A member with a 2009 Master of Science degree, years of running their own business afterward, and an existing Canadian visitor visa asked whether applying for a study permit from inside Canada — after landing as a visitor — would be an easier route than applying from abroad.
What the thread offered — with some disagreement:- One view: landing in Canada on a visitor visa and converting it to a study permit from inside the country can be easier than an offshore application, according to some members' understanding.
- A conflicting view: some consultants told a different member this conversion isn't actually possible, creating real uncertainty about whether it applies universally or only under specific circumstances.
- The consensus resolution point: there are specific conditions that need to be met for an in-Canada conversion to work, and members recommended working with a licensed RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) who specializes in this specific type of conversion, since it's not a straightforward or guaranteed path.
The practical takeaway: converting a visitor visa to a study permit from inside Canada is reportedly possible under certain conditions, but accounts conflict on how reliably it works — get advice from a licensed RCIC consultant who specifically handles this type of conversion before assuming it's your best route.