Go Global Office of Global Engagement

Applying for your initial study permit (VIRS)

Latest updates: This information is subject to change
  • The information below is a brief overview and current at the time of publication. This policy has just been announced and we expect it will be clarified in the coming weeks. We will update this page when more information is available. See Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)’s page for the latest updates.

This page is for VIRS students applying for a study permit for their research studies at UBC.

Before proceeding:

  • Start early!
    • Check estimated processing times for your immigration documents on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website, and apply for the documents you need for your VIRS program well in advance.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced: 

  • New study permit applications as of Jan. 22, 2024 will require a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from the provincial government unless exempt (details here). Read more below on how to request a PAL for your Study Permit application for your VIRS program.
     
  • If you originally came to Canada as an exchange or visiting student to study for six months or less, you do not need a study permit. However, you cannot study beyond the initial six-month period. Once you are in Canada, if you need to extend your time to study, you must apply for a study permit from within Canada. You cannot continue to study until your study permit is approved (see this page for more information). 
    • For this reason, we encourage students who plan to extend their VIRS research study period beyond six months, to discuss their study dates with their VIRS supervisor as soon as possible, apply to extend their VIRS stay through Go Global and submit a study permit extension request soon after their arrival at UBC.

  • As of Jan. 1, 2024, the minimum cost-of-living financial requirement has increased from $10,000 to $20,635 for 2024. See this page on requirements of the proof of financial support.

Review the Jan. 21, 2024 backgrounder and Jan. 22, 2024 news release for more details. 

Requesting a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)
  1. Verify your personal information (for example, legal name, date of birth, permanent address, etc.) is correct on your student application in the Go Global Student Application Portal and on the VIRS Letter of Acceptance. If the information needs to be updated, you MUST notify Go Global within five business days of the email notification about your admission and prior to accepting your offer of admission.
  2. Accept your UBC admission offer in the Applicant Service Centre. Your acceptance to UBC is only confirmed after you accept your admission offer. You have three weeks from the date of your acceptance letter to accept your offer.
  3. Review the following requirements. To be eligible for a PAL, you must meet all of the following:
    1. Your VIRS research duration is more than six months
    2. You did not submit a study permit application before Jan. 22, 2024
    3. You have verified that the personal information in your VIRS letter of acceptance is correct and matches the information in your passport (legal name, date of birth, permanent address, etc.)

*Admitted VIRS will have visiting student status at UBC and are not considered to be studying in a master’s degree or doctoral degree program at UBC, even if enrolled in a graduate program. For that reason, those students are not exempt from the PAL requirement and need to obtain a PAL for their study permit application. See more details here.

  1. Complete the PAL Request Form.

  2. Within two weeks of receiving your form, Go Global will email the PAL directly to you. This document is used for initial study permit applications from outside Canada.

*Because of the limited number of PALs available, students will only receive one PAL. You MUST ensure all information is correct prior to accepting your admission offer. We are unable to re-issue PALs due to incorrectly submitted information (wrong birthdate, misspelled name, incorrect address, etc.).

Things to know before you apply for your initial study permit (VIRS)

  • You are applying for a study permit, not a work permit.

  • Avoid using the word “internship” or “work” when applying for your study permit. You have been accepted as a student at UBC and are applying for a study permit.

  • You will need your VIRS letter of acceptance and the British Columbia Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) to apply for a study permit. 

  • Apply online.
    There are two ways to apply for a study permit: the “IRCC portal” and the “IRCC secure account.” Although the IRCC website directs most students outside Canada to submit a study permit application through the IRCC portal, we recommend you follow the steps in the Study Permit tutorial and apply through the IRCC secure account, even though outside Canada applications are not listed. If you decide to apply through the IRCC portal, you still will find our online resources helpful since many aspects are similar.

  • If you're applying online, in your initial IRCC questionnaire, indicate that you want to apply for a study permit. For "Tell us more about what you'll do in Canada. Include dates" section, indicate your actual period of study.

Start your study permit application for the VIRS program
Questions?

For questions about the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL), contact Go Global.

For questions about the study permit application process, contact International Student Advising. For the latest updates, see the International Student Guide.

The immigration information on this page has been reviewed and endorsed by Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) or Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) in compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations. However, this is not a legal document and information can change without notice. Always refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the most up-to-date information.

Page last updated April 2024