Tutorial: How to apply for an initial study permit

UCI stands for “Unique Client Identifier,” also known as “Client ID.” It is an eight-digit or ten-digit number. If you do not have a UCI, leave this section blank.

UBC's DLI is O19330231062. It starts with the letter "O" and not zero.

• In the "From" field: use the "Program Start Date" shown on your Letter of Acceptance.
• In the "To" field: Use a date up to 90 days after your anticipated program completion date.

Provide information on your expenses including your first-year tuition fees, rent and food, travel expenses, and other estimated costs for one year. 

You can use these two cost calculators to help you:

• Undergraduate students
• Graduate students

Note: exchange students should indicate ‘$0’ in the ‘tuition’ field as you will not pay tuition fees to UBC, you will pay your home university. Include a letter of explanation to address your tuition fees as an inbound exchange student and provide supporting documents, if available. One-term exchange students may provide estimated costs based on one term only and prorate the cost-of-living amount.

The amount you indicate in “Funds available for my stay (CAD)” should match the total amount of funds you are showing as proof.

For example, if you have a combination of $20,500 in your bank account, $10,000 from your scholarship, and $33,040 from your parents, you would indicate $63,540.

Remember you must show that you have enough funds to cover your first year tuition fees, travel expenses, and the minimum for cost-of-living expenses:

• For applications submitted on or before December 31, 2023: at least $10,000 Canadian Dollars (CAD), plus an additional $4,000 for a spouse/partner, and/or $3,000 for each additional dependent family member (such as a child).
• For applications submitted January 1, 2024, or later: at least $20,635 for the cost-of-living financial requirement in 2024. The cost-of-living amount will be adjusted each year based on Statistics Canada’s low-income cut-off. The amount required for additional family members depends on how many dependents you have.​​​​​​

The information you provide in this section helps IRCC have a fuller picture of your activities within the last ten years:

• Include all part-time and full-time jobs as well as any internships and practicum placements, even if they were unpaid.
• Under “current activity”, if you are not currently working/employed, but you are a student, write “student” as activity and your school name as “employer”. Your ‘to’ date can be the month and year of your study permit application; for example, if you are applying in April 2022, indicate this in your ‘to’ field. 
• If you are working at the time of application, write the month and year of your application submission as your ‘To’ date.
• Fill out the form in chronological order, with the most recent job first.
• If you need more space, provide additional information in a Letter of Explanation.

It is very important to carefully read these questions and answer truthfully and honestly.

Please contact International Student Advising if you answered “yes” to any of the questions so that you are aware of possible implications.

Important: If you have previously applied for a Canadian study permit, a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), a work permit, or permanent residence, whether it is approved or rejected, you must report it to IRCC by checking the box "Yes" on 2(c) and writing down when you applied for each type of document in the box in addition to any details.

You do not need to sign your name in the signature field on the bottom of page 5, but you will need to type in the date of your application if applying online. Upload the form without signing.

• After uploading all your documents, you will be asked to electronically sign your application by typing your name.
• Do not print and sign the form because you will not be able to upload it to the site.