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A DLI is a school a provincial or territorial government has approved to host international students. In this guide Which schools are DLIs How to use the official list IRCC's fraud warning, in its own words Other signs IRCC lists: Curriculum licensing, and why it destroys PGWP plans IRCC gives you two options if your school is de designated while you are studying there: Changing schools Quebec IRCC does not publish a checklist, so use this one, built from the rules above: Questions people actually ask You need a letter of acceptance from one to apply for a study permit. IRCC's language is blunt: if your acceptance letter is not from a DLI, your application will be refused. But choosing a DLI is not just a box to tick. Get this step wrong and you can spend two years and forty thousand dollars on a program that leads nowhere. Which schools are DLIs All primary and secondary schools in Canada are automatically DLIs. They do not appear on the list, and they do not need to. Postsecondary schools are different. Each province and territory designates which universities, colleges, CEGEPs, vocational schools, private career colleges and language schools may enrol international students. Only those appear on the IRCC list. IRCC adds a warning worth repeating: provincial governments do not necessarily regulate private schools. If you are looking at a private institution, confirm it meets provincial education requirements AND that it is on the DLI list. How to use the official list IRCC's DLI list now has three tabs, and knowing which one you are on matters more than most people realise. Tab What it shows All post secondary DLIs Every public and private postsecondary DLI in Canada, by province DLIs offering PGWP eligible programs Only the schools with programs that can make you eligible for a Post Graduation Work Permit Public DLIs offering PAL or TAL exempt graduate programs Schools where a degree granting master's or doctoral program means you do not need a provincial attestation letter, for applications after 1 January 2026 To find your school: Pick the tab that matches what you actually need. Choose your province or territory. Search by school name or city. Copy the DLI number into the "Details of intended study in Canada" section of your study permit application. DLI numbers begin with a capital letter O followed by a string of digits, for example O19273743562. Copy it exactly. The single most important thing on this page Being a DLI does NOT mean the school gets you a Post Graduation Work Permit. IRCC states it directly: "Graduating from a designated learning institution (DLI) doesn't automatically make you eligible for a PGWP." And it goes further. Not all programs offered by a PGWP eligible DLI are themselves PGWP eligible. The school can be on the list while your specific program is not. This is why the "DLIs offering PGWP eligible programs" tab exists, and why it has an "Eligible programs" column. Check the school AND the program. Then check that you personally meet the PGWP requirements, because a qualifying program at a qualifying school still will not help you if you miss the language or field of study rules. If a recruiter tells you otherwise, read the next section carefully. IRCC's fraud warning, in its own words IRCC publishes a list of signs that you are being scammed. One of them is this, quoted exactly: Someone "tells you that all DLIs and programs of study can make you eligible for a post graduation work permit (PGWP)." That is not our warning. That is the Government of Canada telling you that this specific claim is a hallmark of fraud. Other signs IRCC lists: Telling you to apply for a student visa without a letter of acceptance from a DLI. Have the DLI send the letter directly to you. Promising you a letter of acceptance if you pay them. Offering a discounted tuition rate for a fee. Always pay tuition directly to the school. Charging you to apply for a scholarship, or guaranteeing a scholarship. Telling you that you can stay in Canada much longer than your study permit allows. Promising you a job or permanent residence. Asking for documents or payment through social media. It is also illegal in Canada for anyone not authorised by a governing body to charge fees to help you complete and submit immigration applications. Unauthorised representatives sometimes call themselves visa agents, immigration agents, or visa fixers. Providing false or misleading information can get your application refused and can ban you from Canada for up to 5 years. Curriculum licensing, and why it destroys PGWP plans A curriculum licensing agreement, also called a public private partnership or P3, is where a private career college delivers a program on behalf of a public college. IRCC: these programs are NOT PGWP eligible in most cases. The two exceptions are dated, and the dates are unforgiving. Type of arrangement You may still be PGWP eligible if you BEGAN the program Private college delivering on behalf of a public college in the SAME province On or before 15 May 2024 Private college delivering on behalf of a public college in ANOTHER province On or before 31 January 2023 Begin a same province P3 program after 15 May 2024, or a cross province one after 1 February 2023, and you are not eligible for a PGWP. Full stop. If a school is vague about whether it delivers a program under a licensing agreement, that vagueness is your answer. If your school loses its designation It happens, and it is survivable if you act. IRCC gives you two options if your school is de designated while you are studying there: Keep studying there until your current study permit expires. Apply for a new study permit at a different DLI. What you cannot do is extend your study permit to keep studying at a school that has lost its designation. If you had deferred your enrolment and the school is de designated before you start, you cannot start studying there at all. If you are in Canada with a valid permit, you find a new DLI, get accepted, and apply for a new study permit. If your permit was approved but not yet issued, IRCC will ask you for a new letter of acceptance from a new DLI. If your school is suspended or closes You may attend a DLI on the suspension list ONLY to finish a program you had already started. You cannot start something new there. If your school closed, discontinued your program, was suspended, or lost its designation before you finished, you may start at a new DLI while your extension application is pending, provided you have not left Canada since receiving the new letter of acceptance and you still meet the conditions of your previous permit. A permanent school closure also counts as grounds for authorised leave, which is capped at 150 days. Changing schools Since the current rules took effect, you cannot simply move DLI on your existing permit. You must get a NEW study permit, by applying to extend your current one, BEFORE you start at the new school. Your new school must also be a DLI. Check the list before you commit to anything. You will need a letter explaining why you are changing schools, and since 22 January 2025, a new valid PAL or TAL unless you are exempt. There is a 60 day service standard for postsecondary students changing DLI, but only if you answer "Yes" to the question asking whether you are a student in Canada changing your designated learning institution. Miss that question and you lose the fast lane. Do not just move and say nothing. IRCC spells out what happens: your old school reports you as not enrolled, you are in breach of your study permit conditions, the permit may become invalid or be cancelled, you may be asked to leave Canada, and you may be barred from returning. If you are outside Canada and your permit has been approved but you change schools, you file a NEW application with a new letter of acceptance, and you pay all the fees again. One more thing that catches transfers: if you moved from a non DLI to a DLI, only the time at the DLI counts. You need at least 8 months at the DLI to qualify for a PGWP. Quebec Quebec schools appear on the same national IRCC list. But Quebec adds its own document. You need an attestation of issuance of your Quebec Acceptance Certificate, the CAQ, issued by the Government of Quebec. Ask your school how to apply for it. Most students who are exempt from the PAL still need a CAQ, with very few exceptions. Reusing a CAQ when changing schools is narrowly limited. You can only reapply with the same valid CAQ if it was issued before 6 December 2024 and you are changing schools at the same level of study, or if you are a minor at primary or secondary level and the CAQ is not tied to a specific school. Changing between vocational training centres in Quebec does not need a new study permit, but does need a new CAQ. And note the PGWP measure in Quebec is 900 hours, not 8 months. Before you enrol, ask the school IRCC does not publish a checklist, so use this one, built from the rules above: Are you on the DLI list, and what is your DLI number? Is THIS PROGRAM on the PGWP eligible list, not just the school? Is this program delivered under a curriculum licensing or public private partnership arrangement? Will you validate my letter of acceptance with IRCC when asked? Is the program at least 8 months, or 900 hours in Quebec? That fourth one matters more than it looks. IRCC now asks schools to validate letters of acceptance, and if your school does not respond by the deadline, IRCC returns your application and refunds your fee. Weeks lost, for something entirely outside your control. Questions people actually ask Q: The school is on the DLI list. Am I guaranteed a work permit after I graduate? No. IRCC says so explicitly. Check the PGWP eligible tab, check your specific program, and check that you meet the PGWP requirements yourself. Q: My school just lost its designation. Am I finished? No. You can keep studying there until your current permit expires, or move to a new DLI with a new study permit. What you cannot do is extend your permit at that school. Q: Can I switch colleges once I am in Canada? Yes, but you need a new study permit approved before you start, plus a new PAL or TAL and a letter explaining the change. Moving without telling IRCC risks losing your status entirely. Q: An agent promised me a letter of acceptance for a fee. That is on IRCC's own list of scam signals. Have the school send the letter directly to you, and pay tuition only to the school. Q: Do I need a CAQ for Quebec? Almost certainly yes, even if you are exempt from the PAL. Q: Why trust KGraph? With a 98% success rate, over 10,000 clients served, and a 4.9 Google rating, KGraph Immigration provides expert guidance you can rely on. Rules like this one move. We have tracked these changes for more than ten years, and we can confirm what applies to your timing.Start Your Free Initial Eligibility Assessment Prepared by KGraph Immigration. Last updated July 2026. General information, not legal advice. 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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 Q: Do I need a permit for a 6 month course? Usually not. But get one before you travel if you might continue into further studies. Q: Can I send my PAL after I apply? No. It goes in with the application, or you upload proof of an exemption. Q: Can I work more than 24 hours off campus during term? No. Twenty four hours a week, across all jobs. Q: Is the Student Direct Stream still available? No. It ended on 8 November 2024. Q: I want PR eventually. Will saying so get me refused? No. Dual intent is lawful. You must still show you would leave if no other status were available to you. Q: My master's is at a private college. Am I PAL exempt? No. The exemption needs a degree granting master's or doctoral program at a PUBLIC DLI. Q: Why trust KGraph? With a 98% success rate, over 10,000 clients served, and a 4.9 Google rating, KGraph Immigration provides expert guidance you can rely on. Rules like this one move. We have tracked these changes for more than ten years, and we can confirm what applies to your timing.Start Your Free Initial Eligibility Assessment Prepared by KGraph Immigration. Last updated July 2026. General information, not legal advice. Related Articles How to Find a DLI PGWP – How to Apply Study Permit Conditions Explained Best Courses to Study in Canada for PR PGWP Service