Question 1

How much time should I plan for before leaving to study?

Accepted Answer

Plan for 16 to 24 weeks in all: 8 to 12 for university admission, 4 to 6 for Quebec’s own selection step, 8 to 12 for the federal authorization — some overlap, some do not, and country of origin weighs heavily on the last. The only real lever is a file that is complete and accurate the first time: that is where we come in.

Question 2

Do I need to speak French to study in Quebec?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily — several universities teach in English, notably McGill and Concordia. French remains a decisive asset all the same: for daily life, for employability, and for what comes next if you choose to stay.

Question 3

How much does a year of study in Canada cost?

Accepted Answer

International tuition runs from $15,000 to $50,000 CAD a year depending on the program and the province, with roughly $12,000 to $18,000 more in living costs. We help you build a realistic budget and identify the scholarships you qualify for.

Question 4

Can I work while I study?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A student whose authorization to study is valid, and who is enrolled full time in an eligible program, can work up to 24 hours a week during academic sessions and full time during scheduled breaks. Once you graduate, it is often possible to stay and work for a period: the conditions turn on your institution and your program, and they have changed recently — worth checking rather than assuming.

Question 5

What documents go into a study file?

Accepted Answer

The essentials: an admission letter from an institution on the official list, proof of financial capacity, a valid passport, compliant photos, and sometimes a medical exam. Quebec adds a selection step of its own. The exact list depends on your country and your institution — we draw it up with you, piece by piece.

Question 6

Can my family come and visit, and for how long?

Accepted Answer

An ordinary visit generally allows up to six months, with the exact period set by the officer on entry. Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, or of people who have obtained durable status here, have a longer option: up to five years per entry, on a document valid for up to ten years, conditional on medical insurance and a minimum income in the host household. We check which one applies to your family.

Question 7

What happens between filing and the decision?

Accepted Answer

If you file from inside Canada before your current status expires, you may generally remain in the country under the same conditions until the decision comes — which is the entire reason the date matters. Past the deadline, a ninety-day restoration window remains: heavier, paid, no guarantee. We track your dates so the question does not arise.

Question 8

My authorization to study is expiring — what do I need to gather?

Accepted Answer

Proof of continued enrolment, proof of financial capacity, and a valid passport. In Quebec, the provincial selection sometimes has to be renewed as well. The list is short, but every piece has to be current on the filing date — that is where files come unstuck. We guide you through each step.

Question 9

What do I need in order to enter Canada?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your passport. Nationals of exempt countries need only an electronic authorization, applied for online for a few dollars and often granted within minutes; it counts only for arrivals by air. Everyone else must obtain a full authorization before departure: biometrics, supporting documents, several weeks of processing. American citizens need neither. It is the first thing we check.

Question 10

On what criteria is a candidacy for durable status selected?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the route. For routes built on skilled work — the most common — the federal government ranks candidacies on objective criteria: education, experience, age, languages, and invites the best-placed to file. Other routes, family or provincial, follow different rules. DOCERE structures the file and holds the calendar; reading your eligibility is our legal partners’ work.

Question 11

How is Quebec’s selection different?

Accepted Answer

For routes built on work, Quebec selects for itself: its own portal, its own grid, a heavy weighting of French. Its selection comes before the federal stage, which remains mandatory. Two administrations, two calendars, a journey in two parts — we map it with you from the outset. Other routes, family ones in particular, stay federal.

Question 12

The rules changed since I started — what happens to my file?

Accepted Answer

Criteria change, and a route that was open when you arrived can close: that happened in Quebec in November 2025, when the route built on experience acquired here was shut. What survives is the file itself — the documents, the evidence, the chronology. Which route remains open to you is a legal question: we put it to our legal partners, and rebuild the file around their answer.

Question 13

How long does a journey toward durable status take?

Accepted Answer

It varies. The fast route — the one where you are invited to file — generally runs 6 to 8 months from invitation to arrival. Going through Quebec is longer: a provincial selection of several months, then federal processing outside that system, of a year or more. We set a realistic calendar at the first consultation. A calendar, not a promise.

Question 14

How does DOCERE charge for its services?

Accepted Answer

Transparent pricing, in packages tailored to your situation. Write to us for a free consultation: we discuss it together and you leave with a personalized quote, no hidden fees.

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