The UK government will soon be ceasing the issuance of study visas to nationals of four countries: Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan.

This marks a first-of-its-kind implementation, following significant increases in asylum claims by students of these nationalities between 2021 and 2025 (+470%) once in the UK.

Canada, however, continues to welcome all eligible applicants of all nationalities to study in the country—providing a viable alternative to those affected by this nationality-based study visa issuance ban.

The Home Office of the UK announced this course of action on March 4, noting that the “visa brake” will come into effect on March 26.

Most individuals are required to apply for a study permit online, from outside Canada.

This article will cover

• How those impacted by the UK study visa ban can obtain a study permit in Canada; and
• How to take advantage of the study-to-permanent residence (PR) route after graduating.

How to study in Canada

International students—including those from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan—can obtain legal authorization to study in Canada through a six-step process detailed below.

Step 1) Enroll in a designated learning institution (DLI) and obtain a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from the institution you plan to attend.

Step 2) Obtain a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) from your DLI (if required). This letter is generally provided once you accept the admission offer and make a partial or full tuition payment.

A PAL/TAL confirms you’ve been allocated a space to study in that province/territory.

Certain individuals don’t need a PAL/TAL, such as master’s or doctoral degree students attending publicly funded DLIs.

Step 3) Ensure you can show Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that you have sufficient finances to cover—without working while in Canada—your tuition fees, living expenses (for yourself and accompanying family members, if applicable), and transportation to and from Canada.

These funds must be readily available and be enough to cover the first year of your studies—and if your study program is more than a year in length, you must inform IRCC how you intend to support yourself for the duration of your program.