The CAQ for studies in Quebec, step by step: timelines, fees, documents and caps

The two authorizations and their order

For a program longer than six months, you need a CAQ for studies and a study permit. The order given by the Government of Quebec is: be admitted to a designated learning institution in Quebec; apply for temporary selection for studies as soon as you receive your admission letter; apply for the study permit with the federal government once you receive the letter confirming your CAQ was issued.

A program of six months or less does not require a CAQ, but if the program is part of a total duration longer than six months, the CAQ is required. A program taken entirely online, in Quebec or abroad, does not qualify for a CAQ. If an online program requires presence in Quebec, even brief, the CAQ and study permit are required.

Step 1: admission and the admission letter

Everything starts with the institution's admission letter. It must include the institution's contact details and program details: name, type of diploma, dates, credits or hours, tuition. Never pay anyone who promises an admission or a guaranteed CAQ: see our guide on immigration fraud.

Step 2: institution caps

For the period from December 17, 2025 to December 16, 2027, the government sets, for each one-year period, a maximum number of applications per institution, school service centre or school board. Applications for vocational, college and university studies are subject to these caps unless an exemption applies. If the cap is reached, you cannot file unless exempt. Places freed by the rejection of ineligible applications are reallocated on certain Thursdays at 2 p.m. An order of July 22, 2026 revised some caps; current figures are in the International Student Program tracking tables, published in French.

Exemptions include notably continuing the same program at the same institution and level, asylum seekers, dependent children of a temporary worker or foreign student, selected recipients of the Merit Scholarship Program for vocational training, holders of a Government of Quebec protocol certificate, and students who must transfer because their institution ceased or suspended activities. Check the current list before filing.

Step 3: prepare the file before starting

Before opening the form, gather your passport, admission letter, tuition information, a credit card and an email address. Create an Arrima account: your first and last names must match your passport and your online application exactly.

Step 4: the online form, completed in one sitting

The online temporary selection form for studies must be completed in one sitting, because it cannot be saved. Also create a consultation profile to receive updates on your file.

Step 5: pay within the hour

The $135 fee for an international student is payable by credit card within one hour of submitting the form. According to the official page, your application is not considered submitted until payment is received. The fee is adjusted each January 1 and is non-refundable, even if the application is refused or rejected; only applications deemed non-receivable are refunded. You receive your file number within 48 hours of payment: it lets you get the list of documents to provide.

Step 6: upload documents within 15 days

Documents are uploaded to your Arrima account within 15 days. The documents page (updated January 13, 2026) lists: the passport identity pages, the admission letter, the signed Declaration, Undertakings and Authorization form, proof of financial capacity, and, if applicable, another person's declaration of financial support with their financial proof and the document supporting an exemption. Additional documents are requested for children aged 16 or under.

Documents must be in French or English, otherwise accompanied by a translation signed and certified by a professional translator. Signatures must be handwritten, on a device or scanned: typed signatures are not accepted. Proof of health and hospitalization insurance must cover the entire stay: a RAMQ card, proof of the institution's group plan for international students, or proof from a private insurer.

Proof of financial capacity: the official amounts

The basic amounts for one year, for applications made since January 1, 2026, are: $24,617 for one person, $34,814 for two, $42,638 for three, $49,234 for four, $55,045 for five and $60,299 for six, with $5,254 more per additional person. Financial capacity must also cover round-trip transportation, and tuition is that of the institution.

Accepted proofs include a funds transfer authorization from the exchange control office if your country limits the outflow of funds, official scholarship confirmation, bank statements for the last six months, a guaranteed investment certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution, proof of a student loan, work income of a Quebec resident who is financially responsible, or proof of tuition payment. Morocco is not mentioned on this page. Our guide on the cost of studying in Canada details the budget.

Step 7: the decision, in 25 working days

For 80% of complete applications, with payment and documents received, a decision is made within 25 working days. An incomplete or non-compliant application may take longer. The page does not state how long the CAQ remains valid. If denied or rejected, an administrative review may be requested under certain conditions.

Step 8: IRCC's study permit

The approved CAQ appears in your online file. You use it to apply for the study permit with the federal government, where it serves as the provincial attestation letter; you can also provide it as proof to the institution. For the study permit, IRCC requires notably the letter of acceptance, proof of identity and proof of funds. Study permit and biometrics fees are detailed in our study permit guide.

Mistakes to avoid

Starting the form without having prepared the documents, because it cannot be saved. Not paying within the hour, which prevents the application from being submitted. Letting the 15 days pass for uploading documents. Using a name different from the passport. Applying for a CAQ for a program whose cap is reached without checking for an exemption. Entrusting the file to an intermediary: the process is done directly online.

Official sources consulted

Government of Quebec, “Study in Quebec”: pages on temporary selection for studies (updated January 1, 2026, with reference to July 2026 decisions), authorizations (October 22, 2026), documents (January 13, 2026) and costs of studies (January 1, 2026); IRCC: documents required for a study permit (page of October 6, 2026). Consulted on October 26, 2026. Rules, caps and fees change: check them on quebec.ca before acting.