Study in Ontario as an International Student

Ontario is one of the most popular destinations in Canada for international students, and for reasons that go beyond its universities. The province is also home to clear immigration pathways that allow graduates to work and, in many cases, apply for permanent residence. If you are planning to study in Ontario, understanding the immigration side of your decision — not just the academic side — will help you plan more effectively from the start.

This page covers what you need to know about the study permit process for Ontario, your rights and obligations while studying, and the options available after you graduate.

Do You Need a Study Permit to Study in Ontario?

Most international students need a Canadian study permit to attend a post-secondary institution in Ontario. A study permit is a document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that authorizes you to study in Canada for a specific period.

You are generally required to have a study permit if your program lasts longer than six months. Even if your program is shorter, it is often worth obtaining one, because holding a valid study permit may be necessary to qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) later.

Some foreign nationals are exempt from the study permit requirement — for example, certain diplomats, family members of Canadian citizens in specific circumstances, or those participating in very short programs. The full list of exemptions is available on the IRCC study permit exemptions page.

If you are unsure whether you need a permit, the safest course is to confirm with IRCC or speak with a licensed immigration professional before enrolling.

How to Apply for a Study Permit to Study in Ontario

Choose an Eligible Designated Learning Institution

You must be accepted to a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) before you can apply for a study permit. DLIs are schools approved by provincial or territorial governments to host international students. In Ontario, this includes publicly funded universities and colleges, as well as many private career colleges that have obtained DLI status.

Being accepted to a DLI is not the same as being eligible for a PGWP after graduation. For PGWP purposes, the institution and the program must meet separate eligibility criteria. If working in Canada after graduation is part of your plan, confirm PGWP eligibility before you accept an offer of admission. The Government of Canada DLI search tool allows you to check whether a specific school is designated.

Hands typing on a laptop beside official documents, with a blurred university campus visible through a window.

Gather the Required Documents

When you apply for a study permit, IRCC will require:

• A valid acceptance letter from your DLI in Ontario
• A valid passport or travel document
• Proof of financial support sufficient to cover tuition, living expenses, and return transportation
• Any other documents specific to your country of citizenship (such as a biometric enrolment, medical exam results, or police certificates)

The financial proof requirement is important and often underestimated. IRCC sets a specific amount you must demonstrate for your first year, in addition to full tuition. That threshold is updated periodically, so you should verify the current figure on the IRCC study permit document requirements page before applying.

Submit Your Application

Most study permit applications are submitted online through the IRCC secure portal. Processing times vary depending on your country of citizenship and the time of year. IRCC publishes estimated processing times, but these can change, and applications involving medical exams or additional document requests take longer.

If you are applying from outside Canada, your study permit is typically issued as a single-entry or multiple-entry document depending on your citizenship. When you arrive in Canada, a border officer will issue the study permit and confirm its conditions. Your permit will name the DLI you are authorized to attend.

Your Rights and Obligations as a Student in Ontario

Working While You Study

International students studying full-time at a DLI in Ontario are generally permitted to work off-campus without a separate work permit, up to the weekly limit set by IRCC for the academic session. As of the most recent regulatory change, that limit is 24 hours per week during the academic term. During scheduled breaks — such as winter or summer holidays — you may be able to work full-time. The current rules and any recent amendments are outlined on the IRCC off-campus work page.

On-campus work is also permitted without restrictions on hours, provided the work takes place at your institution or for certain on-campus businesses.

Working beyond your permitted hours, or working without authorization, can put your study permit and future immigration applications at risk.

Maintaining Your Study Permit and Enrolment Status

Holding a study permit comes with ongoing obligations. You must:

• Remain enrolled at the DLI named on your permit
• Maintain active enrolment and make reasonable progress toward completing your program
• Stop working if you are no longer a full-time student (with limited exceptions, such as the final academic session of your program)
• Notify IRCC of changes to your program or institution, where required
• Leave Canada when your status expires, or apply to extend it before the expiry date

Failing to comply with these conditions can affect your current status and your eligibility for future permits, including the PGWP.

If you need to change schools or programs, review IRCC's guidance on changing your school or program before making the switch.

Health Insurance in Ontario

Ontario does not automatically provide provincial health coverage (OHIP) to international students during their first year of residence. Many post-secondary institutions participate in the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) or a similar institutional plan, which is typically mandatory for enrolled international students. You should confirm your institution's health coverage requirements before arriving.

Costs to Expect When Studying in Ontario

Tuition in Ontario varies considerably by institution type and program. As a general range:

These figures are approximate and subject to change. Always confirm tuition directly with your institution.

Beyond tuition, Ontario living costs depend heavily on location. Toronto and Ottawa have substantially higher rent than cities such as Kingston, London, or Sudbury. On-campus residence may be available but limited. Budget planning should account for housing, food, transportation, health insurance, and personal expenses.

After Graduation: The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

The PGWP is an open work permit available to graduates of eligible programs at eligible DLIs. It allows you to work for almost any employer in Canada without a job offer and without your employer needing a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

The PGWP is significant because it lets you gain Canadian work experience after graduation — and that experience is one of the most valuable assets in most Canadian permanent residence programs.

PGWP length depends on the length of your program. Graduates of programs of eight months to under two years may receive a permit valid for the same duration as the program. Graduates of programs of two years or longer may receive a PGWP valid for up to three years.

IRCC has introduced important changes to PGWP eligibility since November 2024. Graduates of college diploma or certificate programs (non-degree programs) must now study in an eligible field of study to qualify, in addition to meeting the institution and program length requirements. Degree programs at universities are generally not subject to the same field-of-study restriction, but institution eligibility still applies. A detailed breakdown of current rules is available on SEP Immigration's Post-Graduation Work Permit page.

You can only receive a PGWP once. Returning to study in Canada after already holding a PGWP does not entitle you to a second one.

Pathways to Permanent Residence After Studying in Ontario

Completing a program in Ontario and gaining Canadian work experience places you in a strong position for several immigration programs. The routes most commonly used by Ontario graduates include the following.

OINP Graduate Streams (Masters and PhD)

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) includes two streams specifically designed for graduates of Ontario universities who do not have a job offer:

Masters Graduate Stream — For those who completed a qualifying master's degree from an eligible Ontario university within the last two years. No job offer is required. You must have lived legally in Ontario for at least one year in the two years before applying.

PhD Graduate Stream — For those who completed a qualifying PhD at an eligible Ontario university within the last two years. At least two years of the program must have been completed while living legally in Ontario. No job offer is required.

Both streams use an Expression of Interest (EOI) system. You register a profile and wait for an invitation to apply. If nominated, you then apply to IRCC for permanent residence, which makes the final decision.

More detail on both streams is available on the SEP Immigration OINP Ontario Graduate Stream page.

OINP Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream

This OINP stream is for recent graduates from eligible Canadian post-secondary institutions — not limited to Ontario — who have received a permanent, full-time job offer from an Ontario employer. The job offer must be in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation.

Unlike the graduate streams above, this stream requires an employer to be involved. The post-secondary credential must be from a program of at least one year of full-time study. More information, including the document checklist, is on the OINP International Student Stream page.

Express Entry and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Many Ontario graduates who use their PGWP to work in Canada accumulate the one year of skilled Canadian work experience needed to qualify for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry. The CEC is a federal program managed by IRCC that selects candidates based on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.

Your Canadian education can also add points to your CRS score through the human capital factors assessed in Express Entry. If you receive an OINP nomination through one of the Express Entry-linked OINP streams, you receive 600 additional CRS points, which effectively guarantees an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence in the next federal draw. Information on those streams is on the OINP page.