The study permit is a document that allows foreign nationals to study at designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada. Most foreign nationals need a study permit to study in Canada.
Coquitlam College is a designated learning institution with the Government of Canada Citizenship and Immigration. Our Designated Learning Institution number (DLI#) is O19244321962. Students need to include the Designated Learning Institution number (DLI#) on their application form.
For more information, please visit the Citizenship & Immigration website.
The new IRCC policies including the field of study requirements recently introduced by the Government of Canada, effective November 1, 2024, may change at any time. It is each student’s responsibility to consult official IRCC policies for any future changes.
Students can apply for a PGWP from inside Canada or from another country under the conditions that you meet all the eligibility criteria and have received your Coquitlam College completion package, including your degree/diploma and transcript, confirming that you have completed your studies.
We offer complimentary RISIA services to all current and prospective students through virtual or in-person meetings.
Speak to a RISIA
To discuss study permit renewals/extensions, ability to work, PGWP eligibility and other IRCC-related questions with the CC RISIA:
Contact the main office by email or phone to set up an appointment.
The CC RISIA is in the Student Services office most Tues/Wed from 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Or by virtual appointment.
Students require a valid study permit for the duration of their studies at Coquitlam College. A valid study permit allows students to stay in the country in order to complete their program of studies. Students can apply for their study permit from the Government of Canada Citizenship and Immigration website.
Students who need to extend their stay in Canada must complete the Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada. Students can request a study permit renewal letter from the Coquitlam College Administration Office. Our office hours are Monday to Thursday from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm and Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30pm.
Coquitlam College is a designated learning institution with the Government of Canada Citizenship and Immigration. Our Designated Learning Institution number (DLI#) is O19244321962. Students need to include the Designated Learning Institution number (DLI#) on their application form.
For more information or to renew your study permit, please visit the Citizenship & Immigration Canada website.
Depending on where you live, you may be able to get your study permit faster through the Student Direct Stream.
The Student Direct Stream (SDS) provides a streamlined study permit application process for
students with English language abilities who will enter directly into their program of study at an
eligible Canadian college or university.
For more information, please visit the Citizenship & Immigration website.
If you are a Coquitlam College Associate of Arts Degree student, you are eligible to work off campus if your study permit contains the conditions allowing you to do so, you are studying full-time (minimum: 9 credits/semester) and you have a social insurance number (SIN).
You can ask to have these conditions added if you’re eligible to work off campus. There’s no fee to add these conditions to your permit.
You must request an amendment to your study permit before you can apply to Service Canada for a SIN.
Academic advisors are available every day to help students with course selection, career planning, immigration questions, and confidential personal matters.
Only Coquitlam College international students who are registered in the Associate of Arts Degree Program are eligible to work off-campus without a work permit; if you’re able to work during your studies, it will be stated within the conditions on your study permit.
For further details on eligibility requirements, hours of work, and changing conditions of your study permit, and more, please visit this Work off campus as an international student webpage. Of course, students will also need a Social Insurance Number to work in Canada.
You can work up to 20 hours per week. You can work more than 1 job to make up these hours as long as you continue to meet the conditions of your study permit.
It was also announced that the number of off-campus work hours for eligible study permit holders will be increased from 20 hours per week to 24 hours per week sometime in the fall of 2024. IRCC will provide more details about this increase and when it will come into effect in future updates.
For the time being, study permit holders with off-campus work authorization will be limited to a maximum of 20 hours per week of off-campus work as of May 1, 2024.
Working beyond the allowable number of work hours per week would be considered unauthorized work by IRCC, which would be seen as non-compliance with study permit conditions. This can have serious consequences and is not recommended.
In October 2022, IRCC announced that study permit holders in Canada meeting certain conditions could work more than 20 hours per week for off-campus employers. This policy went into effect on November 15, 2022 and was extended until April 30, 2024.
The Minister of Immigration, Marc Miller, announced today that the temporary policy would not be extended beyond April 30, 2024. For more information, please refer to IRCC’s news release.
A SIN is a 9-digit number that the Government of Canada gives you. You need one to work in Canada.
To apply for a SIN to work off campus, you must have 1 of these conditions printed on your study permit:
You can work full-time if you’re on a scheduled break, such as winter and summer holidays, or a fall or spring reading week. You’re free to work overtime or work 2 part-time jobs that add up to a higher than usual number of hours.
You must be a full-time student both before and after the break to work full-time.
You can’t work during a break that comes before you start your very first school semester.
To obtain a post-graduation work permit, you must have graduated from an eligible designated learning institution (DLI).
You are eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) if you complete the Associate of Arts degree at Coqutilam College.
| Students who submitted study permit applications before November 1, 2024 | Students who submitted study permit applications on or after November 1, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Students are still eligible for PGWP under current IRCC regulations which include graduates from Coquitlam College Associate of Arts Degree Program. Language requirement:
|
Coquitlam College Associate of Arts Degree graduates are no longer eligible for the PGWP unless they block transfer their credits to a university to complete an additional two years towards a bachelor’s degree |
For more information regarding PGWP, please visit IRCC’s website.
Students may inquire about block transfer opportunities at the Student Services Department of Coquitlam College.
On September 18, IRCC announced an extra requirement – language test for PGWP.
As of June 21, 2024, international students can no longer apply for their PGWP at a port of entry (flagpole)
Coquitlam College does not offer any courses which qualify as distance learning. All courses offered have in-class components. It is impossible to take a Coquitlam College course from off campus.
From IRCC:
Distance learning can be considered online learning. Students who complete a program of study exclusively by distance learning (outside or within Canada) are not eligible for a post-graduation work permit.
Officers should use the following guidelines to assess an applicant’s post-graduation work permit eligibility when the applicant has taken distance learning in Canada at an eligible DLI:
Note: If the distance-learning courses are completed outside Canada, they must be excluded from the time accumulated toward the length of the post-graduation work permit.
See more information at this page:
IRCC/Study-Canada/Work after graduation/How much of online studies count toward a PGWP?
Apply within 90 days of when your final transcript and Letter of Completion first becomes available ( it usually takes 6 weeks after final marks released) AND when your study permit is still valid, OR
Apply within 180 days of when your final transcript and Letter of Completion first becomes available, have previously held a valid study permit, and one of the following:
