Visas and Permits - Durham College

My journey from being an international student from India to building a career in the Canadian sports industry has been truly incredible, and Durham College played a major role in making it possible. As a Sports Management student, I gained valuable knowledge in marketing, public relations, event operations, management, and communications—skills that I continue to use every day in my professional career.

One of the most impactful opportunities I received at Durham College was becoming a PA announcer, thanks to the support and encouragement of Ken Babcock. That experience opened doors that continue to grow today. Since graduating two years ago, I have worked as an in-game host, digital host, and PA announcer with organizations including the Brampton Steelheads (OHL), Cricket Canada, the Ontario Premier League, the OCAA, Volleyball Canada, Pickering FC, the Brampton Honey Badgers, and numerous provincial and national sporting events. I also currently work with Ontario Basketball as a Basketball Development Coordinator.

Beyond the education, what made Durham College special was the sense of community. I always felt supported, included, and encouraged to succeed. Even today, the faculty and colleagues I worked with continue to celebrate my accomplishments. I am incredibly grateful to be a Durham College Sports Management graduate, and proud of how the foundation I built there helped turn my dreams into reality.

Haspreet Singh Hooda Alumni from India, Sport Management program

Entering Canada

To attend Durham College, you need a valid study permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). You must keep track of all of your immigration documentation expiry dates, including your study permit and passport expiry dates, to maintain your immigration status. It is your responsibility to ensure your documents remain valid during your studies in Canada.

TRV or eTA

Most students attending Durham College will need a TRV to enter Canada; some students will need an eTA to enter Canada. You can find out which one you need here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

What is a TRV?

A TRV or Temporary Entry Visa is a stamp, sticker or a counterfoil that is affixed to your passport. The expiry date on the TRV indicates the deadline date that you have to enter Canada. You may need to apply for a new TRV if you are traveling to another country (except the United States) and need to re‐enter Canada.

See our TRV handout for more information, including how to renew your TRV.

Studying in Canada

You must hold a valid study permit to study at Durham College if your program is more than 6 months in length. You are able to work off campus if you are registered as a full-time student at Durham College, and you have a condition on your study permit that authorizes working off campus.

Your Study Permit needs to remain valid while you are studying in Canada.

See our Renew Your Study Permit handout for more information.

Co-op/Placement/Internship during your studies

As of April 1, 2026, you don’t need a co-op work permit for student work placements, such as co-ops or internships, as a post-secondary international student.

Eligible students can complete required work placements using their study permit alone, as long as all study permit conditions are met and the placement is confirmed as a required part of the program by the institution. Read the immigration update in detail for all the conditions that need to be met.

Please note that this change applies only to mandatory work‑integrated learning components and does not affect general on or off‑campus work rules.

If you have questions about how this change applies to you or your program, please contact the International Education Office.

POST-GRADUATION WORK PERMIT

If you plan to remain in Canada to work, you may wish to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). A Post‐Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is a document that gives you permission to remain in Canada and work full‐time for up to three years (depending on the length of your program) after you graduate from a Canadian post‐secondary institution. You need to have completed all requirements to graduate from a program of at least eight months’ duration to be eligible. For information about applying for a PGWP, read our PGWP-Handout.