Canada Study Permit: Requirements, Documents and Expert Help

You need a study permit if you are a foreign national who wants to study in Canada for more than six months at a post-secondary college or university, or at a primary or secondary school.

You usually do not need a study permit for:

• Courses or programs of six months or less
• Certain children of diplomats or foreign military members
• Registered Indians in Canada

Even for a short program, a study permit can be useful if you may want to continue studying or work on campus.

To get a study permit, you must:

1. Have a letter of acceptance (LOA) from a designated learning institution (DLI). IRCC verifies every LOA with the school.
2. Have a PAL or TAL from the province or territory, unless you are exempt.
3. Show enough money for tuition, living costs and return travel.
4. Satisfy the officer you will follow the rules, including leaving Canada if your status ends.
5. Have no criminal record (police certificate may be required).
6. Be in good health (medical exam if required).

Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)

Since January 22, 2024, most new study permit applicants need a PAL from the province where they will study. Your school applies for it or gives it to you after you accept your offer. Each province gets a share of Canada's national study permit cap.

You don't need a PAL if, for example:

• You're going to preschool, primary or secondary school
• You're starting a master's or doctoral degree program at a public DLI (since January 1, 2026)
• You're extending your study permit at the same school and level of study
• You're an exchange student who doesn't pay tuition to the Canadian school
• You have a Global Affairs Canada scholarship

See IRCC's full list of PAL exemptions before you apply.

Proof of funds

IRCC updates the living cost amounts every year. These are the amounts for applications submitted on or after September 1, 2026.

This is in addition to your first-year tuition and travel costs. Accepted proof includes:

• A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian bank
• Proof of tuition paid
• Bank statements for the past 6 months, showing where the money came from
• An education loan letter from a recognized bank
• Sponsor documents (income, tax returns and a sponsorship letter) if a parent pays

IRCC looks at where the money came from, not just the balance. A large deposit just before applying, with no explanation, is a red flag.

Study plan (statement of purpose)

Your study plan explains why you chose this program, school and country, and how it fits your education and career. A strong study plan:

• Shows a logical link between your past studies, work and the new program
• Explains why the program is not available, or is not as good, in your home country
• Describes your career plans and why you will follow your permit conditions
• Explains any study gap, change of field or past refusal

Generic templates copied from the internet are a common reason for refusal. We help you write a clear, honest plan in your own words.

• Valid passport
• Letter of acceptance (LOA) from a DLI
• PAL or TAL (if required)
• Proof of funds (GIC, tuition receipt, bank statements, loan letter)
• Study plan / statement of purpose
• Academic transcripts, diplomas and certificates
• Language test result (IELTS, PTE, CELPIP, TOEFL, Duolingo: as required by the school)
• Resume and employment letters (if you have work history)
• Sponsor documents (if someone else is paying)
• Digital photo
• Medical exam (if required)
• Police certificate (if required)
• Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) if studying in Quebec
• Family information form and relationship documents if family members come with you

1. Choose your program and school. Check that the school is a DLI and whether the program is eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) if you plan to work after graduation.
2. Apply to the school and get your LOA.
3. Get your PAL from the school or province.
4. Prepare proof of funds, including a GIC and tuition payment if possible.
5. Write your study plan and gather all documents.
6. Apply online through your IRCC account and pay fees.
7. Give biometrics at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) after you receive the instruction letter.
8. Complete a medical exam, if asked.
9. Get your decision. If approved, you receive a Port of Entry (POE) letter of introduction and a visitor visa or eTA. Your study permit is issued when you arrive in Canada.

Note: The Student Direct Stream (SDS) ended on November 8, 2024. All students now apply through the regular stream.

Most full-time post-secondary students can work:

• Off campus: up to 24 hours per week during academic sessions
• Full-time during scheduled breaks such as winter and summer holidays
• On campus: without an hourly limit, if you meet the conditions
• Co-op or internship: if it is a required part of your program and listed on your permit

Working more hours than allowed can lead to losing your student status and future refusals.

Spouse or common-law partner: Since January 21, 2025, a spouse or common-law partner can usually get an open work permit only if the student is in a master's program of 16 months or longer, a doctoral program, an eligible pilot program, or an eligible professional degree program (such as medicine, dentistry, law, pharmacy, nursing, education or engineering). Spouses of other students can still come as visitors or apply for their own study or work permit.

Children: Minor children can usually come with you and may attend primary or secondary school.

Refused? What to do next

1. Request your officer's notes (GCMS notes or the refusal reasons that now come with many decisions).
2. Find the exact reasons for refusal.
3. Fix the weak points, then reapply with new evidence, or consider judicial review if the officer made an error.

Reapplying with the same documents usually leads to the same result. Study permit refusal help →

• Extension: Apply before your permit expires. If you apply in time, you keep maintained status and can continue studying under the same conditions while you wait.
• Changing schools (DLI): Since November 8, 2024, you can't change schools on the same study permit. You need a new study permit, by applying to extend your current one (usually with a new PAL), before you start at the new post-secondary DLI.
• Changing program or level: Check if your current permit covers it and if your PGWP eligibility changes.

1. Profile review: education, funds, ties and goals
2. Program strategy: programs that make sense for your profile and are PGWP-eligible
3. Study plan support: clear, honest and specific
4. Document review: every page checked before you submit
5. Application filing: online submission and biometrics guidance
6. After approval: pre-departure checklist, port of entry tips and work rules

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