Study permit for Canada: the official steps
Most foreign nationals must obtain a study permit before studying in Canada. This guide follows IRCC's official pages (updated between January and October 2026) and explains, in order, what to gather, how to apply, what happens next and the rules to follow during your studies.
By the numbers
Who can apply for a study permit
According to IRCC, you can study in Canada if you are enrolled at a designated learning institution (DLI), can prove you have the means to pay your tuition, your living costs (for yourself and any family members who come with you) and your return transportation, obey the law and have no criminal record, are in good health, and can convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada when your permit expires.
A police certificate or a medical exam may be requested. Some people can study without a permit: IRCC describes them in a separate section, which you should read before concluding that you need one.
The documents to prepare
A letter of acceptance from the institution is always required. In most cases you also need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL or TAL), obtained from the institution, generally after accepting the offer and paying all or part of the tuition. To study in Quebec, a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) replaces the PAL or TAL.
You then need proof of identity for you and each family member who comes with you (a copy of a valid passport and two recent passport-size photos) and proof of funds, which is always required. The amounts required are on a separate IRCC page: check it rather than a figure found elsewhere. IRCC also recommends a letter of explanation about why you want to study in Canada. Depending on your situation, a medical exam, a police certificate, proof of custody (for a child under 17 travelling without a parent) or other documents requested by the visa office may be added.
Submitting the application
The application is generally made before arriving in Canada, and online, from your IRCC account. Paper is allowed only in specific cases, for example for a person whose disability prevents applying online. Attach the letter of acceptance and the PAL or, for a program in Quebec, the valid CAQ issuance attestation. The application can only be finalized once it is complete.
The study permit costs $150. Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) cost $85 per person: they are generally required for ages 14 to 79, provided only once every 10 years, and to be given within 30 days of the date stated in IRCC's letter. Medical exams, police certificates and language assessments are paid directly to third parties.
After applying: processing, decision and arrival
IRCC recommends booking your biometrics appointment as soon as possible to avoid delays. Documents are checked: an incomplete application may be returned, and the officer may ask for an interview, additional information, a medical exam or a police certificate. If you need to defer the start of your studies, the institution must approve the deferral and you must submit an updated acceptance letter. Processing times vary by country: use IRCC's official tool.
If the application is approved from abroad, you receive a port-of-entry letter of introduction: it states that you have the right to study, but it is not your permit, which is issued on arrival. Depending on your situation, an electronic travel authorization (eTA) or a visitor visa is also sent; the eTA is linked to the passport used for the application, so you must travel with that same passport. If refused, a letter explains the reasons.
During your studies: conditions to follow
You must show that you are actively studying: be enrolled full-time or part-time each semester, make progress toward completing your program and not take an authorized leave of more than 150 days. To change post-secondary institution, you must apply for a permit extension. Permission to work on or off campus is a condition printed on your permit, if it appears there; you cannot work during an authorized leave. To know your exact rights, read the conditions of your own permit.
A study permit is generally valid for the length of your program plus 90 days. If it expires before your studies end, you must apply for an extension before it expires. If you do not respect the conditions, you could lose your status and permit, have to leave Canada and wait six months before applying again. In Quebec, the province's own requirements apply.
After your studies
Your permit expires 90 days after your studies end, even if the date on the permit is later. The end of studies is the date shown on a completion letter, a transcript or a degree, and you must be able to prove it. The post-graduation work permit is available to graduates of certain designated learning institutions ($255 according to IRCC's March 2026 page); if you are not eligible, you might still be able to work in Canada, and that experience could help you become eligible for permanent residence. Our guide "From a study permit to permanent residence" details the possible routes.
Protecting yourself from fraud
IRCC reports that fraudsters notably target international students applying for a study permit, through social media, websites, emails and phone calls. Always check that your institution is on the official list of designated learning institutions, and never pay anyone who promises a guaranteed approval. Our guide on immigration fraud details the warning signs. Rules and fees change: confirm them on IRCC's pages before applying.