Study Permit

Overview

A study permit allows you to study at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada. Most applicants now also need a provincial or territorial attestation letter. A strong application clearly shows finances, study plans and genuine intent.

Who may qualify

• Accepted by a designated learning institution (DLI)
• Proof of financial support
• No criminal or medical inadmissibility
• A clear, credible study plan

The process

1. 1Get your acceptance letter and attestation letter (if required)
2. 2Gather financial and supporting documents
3. 3Submit your study permit application
4. 4Give biometrics and complete a medical exam if required
5. 5Receive a decision and port-of-entry letter

Timeline: Varies by country — check IRCC's current processing times

Choose a program that supports a credible study plan

An acceptance letter starts the application, but it does not establish that you meet every immigration requirement. Explain why this particular qualification makes sense alongside your previous education, employment and future plans. Identify relevant courses, practical training or research opportunities rather than relying on general statements about Canadian education. If you are changing fields, returning after a long gap or taking a qualification at a similar level, explain the practical reason and support it with your circumstances.

Check that the institution is designated to accept international students and that your acceptance remains valid for the intended intake. Designated learning institution status does not mean every program qualifies for a post-graduation work permit. If working after graduation matters to your decision, investigate the separate school, program and applicant requirements before paying a substantial deposit. Admission, study authorization and future work authorization are different decisions.

Attestation letters and Quebec requirements

Many applicants must include a provincial or territorial attestation letter, usually obtained through their school. Do not assume an acceptance letter replaces it. Check the exemption rules against your program and application circumstances, including the current treatment of degree-granting master's and doctoral programs at public designated learning institutions. A graduate certificate is not automatically a master's degree, and an institution's public or private status matters.

Applicants studying in Quebec must also check provincial requirements, including whether a Quebec Acceptance Certificate is needed. A federal attestation exemption does not automatically remove Quebec obligations. Confirm that names, institution details and intended studies agree across acceptance, provincial documents and application. If an intake changes or you change schools before a decision, confirm which documents must be replaced or updated.

Requirements checklist: accessible funding

Demonstrate funds for tuition, living expenses and transportation for yourself and accompanying family without relying on employment in Canada. Show sufficient resources for the first year and explain how the remaining program will be financed. Use IRCC's current financial-support table for your household and application date; Quebec has separate financial requirements. Tuition payments alone do not establish that living and travel costs are covered.

Financial evidence should explain ownership, availability and source. Bank histories, employment income, approved education loans, scholarships and documented family support can work together. Explain large recent deposits with records such as a sale agreement or transfer history. When a relative funds your studies, establish the relationship, commitment and capacity after their own expenses. Property valuations may provide context but do not necessarily demonstrate available money.

Prepare a consistent application

Use the document checklist generated for your circumstances and applicable local instructions. Complete education, employment, travel and immigration histories consistently across forms and records. Disclose previous refusals and relevant status problems accurately, including other countries when asked. Explain missing records rather than silently leaving gaps. Documents outside English or French must meet IRCC translation requirements; an informal translation by a friend may not qualify.

After submission, monitor the account and contact information provided. Follow biometric instructions, medical requests and additional-document deadlines. Keep a complete copy and proof of delivery. If the school defers admission while processing continues, obtain an updated acceptance letter and follow IRCC instructions for informing the department. Paying tuition or approaching a class start date does not create entitlement to faster processing.

Approval, travel and responsibilities after arrival

A study permit authorizes studies subject to conditions; it is not a travel visa. Applicants approved outside Canada generally receive a port-of-entry introduction letter and, where required, an appropriate travel document. The introduction letter is not itself the study permit. Carry acceptance, financial evidence and approval documents when travelling, and check the permit issued at entry for errors, expiry and conditions.

Once in Canada, remain enrolled and actively pursue studies unless an applicable exception permits otherwise. Changes of institution, authorized leave, extensions and work eligibility require separate attention. Submitting another application does not authorize every proposed activity. Plan extensions before expiry and obtain advice before taking leave or changing schools. A future PR goal can coexist with temporary status, but you must satisfy the officer that you will respect the authorized stay.

Government fees

Government amounts are in Canadian dollars and must be checked on the official fee list before payment. Professional fees, translations, medical examinations and other third-party costs are separate. Exemptions and family maximums may apply; paying a fee does not purchase approval.

Processing times: Use the linked live IRCC processing-times tool for your application type and location. Published estimates are not deadlines or guarantees. Allow separately for document preparation, biometrics, medical examinations and any passport submission. A processing estimate does not extend immigration status.

Document checklist

• Valid passport, identity documents and relevant travel history
• Current acceptance letter showing institution, program, intake and admission conditions
• Attestation letter or evidence of exemption, and Quebec authorization where required
• Tuition receipts, bank histories, approved loans and scholarship documents
• Supporter commitment, relationship evidence, financial resources and income records
• Transcripts, qualifications, employment history and an explanation of study gaps
• Family records, compliant translations and medical evidence where required

Common refusal reasons

• Insufficient, inaccessible or unexplained funding for tuition and household costs
• Program choice poorly connected to background or objectives
• Officer not satisfied the applicant will respect temporary stay conditions
• Missing or unsuitable attestation and admission evidence
• Contradictory histories, undisclosed refusals or false records

Frequently asked questions