A two-country study trip means building your speaking in the Philippines and then moving on to Canada or Australia. We set out the day limits in each country and the order of steps from official immigration and government sources. Checked on 30 October 2026.
In short
Plan a two-country trip backwards from the second country’s application timing. In the Philippines, 30 and 59 days are the key limits; Canada does not require a study permit for programs of six months or less; Australia’s ETA allows up to three months of study in total. Check the second country’s conditions first, then choose your school and weeks in the Philippines.
What a two-country trip is
A two-country trip means taking one-to-one lessons in the Philippines to build your speaking, then moving to schools and daily life in an English-speaking country such as Canada or Australia. For choosing a country, see Canada, Australia or the Philippines?.
Day limits in each country
Each country has different limits for when you need a visa or permit. Fit your plan to these limits.
Australia says that if your main reason for travel is to study, you should apply for a student visa (Department of Home Affairs). For longer study, consider a student visa or a working holiday.
- Philippines: an extension after 30 days, an ACR I-Card after 59 days, and an SSP for language school whatever the length (BI)
- Canada: no study permit for programs of six months or less (IRCC)
- Australia: up to three months of study in total on an ETA (Department of Home Affairs)
Linking to a working holiday
You can also go on to a working holiday after the Philippines. Australia’s Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) allows a 12-month stay, and the Department of Home Affairs says you usually need about AUD 5,000 to support yourself and pay your fare out at the end of your first stay.
Age limits and how many times you can take part depend on your nationality. Check the Australia visa and entry page and the Canada visa and entry page.
The order of steps
Second-country applications can have set windows or take time. This order means less reworking.
- Choose the second country and whether you will go on a student visa or a working holiday
- Check the application timing and documents on official sources
- Set your weeks in the Philippines so they do not clash with the second application
- Book your Philippine school and the flight to your second country
Leaving the Philippines
You need a ticket out of the Philippines when you enter. Your flight to the second country can serve as that ticket.
If you hold an ACR I-Card and have stayed six months or more, you need an Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) before you leave.
Thinking about costs
For the Philippines, add local fees to tuition and housing. Example totals for 4 to 24 weeks are in our article on costs for 1, 3 or 6 months.
For living costs in the second country, see the cost pages for Canada and Australia.
Next step: check the second country first
Start with the Canada visa and entry page or the Australia visa and entry page. For the Philippines, see our guide to studying English in the Philippines.
Sources
Government and public bodies
- Bureau of Immigration (Philippines): FAQs (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- IRCC: Studying in Canada without a study permit (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- Australian Department of Home Affairs: ETA (subclass 601) (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- Australian Department of Home Affairs: Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) (checked 30 Oct 2026)
