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Study Permit Application (Permis d'études)

Apply for a Canadian study permit: get a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution, a provincial attestation letter or Quebec CAQ, prove your funds, apply online, give biometrics and prepare for arrival.

Curated by Raaya · Last reviewed Oct 2026

Steps

  1. Choose a designated learning institution (EED)

    2 days

    You can only get a study permit for a school on IRCC's list of designated learning institutions (DLIs). Search the list by province and note the school's DLI number, which you need for your application. Primary and secondary schools are automatically designated.

    If you may want to work in Canada after graduating, check whether your specific program is eligible for a post-graduation work permit; not all programs at a DLI are.

    Study permits are capped, and most post-secondary applicants need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL). From January 1, 2026, students in master's or doctoral degree programs at public DLIs are exempt from the PAL requirement.

    Tip: Apply to your schools early; offers, PALs and visa appointments all take time, and many programs fill months before the term starts.

    Online
    canada.ca
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  2. Get your acceptance letter and PAL (Lettre d'acceptation)

    14 days

    Apply to the program and, once admitted, get your letter of acceptance from the DLI. Your school must verify the letter with IRCC, so use the exact letter the school issues.

    Most college and undergraduate students, and graduate students at private institutions, also need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) confirming the province has space for you under its cap. Your school usually requests or issues the PAL for you after you accept the offer or pay a deposit. Exemptions include primary and secondary school students and, from January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students at public DLIs.

    Students going to Quebec do not need a PAL but must get a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) first.

    Tip: Check that your name and date of birth on the acceptance letter and PAL exactly match your passport; mismatches can delay or derail the application.

    Transcripts and diplomas
    Attach my documents

  3. Apply for a CAQ if studying in Quebec (CAQ)

    14 days

    Skip this step if you are not studying in Quebec. For programs longer than six months in Quebec, you need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate for studies (Certificat d'acceptation du Quebec, CAQ) issued by the Quebec government before you apply for the federal study permit.

    Create an account on Quebec's Arrima platform using exactly the same names as in your passport, complete the application for temporary selection for studies and pay the fee, which is $135 for applications from January 1, 2026. The fee must be paid within one hour of submitting, and the application only counts as submitted once paid. Quebec also sets its own proof-of-funds amounts.

    Tip: Apply for the CAQ as soon as you have your acceptance letter; the federal application cannot be completed without it.

    Online
    quebec.ca

  4. Prove your financial support (Preuve de fonds)

    3 days

    You must show you can pay your first year of tuition, travel, and living expenses. Outside Quebec, IRCC's living-expense minimum is $22,895 for one student for applications received before September 1, 2026, and $23,448 for applications received on or after September 1, 2026; it is $29,192 for two people from that date, plus $6,318 for each additional family member. Tuition and transportation are on top of these amounts.

    Acceptable proof includes a Canadian bank account in your name, a guaranteed investment certificate from a Canadian financial institution, a student or education loan, bank statements for the past four months, proof of paid tuition and housing, or scholarship letters. If your program is longer than one year, explain how you will pay for later years.

    Tip: Explain any large recent deposits with documents; unexplained lump sums are a frequent reason officers doubt funds.

    • Calculate first-year tuition plus the IRCC living-expense amount for your family size
    • Gather bank statements for the past four months or a GIC certificate
    • Add receipts for any tuition or housing already paid
    • Include scholarship, sponsor or loan letters with amounts and terms
    • Document the source of large recent deposits
    • Write a short study plan explaining your program choice and how you will fund it
    Proof of funds (bank statements, GIC, loan or scholarship)
    Attach my documents

  5. Get an immigration medical exam if required

    1 day

    You may need an immigration medical exam depending on the country where you have lived and the program you will study; for example, students who will work or study in health care, primary or secondary education, or with children often need one. IRCC's instructions in your application tell you whether it applies.

    Only an IRCC panel physician can do the exam. You can do an upfront exam before applying and upload the information sheet, which can speed up processing. You pay the clinic directly; fees vary.

    Tip: Bring your passport and any glasses or medical reports; the panel physician sends results directly to IRCC.

    Where
    IRCC panel physician · Bring your passport, glasses or contacts and reports for existing conditions. Keep the information sheet to upload with your application.
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  6. Pay the study permit fees (Frais)

    1 day

    Pay online when you submit. The study permit processing fee is $150 per person. Biometrics cost $85 per person, or $170 maximum for a family applying together. Pay the biometrics fee at the same time as the application to avoid delays.

    Separate third-party costs include the Quebec CAQ fee if applicable, medical exam, police certificates, translations and any Visa Application Centre optional services. A visa or eTA you need to travel is issued with the study permit approval at no extra charge.

    Tip: IRCC fees change from time to time; check the official fee list the day you pay and keep the receipt for your records.

    Fee
    CA$150 · Study permit processing fee (per person)
    Fee
    CA$85 · Biometrics fee per person ($170 maximum for a family)
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  7. Submit your application online (Soumettre la demande)

    2 days

    Apply through your IRCC secure account. Upload your letter of acceptance, PAL or CAQ, passport, proof of funds, a study plan, a digital photo, a family information form, and anything else your personalized checklist asks for, such as police certificates or the upfront medical sheet. Spouses and children can apply for their own permits in the same submission.

    Processing times vary by country of residence; check the IRCC processing time tool and apply well before your program starts. If you are already in Canada, different rules apply depending on your status.

    Tip: Your study plan should be specific: why this program and school, how it fits your past studies and career, and how you will fund it.

    Online
    canada.ca
    Valid passport (Passeport)Proof of funds (bank statements, GIC, loan or scholarship)Transcripts and diplomas
    Attach my documents

  8. Give your biometrics (Biométrie)

    1 day

    After you pay, IRCC sends a biometric instruction letter to your account, usually within 24 hours for online applications. You have 30 days to give your fingerprints and photo at a Visa Application Centre or other official collection point. Booking an appointment is free; do not pay anyone for a slot.

    Applicants aged 14 to 79 generally give biometrics, and they are valid for 10 years, so you may not need to give them again if you have done so recently.

    Tip: Book as soon as the letter arrives; appointment availability is tight before September and January intakes.

    Where
    Visa Application Centre · Bring your passport and the biometric instruction letter. Fingerprints and photo take a few minutes; appointments are free.
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  9. Track your application and decision (Décision)

    60 days

    Monitor your IRCC account for requests for more documents, a passport request or the decision. If approved, you receive a port of entry letter of introduction; the study permit itself is issued by a border officer when you arrive. If you need a visitor visa, IRCC asks for your passport to place the visa; if you need an eTA, it is issued automatically.

    If refused, read the reasons carefully before reapplying; submitting the same documents again rarely works.

    Tip: Do not book non-refundable flights until your passport is returned with the visa or you have your letter of introduction.

    Valid passport (Passeport)
    Attach my documents

  10. Prepare for arrival and keep your status

    3 days

    Carry the documents the border officer will ask for in your hand luggage, not in checked baggage. When the study permit is printed at the border, check every detail, including the expiry date and conditions, before leaving the counter.

    While studying, you must stay enrolled, make progress in your program and follow your permit conditions. Eligible students can work off campus up to 24 hours per week during academic sessions and full-time during scheduled breaks.

    Tip: Set a reminder 90 days before your permit expires so you can apply to extend in time.

    • Carry your passport, port of entry letter, acceptance letter, PAL or CAQ and proof of funds
    • Check the printed study permit for errors before leaving the border counter
    • Arrange health insurance (school or provincial plan, depending on province)
    • Apply for a Social Insurance Number if your permit allows work
    • Track the permit expiry date and apply to extend before it expires
    • Limit off-campus work to 24 hours per week during academic sessions
    Valid passport (Passeport)Proof of funds (bank statements, GIC, loan or scholarship)
    Attach my documents

Documents you'll need

Valid passport (Passeport)Your study permit cannot be issued beyond your passport's expiry date, so renew a passport that expires soon before applying.
Proof of funds (bank statements, GIC, loan or scholarship)Must cover first-year tuition, travel and IRCC's living-expense amount ($23,448 for one student for applications from September 1, 2026, outside Quebec).
Transcripts and diplomasYour previous academic records, used for admission and often included with the study permit application to support your study plan.

Official sources

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General guidance, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change; confirm with the official source before you act.

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