To study abroad in Vancouver, you first apply to a school and receive a letter of acceptance. You then use that letter to apply for a study permit before you travel. As soon as you arrive, apply for MSP, BC's public health insurance.
Study permit processing times vary by country. MSP coverage may start up to 3 months after you arrive.
What do you do, and when, to prepare for studying in Vancouver?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Government of Canada department, says most foreign nationals who study in Canada need a study permit. IRCC's "Prepare for your study permit" page sets out the order shown below.
Choose a school and apply
Pick the school you want to apply to and submit an application for admission. If you need a study permit, the school must be a DLI (designated learning institution).
Receive your letter of acceptance
Once the school accepts you, it sends a letter of acceptance. You need this letter for the next step, the study permit application.
Apply for a study permit
Apply for a study permit with the letter of acceptance. IRCC's page says to "apply before you travel." Processing times are said to vary by country, and the page gives no figure.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 6 months before (elementary, middle and high school) | Start applying to schools |
| 1 year before (higher education such as universities and colleges) | Start applying to schools |
| Before you travel | Apply for a study permit (the IRCC page does not give a processing time figure) |
| As soon as you arrive | Apply for BC's MSP (coverage may start up to 3 months after you arrive) |
What documents do you need for a study permit?
When a study permit is required, the letter of acceptance must come from a DLI (designated learning institution).
A medical exam or a police certificate may be requested if required. IRCC's "Get the documents for your study permit" page lists the following application documents.
- Letter of acceptance (from a DLI)
- Provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL), which you receive from the school
- A copy of your passport and 2 photos
- Proof of funds (including living costs for accompanying family members)
- A statement explaining why you want to study in Canada
Can you use insurance as soon as you arrive?
The BC government says people new to Canada should apply for MSP, the public health insurance, as soon as they arrive. Coverage may start up to 3 months after you arrive, though. A waiting period applies: the rest of the month in which you begin residing, plus 2 months. That means you may not be able to use it from the day you arrive.
A study permit or work permit issued under federal immigration law with a validity of 6 months or more may be treated as residency. Whether a study permit qualifies you for MSP is something to check with Health Insurance BC in BC.
Where on ABROAD can you look up schools, housing and SIMs?
The Vancouver school list shows the schools listed there now. Housing has its own property list.
The Vancouver page also has a SIM list. The current numbers are below (as of October 2026).
- 59 schools
- 146 properties
- 47 SIMs for Canada
