A Canadian study permit is written authorisation to study at a Designated Learning Institution. It is not a visa and it is not a travel document. If you need a visitor visa or an eTA to actually enter Canada, IRCC issues that alongside your approval.
In this guide
- Who needs a study permit
- What you must show
- Three rules that end applications:
- Who is exempt from the PAL or TAL
- Proof of funds
- Medical exam and police certificate
- Biometrics
- Fees
- How to apply
- Processing times
- Working while you study
- Changing schools or programs
- Why study permits get refused
- Common mistakes
- Questions people actually ask
Start with the news that invalidates most of what you will read elsewhere. The Student Direct Stream is CLOSED. IRCC ended it at 2:00 pm Eastern on 8 November 2024. Every new application now goes through regular processing. Any blog still telling you to use SDS for faster approval is out of date.
Who needs a study permit
Most foreign nationals do. You do not need one for a program lasting 6 months or less.
A word of caution on that. If you might continue into a longer program afterwards, get the permit anyway before you travel. Holding one lets you apply to extend your studies from inside Canada rather than leaving and starting over.
Other exemptions cover people with Registered Indian status, designated foreign armed forces members on duty, and certain family or staff of accredited foreign representatives. Some Quebec French language and cultural integration courses, provincial settlement courses, and qualifying construction apprentices may also be exempt. Check the live criteria before you rely on any of these.
Minor children in Canada are exempt in several situations, including being a refugee or refugee claimant, having a parent who is one, having a parent who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or attending preschool through secondary school with a parent who is authorised to study or work. A permit is still needed once the child reaches the age of majority in their province.
What you must show
You must be enrolled at a DLI, prove you have enough money without working in Canada, obey the law, be admissible, complete a medical exam or provide a police certificate if asked, and satisfy an officer that you will leave when your authorised stay ends.
That last one is where applications die. More on it below.
Dual intent is lawful. Wanting permanent residence one day does not disqualify you. But you must still satisfy the officer that you would leave if you did not obtain another legal status.
The DLI and the letter of acceptance
A DLI is a school a province or territory has approved to host international students. You need its letter of acceptance before you apply. All primary and secondary schools are designated, even though they do not appear on IRCC's postsecondary list.
To find a DLI number, open IRCC's DLI list, filter by school type and province, and search by name or city. Copy the number into your application.
One thing the list does NOT tell you: DLI status does not mean every program at that school qualifies for a Post Graduation Work Permit. If a PGWP is part of your plan, and for most people it is, check your specific program before you enrol. PGWP eligibility, including the field of study requirement, is keyed to WHEN you submit your study permit application. Get this wrong and you cannot fix it later.
Your letter of acceptance should be on official letterhead and show tuition, expected start and finish dates, and the registration deadline. IRCC will ask your school to validate it. If the school misses the validation deadline, IRCC returns your application and refunds the processing fee.
Upload the letter of acceptance in its own field. Nothing else belongs there.
The PAL or TAL
Most applicants need a Provincial Attestation Letter or a Territorial Attestation Letter. It confirms the province allocated you one of its capped study permit places.
Your intended DLI issues it, so ask the school about its process. You may have to accept your offer and pay some or all of your tuition first.
Three rules that end applications:
Every applicant needs their own letter, even a family applying together.
You must submit it WITH the application. IRCC will not accept it afterwards.
A letter for the 2026 cap year is valid until 31 December 2026 and must have been issued within that year. You cannot use one from a previous cap year.
Quebec applicants use the Quebec Acceptance Certificate instead.
Who is exempt from the PAL or TAL
| Exempt situation | What to include |
|---|---|
| Preschool, primary, or secondary school up to grade 12 | Proof of study level |
| A DEGREE GRANTING master's or doctoral program at a PUBLIC DLI, starting 1 January 2026 | Proof the school and program qualify |
| Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot applicant | A letter of acceptance identifying you as a pilot applicant |
| Federally designated military college | Proof of enrolment |
| Quebec vocational programs leading to a DVS, AVS or STC | Proof of the qualifying program |
| Exchange student paying no tuition to the Canadian DLI | Proof of the exchange |
| Global Affairs Canada scholarship recipient | Scholarship evidence |
Read the second row twice. The exemption requires BOTH that the program is degree granting AND that the DLI is public. A graduate certificate is not a degree. A private institution does not qualify. People assume "master's level" is enough and it is not.
There are also in Canada exemptions: extending at the same DLI at the same level, an unenforceable removal order, a temporary resident permit valid for at least 6 months, protected person status, and eligibility for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, under a public policy, or in the spouse or common law partner in Canada class.
Proof of funds
You must show money available to you WITHOUT working in Canada, covering tuition, living expenses for you and any accompanying family, and return transportation. For a program longer than a year, show the first year and explain how you will fund the rest.
For applications submitted on or after 1 September 2025, outside Quebec:
| Family members coming to Canada | Living expenses for one year |
|---|---|
| 1 | CAD $22,895 |
| 2 | CAD $28,502 |
| 3 | CAD $35,040 |
| 4 | CAD $42,543 |
| 5 | CAD $48,252 |
| 6 | CAD $54,420 |
| 7 | CAD $60,589 |
| Each additional person | CAD $6,170 |
These are LIVING EXPENSES ONLY. Tuition and transportation come on top of these figures, and people routinely underestimate by exactly that margin.
IRCC updates these amounts every year, usually effective 1 September. Check the live page before you apply.
Quebec sets its own amounts through the MIFI, not IRCC.
Acceptable evidence includes proof of paid first year tuition and housing, a Canadian bank account in your name, a Guaranteed Investment Certificate, a bank education loan, four months of bank statements, a convertible bank draft, a support letter backed by actual funds, or Canadian scholarship evidence. The documents must show the money is genuinely available to you.
Medical exam and police certificate
For a stay of 6 months or less, you generally do not need a medical exam, unless you will work in a job where public health must be protected.
For a longer stay, you also need one if you lived in or travelled to a listed country or territory for 6 consecutive months or more in the year before you come to Canada. The country list changes, so check it live. Only an IRCC approved panel physician can do the exam, and results are valid for 12 months.
Not everyone needs a police certificate upfront. IRCC may ask you and family members aged 18 or older for one depending on your situation. A certificate not in English or French needs the original plus a certified translation.
Biometrics
Fingerprints and a photo. Exemptions include United States nationals, children under 14, and applicants over 79.
Pay when you apply, wait for the instruction letter, and attend an official collection site. Biometrics are generally valid for 10 years.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Study permit, including extensions, per person | CAD $150 |
| Biometrics, one person | CAD $85 |
| Biometrics, family maximum | CAD $170 |
| Restore student status and get a new study permit | CAD $396.25 total |
How to apply
You must apply ONLINE. This is not a preference. Paper applications are allowed only if you have a disability that prevents applying online, or you hold an identity or travel document issued to a non national resident, a refugee, or a stateless person.
And flagpoling is over. Most foreign nationals already in Canada can no longer get a study permit at a port of entry.
The steps:
Choose a DLI and a program, checking PGWP eligibility if that matters to you.
Get the letter of acceptance.
Get your PAL or TAL, or the Quebec CAQ, unless exempt.
Gather identity, funds, medical, police and local documents.
Complete the forms and upload clear evidence.
Pay the fees.
Submit, then give biometrics when instructed.
Watch your account and answer IRCC requests promptly.
Forms: applying from outside Canada, Guide 5269 lists IMM 1294, IMM 5707, and the checklist IMM 5483. Applying from inside Canada, the core form is IMM 5709. Your online account builds a personalised checklist, which is the one you should follow.
Doctoral students, note that IRCC now offers faster processing for PhD students and accompanying family. Ask about it.
After approval
If you applied from OUTSIDE Canada, IRCC sends you a port of entry letter of introduction. That letter is NOT your study permit. A border officer issues the actual permit when you arrive, so bring the letter and show it.
If you applied from inside Canada, IRCC mails the permit to you.
Processing times
IRCC publishes no universal study permit time. Estimates vary by country, update weekly, exclude the time you take to give biometrics, and are not guarantees. Check the live tool for your country before you book anything.
Your conditions once you are here
Stay enrolled at a DLI. Actively pursue your studies. Enrol every academic semester apart from scheduled breaks. Make progress. Do not take authorised leave longer than 150 days. Leave Canada or get new status before your permit expires.
And know this one, because it catches graduates every year: your study permit becomes INVALID 90 days after you complete your program, no matter what expiry date is printed on it. Completion is dated from when your school first tells you, by letter, transcript or diploma.
Breaking your conditions can cost you your status, lead to removal, and in some cases trigger a 6 month wait before you can apply for another permit or visa from inside Canada.
Working while you study
You cannot work before your program starts. Not one day.
| Situation | Maximum work |
|---|---|
| Off campus during a regular term | 24 hours per week, across ALL jobs combined |
| Off campus during a scheduled break | Unlimited, if you are eligible before and after the break |
| Off campus when your program has no scheduled break | 24 hours per week |
| On campus | No IRCC hour limit |
| During authorised leave | No work at all |
| Between schools, while not studying | No work |
The 24 hour figure is current. If your permit still says 20 hours, the 24 hour rule overrides it, provided you continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
To work off campus you normally need to be a full time student at a DLI in a program of at least 6 months leading to a degree, diploma or certificate, with work authorisation on your permit and a Social Insurance Number. A part time exception applies in your final semester. Students in language only, general interest or prerequisite programs need a separate work permit.
Changing schools or programs
As of 8 November 2024, you can no longer change schools on the same study permit. A postsecondary student changing DLI must get a NEW study permit by applying to extend, BEFORE starting at the new school. Since 22 January 2025, that application also needs a new PAL or TAL.
You may start at the new DLI while the extension is pending only in narrow circumstances: you have not left Canada since receiving the new letter of acceptance, you still meet your previous permit's conditions, and your former DLI closed, discontinued your program, was suspended, or lost its designation.
There is a 60 day service standard for postsecondary students changing DLI, but only if you answer "Yes" to the DLI change question when you apply online.
At the same DLI, you can usually change programs unless a permit condition prevents it. Extend if the new program finishes later.
Why study permits get refused
IRCC will refuse you if you lack a valid letter of acceptance, show insufficient funds, fail a required medical exam, do not establish that study is your genuine main purpose, or do not satisfy the officer that you will leave at the end of your authorised stay.
| The problem | What a strong application shows |
|---|---|
| Insufficient funds | Money available for tuition, living costs, family and travel, plus a credible plan for later years |
| Weak study purpose | Why THIS program, THIS school, THIS timing, and how it progresses your education |
| Temporary intent not established | A truthful plan, real ties and obligations at home, and respect for permit conditions |
| Missing LOA or PAL evidence | Current documents in the correct fields, or proof of an exemption |
| Inconsistent documents | Dates, amounts, names, education history and explanations that all match each other |
On dual intent, be honest. Wanting permanent residence later is lawful and is not itself a refusal reason. Hiding it, or writing a study plan that nobody believes, is what sinks applications.
Common mistakes
- Relying on future Canadian earnings as proof of funds.
- Using a PAL or TAL from a previous cap year.
- Assuming any DLI program leads to a PGWP.
- Working more than 24 hours a week in term.
- Starting at a new DLI before the new permit is approved.
- Forgetting that the permit dies 90 days after you finish, whatever the printed date says.
Questions people actually ask
Prepared by KGraph Immigration. Last updated July 2026. General information, not legal advice.