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Visa Requirements

If you are an American citizen or permanent resident, you need a student authorization from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to study in Canada. Upon acceptance into a Canadian university, you may apply for your student authorization at a CIC Office in the U.S. or at any Canadian port of entry (border crossing).

When applying, you must bring the following application documents:

  • a valid form of identification (e.g. passport, original birth certificate);
  • the original letter of acceptance from the Canadian educational institution; and,
  • evidence of adequate funds to cover tuition and living costs for your entire stay in Canada (this includes a letter from your bank or your parents' employers, bank statements for the past several months, and/or your parents' and your latest tax returns).

Non-Americans should contact their local Citizenship and Immigration Canada Office (Canadian mission or embassy) to learn about visa requirements.

Foreign students at Quebec schools must apply for a Certificat d'acceptation du Québec (Quebec certificate of acceptance) from the provincial Ministère des Relations avec les citoyens et de l'Immigration (Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration).