Study in Canada
Study Permit
The study permit is a document we issue that allows foreign nationals to study at designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada. Most foreign nationals need a study permit to study in Canada. Make sure you have all the documents you need before you apply. You should apply before you travel
to Canada.
Section(s)
- Who can apply : Requirements you need to get a study permit
- Get the right documents : Documents you need to apply for a study permit
- How to apply :How to apply for a study permit
- After you apply :Biometrics, processing, and documents before your arrival
- Prepare for your arrival :When you arrive and entry to Canada
- While you study : Meeting the conditions of your study permit and how
Section 1 : Who can apply
Eligibility requirements
You can come to Canada to study if you :
- Are enrolled at a DLI
Prove you have enough money to pay for
- Your tuition fees.
- Living expenses for yourself and any
family members who come with you to
Canada and - Return transportation for yourself and any family members who
come with you to Canada.
2. Obey the law, have no criminal record and get a police certificate (if required).
3. Are in good health and get a medical exam (if required)
4. Prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your study permit expires.
Your responsibilities
While studying in Canada you must
- Make progress towards completing your program.
- Respect any conditions listed on your study permit.
- Stop studying if you no longer meet the
requirements.
Depending on your case, there may be conditions on
your study permitsuch as
- If you’re allowed to work in Canada.
- If you’re allowed to travel within Canada.
- The specific date you must leave Canada.
- Where you can study (a specific DLI listed on your
permit). - You must change your DLI in your IRCC secure
account before you can study at a different DLI. - Whether you need an immigration medical
examination.
Who doesn’t need a permit to study in Canada?
Most foreign nationals need a study permit to study in Canada. The cases below are exceptions:
- Short-term students
You don’t need a study permit if you’re coming to Canada for a program that lasts 6 months or less. - Family or staff of foreign representatives You may not need a study permit if you’re a family or staff member of a foreign representative to Canada that has been accredited by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). Your embassy can contact GAC to find out if you need one.
- Members of the foreign armed forces of a country designated under the Visiting Forces Act (VFA) You don’t need a study permit if you’re a member of a foreign armed force (as part of either the military or a designated civilian personnel) from a country that is designated under the VFA and you’re on official duties in Canada.
You should be in possession of a letter of acceptance from Canada’s Department of National Defence.
If your family members, including minor children, want to study in Canada, they may need a study permit. - Registered Indians in Canada
You don’t need a study permit if you have Registered Indian status in Canada, even if you’re a citizen of
another country. - Minor children in Canada : Minor children don’t need a study permit if
• They’re refugees or refugee claimants or their parents are refugees or refugee claimants
• Their parents are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada
• They’re in Canada attending preschool, primary or secondary school, and they
• Are accompanied by a parent who has authorization to study or work in Canada
• They’re in Canada unaccompanied, and they’re attending preschool, primary or secondary school.
We recommend that minor children get a study permit, even if they don’t need one. - Temporary residents and asylum seekers taking French language and culture courses :
You don’t need a study permit to take French language and cultural integration courses in Quebec. To be eligible for the courses, you need to be a temporary resident/asylum seeker - Temporary residents taking settlement and integration courses
If you’re taking settlement and integration courses offered by a provincial or territorial government
to help you settle into Canada, you don’t need a permit. - Workers who can study without a study permit
You may be eligible to study without a study permit, if You have a valid work permit that was issued on or before June 7, 2023 or You have been issued a letter on or before June 7, 2023, authorizing you to work while we process your work permit application.
Section 2 : Get the right documents
You need following documents to apply for a study permit:
- Proof of Acceptance.
- A Provincial Attestation letter from the province or territory where you
plan to study. - Proof of Identity.
Proof of Financial Support.
You may also need :
- A Letter of Explanation.
- A Medical Exam.
- A Custodian Declaration(Minors Only), or
- Other Documents.
1.Proof of acceptance
Your school must provide you with a letter of acceptance (LOA). Include the original or electronic copy of your letter with your study permit application.
Conditional acceptance and prerequisite courses
If you’ve been conditionally accepted, you need to take prerequisite courses. For example, these might be English as a second language or French as a second language courses. You must complete these before you can start your main study program.
If this is the case, we’ll only issue your study permit for the length of those courses plus 1 year. Once you’re accepted into your main program, you’ll need to apply for a new student permit to extend your stay as a student.
Exceptions
If you’re the family member of someone who has a study permit or work permit application that’s been approved in writing before you come to Canada, you don’t need a letter of acceptance.
2.Provincial attestation letter
(from the province or territory where you plan to study)
For schools outside of Quebec
Provincial attestation letter from a province or territory outside Quebec
Each province or territory is developing a process to issue PALs. These processes are expected to be in place by March 31, 2024.We’ll update this page with more information as it becomes available from each province and territory.
Applications received before 8:30 a.m. ET on January 22, 2024, do not require a PAL.
For schools in Quebec
Quebec Acceptance Certificate
If you want to study in Quebec, you need an attestation of issuance of your Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ), which is issued by the Government of Quebec. Your school can tell you how to apply for the CAQ.
For your CAQ to act as your provincial attestation letter, it needs to include the following line:
“This attestation letter confirms that the applicant has a place in Quebec’s share of the distribution of study permit applications or is exempt from it.”
CAQs for applications received before 8:30 a.m. ET on January 22, 2024, do not require the above
line.
Who doesn’t need a provincial attestation letter
You do not need a PAL when applying for a study permit if you
- Are applying to study in a preschool, primary school or secondary school (up to grade 12)
- Are applying to study in a master’s degree or doctoral degree program or
Have entered Canada and one of the following situations applies to you:
- You’re applying for a study permit extension.
- You have a work permit.
- You’re a temporary resident who is a visiting or exchange student studying at a designated learning institution (DLI).
- You’re a temporary resident who has completed a course or program of study that is a prerequisite to you enrolling at a DLI.
- You’re under a removal order, but can’t be removed from Canada at this time.
- You have a temporary resident permit valid for at least 6 months.
You’re the family member of a foreign national who lives in Canada and is one of the following:
- A work permit holder
- A temporary resident permit holder with a permit that’s valid for at least 6 months
- A member of armed forces in another country under the Visiting Forces Act
- An accredited foreign government representative
- A participant in certain sports activities or events
- A worker in Canada who is a member of a foreign news company
- A religious worker
3.Proof of identity
When applying for your study permit, you and each family member who comes with you to Canada must have
A valid passport or travel document
- Online applicants: Upload a copy of the information page of your passport when you apply online.
- If you’re approved, you must send us your original passport.
- Citizens of the United States have some options on the identification documents they can carry.
- Lawful permanent residents of the United States must travel with a valid green card (or equivalent official proof of status in the U.S.) and a valid passport from their country of nationality (or an equivalent document).
two recent passport-size photos
- The name and date of birth of the person should be written on the back of each
photo.
4.Proof of financial support
You can prove your funds with
- Proof of a Canadian bank account in your name, if you’ve transferred money to Canada
- A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution
- Proof of a student or education loan from a bank
- Your bank statements for the past 4 months
- A bank draft that can be converted to Canadian dollars
- Proof you paid tuition and housing fees
- A letter from the person or school giving you money, or Proof of funding paid from within Canada, if you have a
scholarship or Canadian-funded educational program.
Minimum funds needed to support yourself as a student (and family members who come with you, All provinces except Quebec)
| Number of family members (including the applicant) | Amount of funds required per year (not including tuition) |
| 1 | CAN$20,635 |
| 2 | CAN$25,690 |
| 3 | CAN$31,583 |
1) Letter of explanation
This letter helps the visa officer to understand you and your goals. It explains
- why you want to study in Canada
- that you understand your responsibilities as a student
- You should include this letter if you decide to apply for a study permit, even if you don’t have to get a study permit for your program.
2) Medical exam
You may need a medical exam if any of these situations apply to you:
- You plan to stay in Canada for more than 6 months.
- You recently spent time in certain countries.
- You plan to work in certain jobs where public health must be protected.
3) Custodian declaration (minor children)
- If the minor requires a custodian, you must include the Custodianship Declaration form (PDF, 1.02 MB) with your
application. It has 2 pages that must be notarized (certified by a notary) and then included with your study permit application. - The custodian in Canada must sign the first page, and the parents or legal guardians of the minor child in the child’s home
country must sign the second page
4) Other documents
- Check the visa office instructions for your country or region for local requirements.
- If you aren’t currently in your home country, you may have to prove your immigration status in the country you apply from.
- If the government that issued your passport or travel document needs you to have a re-entry permit, you must get one before
- you apply for a Canadian visa. You may also need other documents.
Section 3 : How to Apply
Generally, you must apply for a study permit before you come to Canada. Some people can apply for a study permit from within Canada. In some cases, you can apply when you arrive in Canada at the port of entry. Make sure you understand which option is available to you.
Get your documents ready
When you apply, you should submit
A letter of acceptance from the Section 4 : after you Apply you’ll be attending
An attestation letter from the province or territory where you plan to study New: January 22, 2024
As many of the documents needed for a complete application as possible
- We won’t be able to finalize your study permit until you’ve submitted a complete application.
- Waiting to submit documents will cause delays in processing.
A letter of explanation for any documents that are missing due to COVID-19
Apply online
If you’re applying for a study permit, you must apply online, whether you’re outside of Canada or already in Canada.
You’re only eligible to apply on paper if you
- Have a disability that prevents you from applying online
- Hold an identity or travel document for non-national residents, refugees or stateless persons
Section 4 : after you Apply
Processing time : 10 weeks
This processing time doesn’t include the time you need to give biometrics.
1.Your fingerprints and photo (biometrics)
Book your biometrics collection appointment as soon as you can to avoid processing delays.
Find out how to give biometrics.
2.We process your study permit application : We’ll check your application to make sure you have all the necessary
documents. If it’s incomplete, we may return your application without processing it, or request the missing
documents.
We may also ask you to:
- Go to an interview with our officials in your country, or Send us more information
You may also need to get a:
- medical exam (if required), or
- police certificate (if required)
Missing documents
If you weren’t able to submit all the required documents with your application, you can submit the missing
documents through your online account or our web form. We won’t process your study permit until you’ve submitted a complete application. Waiting to submit documents will cause delays in processing.
Updating your application
If you move or change your address, telephone number or any other contact information after you apply, you must update your application.
If we approve your application
You’ll get your study permit
- at the port of entry when you arrive in Canada or
- mailed to you, if you’re already in Canada
If you applied for your study permit from outside Canada
We’ll send you a port of entry letter of introduction that says you’re allowed to study in Canada. This letter is not your study permit.
You need to bring this letter with you and show it to a border services officer when you arrive in Canada. We’ll also send you an electronic travel authorization (eTA) or a visitor visa (temporary resident visa) to enter Canada, if you need one.
If you’re from a country where you need an eTA, the letter of introduction will include information about your eTA. Your eTA will be linked to your passport and is valid for 5 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. It’s important that you travel with the passport you used when you applied for your study permit.
If you’re from a country where you need a visitor visa, the visa will be in your passport. It’ll show if you can enter Canada once or multiple times. You must enter Canada before your visa expires.
If you’re a lawful permanent resident of the United States, travel with a valid green card (or equivalent official proof of status in the U.S.) and a valid passport from your country of nationality (or an equivalent document).
If you applied for your study permit from inside Canada :
If you were eligible to apply from inside Canada
We’ll mail your study permit to the Canadian address you included in your application.
If you followed the instructions to apply for a study permit from outside Canada
In this case, you filled out the form called Application for Study Permit Made Outside of Canada [IMM 1294]. If your application is approved, you’ll get an approval letter that says you’re allowed to study in Canada. This letter is called the port of entry letter of introduction.
Once you have this letter, you must leave and ask to get your study permit on return to Canada.
If we refuse your application:
We’ll send you a letter explaining why.
We may refuse your application if you don’t
- Have a valid letter of acceptance
- Show proof that you have enough money to support yourself while studying in Canada
- Pass your medical exam, if you needed to get one
- Convince the visa officer that your main purpose in Canada is to study or
- Convince the visa officer that you’ll leave Canada at the end of your study period
If you have questions about why you were refused, contact the visa office that sent you the refusal letter.
Section 5 : prepare for your arrival
Before you come to Canada
Before you arrive, read the pre-departure guide for tips and information about student life in Canada.
To help ensure a smooth arrival in Canada, please check the Canadian Border Service Agency’s information for international students, and download their PDF pamphlet (PDF, 592 KB).
How early can you arrive in Canada before you start studying
There is no set time frame for you to arrive in Canada before you begin your studies. You should just arrive to give yourself a reasonable amount of time to prepare before you start studying.
You are not allowed to work on or off campus until you begin your studies in Canada.
Changing your designated learning institution if you’re outside Canada.
If your application for a study permit has been approved and you change your designated learning institution, you
must submit a new study permit application with a new letter of acceptance. You must also pay all the fees for the new application.
When you arrive in Canada :
When you arrive in Canada, you’ll meet a border services officer who will make sure you meet some basic requirements.
To enter Canada, you must
- Have a valid travel document, such as a passport.
- Have the port of entry letter of introduction the visa office sent you when they approved your study permit (This letter has your permit reference number, which we use to issue your study permit.)
- Have a copy of a valid letter of acceptance from your school.
- Have letters of reference or any other documents the visa office told you to bring.
- Have a valid electronic travel authorization (eTA), a valid visitor visa (temporary resident visa), a valid green card (or equivalent official proof of U.S. status) or another valid travel document.
- If you have a valid eTA, it’ll be linked to the passport you used to apply for your study permit.
- Have enough money for your stay (the amount you will need can vary—it depends on things such as how long you will stay, and whether
you will stay in a hotel, or with friends or relatives) - Be in good health
- Have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
- Convince an immigration officer that
- (i)you have ties—such as a job, home, financial assets or family—that will take you back to your home country and
- (ii) you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
Have valid immigration medical exam results (if you needed one)
- Your exam is valid for 12 months from the day you get it.
- It must be valid the day you enter Canada.
- If your exam will expire before you enter Canada, you need to get another medical exam.
- This applies even if your letter of introduction is still valid.
- prove that you’ll leave Canada at the end of your stay
If you need proof you entered Canada
Your school or training facility may need you to prove you entered Canada. If you need proof of entry, make sure a border services officer
stamps your passport before you leave Canadian customs. You may also be able to use a Primary Inspection Kiosk to stamp your passport.
Inadmissibility
- Some people are inadmissible—they’re not allowed to come to Canada. Several things can make you inadmissible, including involvement
- in criminal activity, in human rights violations or in organized crime.
- You can also be inadmissible for security, health or financial reasons. Find out more about inadmissibility
Section 6 : while you study
While you’re studying in Canada as an international student, you must meet the conditions of your study permit and keep your profile information updated in your online account. If your study program is ending soon, you also need to know how long you can stay in Canada and what to do if you plan to stay longer.
Updating your profile information : If information in your profile changes, you must update it in your online account.You may need to update your profile if you
- change schools
- need to update documents or your contact information
Changing schools :
- Before you change your school or program, you must meet all the conditions of your study
permit. This means you must be - Enrolled at a designated learning institution (DLI) and
- Actively studying while you’re in Canada
You need to update your online account or contact us if you - Are a post-secondary student changing schools or
- Have a co-op work permit and have changed post-secondary schools to another co-op program
Learn more about changing schools.
Updating your contact information or documents :
You must keep the contact information on your study permit up to date. If your contact information changes, use our web form to update it.
Medical exams :If you plan to leave Canada while you’re studying, you’ll need a new immigration medical exam
(IME) to return if you’re from a country that requires a valid IME to enter Canada and your IME has expired or will
expire while you’re outside of Canada. Find out if you need an IME to return to Canada as an international student.
Changing the conditions of your study permit :
If you want to change a condition on your study permit, you must apply.
Find more information about your study permit conditions.
How long your study permit is valid : A study permit is usually valid for the length of your study program, plus an extra 90 days. The 90 days
let you either
- prepare to leave Canada or
- apply to extend your stay
The amount of time you can stay in Canada after you’ve completed your studies depends on whether - you’re taking prerequisite courses
- your study permit will expire before you finish your studies
- you’ll finish your studies before your study permit expires
If you’re taking prerequisite courses : If your school asks you to take courses before they accept you into the main program (you have conditional acceptance), your study permit will be valid for the length of those courses plus 1 year.
When you get accepted into the main program, you must apply to extend your stay as a student.
If your study permit will expire before you finish your studies :
If your study permit will expire before you finish your courses, you must apply to extend your stay as a student.If you don’t, you’ll need to stop studying and leave Canada.
If you’ll finish your studies before your study permit expires : If you finish your studies early, your study permit will stop being valid 90 days after you complete your studies, no matter what day is printed on the study permit.Your studies are officially completed on the date your school first notifies you by any of the following:
(i)completion letter (ii)Transcriptegree or diploma
You must provide proof of the date your school notifies you or the date you get your degree, diploma or certificate.