The Canadian government provides many resources for international students to help with their applications. Always refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the most accurate and up-to-date information. Learn about the immigration documents and information you may need during your studies at Government Resources.
What documents do you need to provide prior to studying in Canada?
You will need to provide:
- Valid passport to apply for a study permit
- Letter of Acceptance and Attestation Letter from the Seminary of Christ the King
- Proof of funds adequate to support you in Canada,
- Valid study permit, and
- Temporary resident visas (TRV) and electronic travel authorization (ETA).
Letter of Acceptance (LOA)
Once the Rector has received your SCK application and SCK has done a preliminary evaluation, you will be sent your official Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from SCK. You must include the original or electronic copy of your letter with your study permit application.
Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)
As of Jan 22, 2024, all students submitting a study permit application from outside Canada must include a valid Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) in their study permit application. A Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) is a document which confirms an international student has a spot in the provincial allocation for study permits and is included in the yearly federal cap to submit a study permit application. SCK has received a limited number of PALs for graduate degree-seeking seminarians.
Once international students have completed the SCK application and SCK has done a preliminary evaluation, you will be sent your official Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from SCK. You must include the original or electronic copy of your letter with your study permit application.
Study Permits
Once you have received the official Letter of Acceptance (LOA) and Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from SCK, admitted seminarians should apply for a study permit. All international students in programs longer than 6 months need a valid study permit.
The study permit is a document issued that allows foreign nationals to study at designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada. Most foreign nationals need a study permit to study in Canada. Make sure you have all the documents you need before you apply. You should apply before you travel to Canada.
Learn more about the study permit.
Given the processing times, we strongly recommend accepted applicants apply for their study permits as soon as possible. Applications for a study permit can take up to 3 months, so apply as soon as possible. You are responsible for ensuring your study permit is valid at all times. Find IRCC study permit processing times and required documents for your study permit application online.
Confirm Your Personal Details as Soon as Possible
Please ensure your personal details (name, date of birth, and address) in SCK’s application are correct. If needed, you must request a change before you accept your offer, since this information will be included on your PAL. Once issued, the details on your PAL cannot be changed and the PAL cannot be reissued.
Your Address
When you are considering whether to use a current address at the time of application or your permanent address, you should be consistent and use the same address which you will have continued access to. The address on your Letter of Admission, PAL and study permit application should be the same.
Not all address details you provide to SCK will appear on the PAL. The information from address line 2, the postal code, and the province/state will not be included on the PAL. This will not impact your application.
Your Name
Make sure the name that you provided in your SCK application matches your full legal first name and last name as they appear on your passport. Your name on your SCK Acceptance Letter, PAL and study permit application form should be the same.
If your passport has a separate field for middle name(s) and you enter your middle name separately in your SCK application, it would show up on your SCL Letter of Acceptance, but not on your PAL since PALs do not include middle names. This will not impact your application.
Maintain a Valid Study Permit
Study permits become automatically invalid in one of three ways, whichever comes first:
- The expiry date on the study permit, OR
- 90 days after written confirmation of program completion first becomes available, OR
- As of Nov 8, 2024, the day you are no longer enrolled at the Designated Learning Institution that is named on your study permit (other than as a result of completing your studies).
If you do not submit an application to extend your study permit before it becomes invalid, you must stop studying immediately.
DLI Student Transfer
As of Nov 8, 2024, you must be enrolled at the Designated Learning Institution (DLI) named on your study permit. If you change institutions, you must apply for a study permit extension for your new institution. Most students need to receive the new study permit before beginning studies at your new institution.
As of Jan 22, 2025, students changing institutions must submit a Provincial Attestation Letter in their study permit application.
Travel Documents: Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) and Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), also referred to as a “visitor visa” or “entry visa”, is a travel document that is placed in your passport and is used to enter or re-enter Canada. If you apply for a study permit from outside Canada, a TRV or eTA is issued automatically when the application is approved. It does not give you any status inside Canada and is usually issued for the same length of time as your study or work permit. A TRV allows you to travel to Canada (that is, to the border) while a study permit allows you to stay and study inside Canada. A study permit is the document showing your status inside Canada, but you must have a valid TRV in order to enter Canada if you are a citizen of a visa-required country.
Only citizens of certain countries require a TRV. Check the IRCC website to see if you need a valid TRV to travel to Canada. If you are from a TRV-exempt country, you may need to apply for an eTA before you can travel to Canada.
Working in Canada as an International Student
The Seminary of Christ the King does not offer work permits for postgraduate studies (PGWP).