Study Permits

Once you have received a letter of acceptance from New Brunswick Community College, it is necessary to begin applying for a study permit. All study permit applications should be submitted online, unless you meet some very specific exceptions.

Generally, most study permit applicants should submit their study permit application from outside of Canada. There are limited exceptions where an individual may apply for a study permit from inside Canada or at a port-of-entry (POE) into Canada.

Depending where you live and are submitting your study permit application, the documents required for your application can vary. We have outlined some common supporting documents below, but all students should also review the Visa Office Specific Document Checklists for the region where you will be submitting your study permit application.

1. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Application Form: All applicants must complete the IRCC application form specific to their and their family’s applications. If you have difficulty opening an IRCC application form, review this information.
2. Proof of Financial Support: All applicants will need to demonstrate that you and/or your family has sufficient proof of funds to cover both your tuition costs and other expenses, such as your food and accommodation, while you remain in Canada. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has outlined the minimum amount of funds you need to demonstrate and how to demonstrate them at this link: Study permit: Get the right documents - Canada.ca.
3. Letter of acceptance from NBCC: Your NBCC letter of acceptance has a lot of important information that you will need to include in your application for a study permit and also demonstrates to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that you have been accepted to a program of study in Canada.
4. Proof of identity: You and anyone travelling with you will need to provide copies of all relevant information in your passport/travel document and biometrics.
5. Study Plan: In addition, it is strongly encouraged to include a study plan with your study permit application. A study plan explains to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) why you chose your institution in Canada and what your long-term objectives are.
6. Possible Police Clearances and Medical Examinations: Depending on your circumstances, you may be required to undergo police background checks and a medical examination.
7. Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL): As of January 22, 2024, all study permit applicants (for a two-year period of 2024-2025) will require a provincial attestation letter with their study permit application. The process to request a provincial attestation letter from the province of New Brunswick is not yet established. The provinces have until March 31, 2024, to establish a process to issue these letters of attestation. At this time, you should not submit a study permit application until you have received additional information from NBCC about the process for requesting a letter of attestation. Continue to read all email communications from NBCC for updates.

If you are a legal resident in Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, or Vietnam, you may be eligible to get a decision on your study permit application faster by using the Student Direct Stream (SDS). Information on applying for your study permit through the SDS can be found on Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) website.

In order to receive a permit to study at New Brunswick Community College (NBCC), you will need to include the school’s designated learning institution number (DLI) in your application to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

You can find your DLI number on your NBCC letter of acceptance, starting with the letter “O”. The number is O19391556439. All six (6) NBCC campuses (Fredericton, Miramichi, Moncton, Saint John, St. Andrews and Woodstock) use the same DLI number of O19391556439.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issues approximate study permit processing times that can be viewed here. It’s important to note that the processing times can fluctuate and vary from the information provided on that site.

We recommend submitting your study permit application as soon as possible after receiving your NBCC letter of acceptance.

If your study permit application is approved by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), you will receive a letter of introduction. The letter of introduction (also called the port of entry introduction letter) is not your study permit, it is the letter that confirms that your application for a study permit has been approved. When you enter Canada you will need to present this at your port-of-entry (POE) to get your study permit printed.

Be advised that a study permit alone does not authorize entry into Canada. Follow this link to find out if you need a visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to enter Canada. If you do require one of these documents, it will be automatically issued with your initial study permit. 

If your study permit is still valid, you don’t need to change or apply for a new permit if you’re moving between school levels. This could be:

• high school to post-secondary
• post-secondary to high school or
• any other move between school levels.

If your study permit will expire, you need to apply to extend it.

You must apply for a study permit extension before the expiry date on your current study permit if you would like to continue studying in Canada. It is recommended you apply a minimum of 30 days before the expiry of your status. If you apply for an extension prior to the expiry date of your current permit, you will benefit from maintained status should your study permit expire before you receive a decision on your extension application. Review the resources to help you submit your study permit extension located in the While at NBCC section of this page.

If you are currently inside Canada with a valid study permit and are transferring to NBCC, you must notify Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). You can do so by changing your designated learning institution (DLI) number on your online IRCC account. Click here for more information.