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Refugees & Protected Persons

Study Permit Application Guide for Refugee Claimants and Convention Refugees/Protected Persons

Overview

Refugee Claimants and Protected Persons in Canada must hold valid permits to study and/or work in Canada until they become permanent residents.  If you are enrolled in a post-secondary program longer than six months, you are required to have a study permit.

  • No Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) required
  • You can apply online from within Canada
  • No application fee
More Information from IRCC

Step 1: Create an IRCC Account

Apply online through your IRCC account. If you cannot apply online due to a disability or technical issue, paper application instructions are available. Use the IRCC eligibility questionnaire to generate:

Step 2: Complete the IMM5709 E Form

Follow IRCC's instruction guide:

IMM5709 Instruction Guide

Step 3: Prepare Supporting Documents

Required Documents

  • Passport
    • IRCC or IRB certified copy of your passport if the original passport was seized at the time of your claim
  • It is also recommended to submit additional documents to help the IRCC officer understand your status in Canada. Depending on your situation, this may be one or more of the following:
    • Acknowledgement of Claim or Refugee Protection Claimant Document
    • Notice of Decision from the Immigration and Refugee Board, Refugee Appeal Division or Federal Court. Note: You are not required to upload the entire decision, just the “notice of decision” page that confirms that your claim for protection was accepted.
  • Letter of Acceptance – download from MyFile
  • Proof of Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) Exemption – use this template to create your own
  • Digital Photo – follow IRCC’s photo specifications
  • Proof of Means of Financial Support – Refugee students are not required to meet the IRCC proof of funds threshold set out for international students. You can prepare a short letter to upload in this section and attach any proof of funding to cover your tuition fees and living expenses, such as OSAP , employment income, personal savings.

Additional Documents

  • Client Information – upload your cover letter to provide an overview of your application. 
  • Schedule 1 – IMM 5287 only required if you answered “yes” to Q# 3, 4, 5 or 6 in the “Background Info” Section of the IMM 5709 E form. 
  • Application Fees – FREE* (exception: if your claim was rejected and you are under appeal, you need to pay for the study permit)