Becoming a Student
If you are in Canada:
- As a dependent of a person who has valid student or employment authorization
- Or on a visitor visa
- Or as a refugee claimant awaiting determination of your claim

..and you are in an abusive situation, you may have more independence than you think. You may be eligible to go to school. As a student, your stay in Canada may be extended. You will need to apply to the school for admission. If admitted, the school will send you an official letter of acceptance. You will need a student authorization if you want to enroll in a course, even if it is English language training. For student authorization, you will need your official letter of acceptance from the school to apply for a change of terms and conditions to extend your stay in Canada. Contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for more information and to obtain the complete application form. If CIC approves your application, you will be sent a student authorization that will allow you to stay and study in Canada. This authorization will change the conditions of your stay and extend your period of authorized stay in Canada.

Before the end of your authorized stay, you must reapply for another extension. You should reapply at least three weeks for the expiry date of your stay. People with student authorization to study in Canada must apply for new student authorization before they can change schools. If you have a student authorization, you are entitled to work on the university or college campus where you are a full-time student. You do not need employment authorization to do this. To work anywhere else, however, you do need a separate employment authorization.

All academic, professional, and vocational training courses will require student authorization. If you want to take any course, check with Citizenship and Immigration Canada first to see if an authorization is required.