a Designated
Learning Institution.
8
Other people who can apply for a Study Permit through a CIC office in Canada include dependent children and
spouses of those who hold Study Permits or Work Permits, individuals whose applications for permanent residence
have been submitted in Canada and have been provisionally accepted for processing, persons subject to
unenforceable removal orders, and children and spouses of religious workers. For more information, please see
sections 215(1) and (2) of the IRPR.
9
See section 215(1)(f)(iii) of the IRPR.
10
For more information in United States visitor visas, please see the United States’ Department of State website
at: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/visit/visitor.html.
11
For more information on ETSA, please see the United States Customs and Border Protection website at:
http://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/esta.
12
See section 186(f) of the IRPR.
13
As ELP students are not enrolled in an academic, vocational or professional post-secondary program that leads
to a degree, diploma or certificate they are not eligible to work off-campus. For more information about working
off-campus without a work permit, please see section 186(v) of the IRPR.
2