Once you have applied to an IPSEA school district in BC, you will follow the process below to complete your journey to study in Canada:
1. Receive a Letter Of Acceptance. This document is your official offer to study in a BC school. It is needed to apply for a Study Permit.
2. Complete a Custodial Document that indicates that you will be supervised while studying in BC. This document must be notarized and signed by your parent/guardian and your custodian in BC. Sometimes, the school district representative will be your custodian.
3. Apply for a Study Permit. This permit (or Study Visa) is issued by Citizenship and
Immigration Canada (CIC) and authorizes you attend school in BC. To apply, you will need to visit the Canadian Embassy or High Commission in your home country and complete an application.
All students who plan to study in Canada for six months or longer are required to have a Study Permit before they arrive in the country. Students may not apply for their initial Study Permit inside Canada.
If you plan to stay less than six months then you can attend school in Canada without a Study Permit. However, IPSEA school districts strongly encourage all of their students to apply for the permit even if they intend to stay for less than six months because it allows the student to apply for public health insurance coverage and extend their stay beyond six months without having to leave Canada and apply for a Study Permit.
The process to apply for a Study Permit is managed by the Federal Government of Canada. For up-to-date and detailed information, visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website: www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/index.asp