Prospective students who have been refused a Canadian study permit may find themselves in a frustrating position. Having already been accepted into a Canadian school (university, college, or other designated institution) and prepared an application for a permit, it is important for applicants to understand the reasoning behind a study permit application refusal.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will in most cases provide applicants with a letter outlining the reasons for the refusal. Some common reasons why IRCC may refuse a study permit application include an applicant’s inability to:
Depending on the reasoning behind the decision for the refusal, applicants may be able to:
If and when an application for a study permit is refused, the first thing to review should be the eligibility criteria. In order to be eligible to study in Canada on a study permit, prospective international students must:
Exceptions to the above criteria may be made for foreign representatives to Canada and their family members, members of foreign armed forces from certain countries, foreign nationals with Registered Indian status, and individuals who wish to undertake a short-term study program in Canada (less than six months).
Refusals for a Study Permit are typically a result of the applicant failing to satisfy one or more of the eligibility criteria. If an applicant can prove that he or she in fact does satisfy the criteria, he or she may have grounds to apply for a review by the Federal Court of Canada.
In most cases, a lawyer must apply for judicial review on behalf of a study permit applicant.
If your study permit application has been refused and you would like to receive assistance, please use the contact form below to connect with one of our specialists directly.