DLI verification required for study permits

Summary#

The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration issued instructions about how pre-entry study permit applications are to be handled. Starting December 1, 2023, applicants must list a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) that confirms whether it has accepted them, or the application will be returned unprocessed and the fee refunded.

What it does#

• Requires that a Designated Learning Institution identified on a pre-entry study permit application tell the department whether the student has been accepted.
• If the DLI does not indicate acceptance within 10 calendar days of the department receiving the application, officers must return the application unprocessed.
• For electronic applications, the DLI must use the Letter of Acceptance Verification Tool to provide its response. If it does not, the application will be returned.
• The Minister may grant one extension of up to no more than 30 days to the 10-day period in cases of power or communications failures, natural disasters, public health emergencies, or labour disputes.
• If an application is returned under these rules, the applicant’s fee will be refunded.

Who's affected#

• International students (referred to in the notice as foreign nationals) applying for a study permit before entering Canada on or after December 1, 2023.
• Designated Learning Institutions asked to confirm acceptances through the department’s electronic tool.
• Immigration officers who process pre-entry study permit applications.
• It is clear who is affected: applicants, the named institutions, and processing officers.

Why it matters#

• The change aims to make sure acceptance to a Canadian school is checked reliably before an application is processed.
• It should help deter fraudulent applications and make processing more efficient when DLIs respond quickly.
• It could cause delays for applicants if their chosen school is slow to respond or if the verification tool has problems.
• Applicants whose applications are returned will get their application fee back, but must reapply after the DLI confirms acceptance.