Am I an International Visa Student or a Newcomer to Canada?

Not sure which status you belong to? See below for information on definitions:

International Visa Student

International Visa Students need a visa and study permit to attend educational institutes in Canada since they are not Canadian citizens, permanent residents, nor refugees.

If you are an International Visa Student, please visit Mohawk International for information on programs available to you and how to apply as an international student.

Newcomers to Canada

Newcomers to Canada have a number of definitions, which include:

  • permanent residents of Canada
  • protected persons
  • persons determined by the Immigration and Refugee Board (Refugee Protection Division) to be a Convention Refugee;
  • persons in Canada applying to become a Permanent Resident and who have been informed, by letter, of the initial approval of the application, subject to an admissibility assessment

If you fall into one of these categories, you are eligible for the LINC, ELT and OSLT programs. Please visit Programs and Courses for Newcomers.

Note: You are not eligible if you are a refugee claimant, Canadian citizen or temporary resident (visa student, temporary foreign worker, or visitor). If you are an International Visa Student, please visit Mohawk International

Additional Resources

To learn more about definitions of status, please visit: