Effective September 1, 2025, the required funds for financial support will increase. More details below.
Most foreign students need a Study Permit in order to be allowed to join a study program in Canada. This article will let you know what are the exceptions of getting the Permit, and learn more about the application process and the processing times.
Study Permit – Do you need one?
The Study Permit is an authorization issued by the government of Canada that allows you to join a Designated Learning Institution.
Some Study Permits can impose a set of conditions, for instance if you are authorized or not to have a job in Canada.
There a few exceptions to getting a Study Permit to be able to study in Canada, namely if:
- you are going to study for a short-time period, less than 6 months, and your program is not part of a another longer study program,
- you are a staff of family member of a diplomatic representative. You should reach Global Affairs Canada to check if you are eligible to a Study Permit exemption,
- you are part of foreign armed forces, stationed in Canada,
- you have a Registered Indian status (foreign citizen or Canadian),
- you are a minor (under 18 or 19 years old, age limit depends on the province/territory) and (i) one of your parents has a Study or Work Permit (post-secondary studies are not exempt in this case), or (ii) you or your parents are refugee claimants or refugees,
- you are a temporary resident or asylum seeker in Canada and are going to take French language and cultural integration courses in Quebec,
- you are a temporary resident and are taking settlement and integration courses offered by a provincial or territorial government to help you settle into Canada,
- you are an construction apprentice eligible under the public policy (open until February 26, 2027),
- you have a valid work permit that you applied for on or before June 7, 2023, or
- you have been issued a letter authorizing you to work while your work permit extension application that was submitted on or before June 7, 2023 is being processed.
If your school asked you to take some courses (English or French classes) before accepting you (conditional acceptance), you will only be issued a permit for a duration equal to the length of these courses plus one year. When you get accepted into the main program, you can apply to extend your stay as a student from within Canada.
For studying in Quebec, you will have to apply first for a “Certificat d’Acceptation du Québec (CAQ)“. After approval of the CAQ, you can then apply for the Study Permit (except if you can request your Study Permit at the Port of Entry – in this case, you can request the CAQ after obtaining the Study Permit).
Your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible for an Open Work Permit if you are (i) studying in a master’s or doctoral degree program, (ii) participating in an eligible pilot program, or (iii) studying in one of the eligible professional degree programs at a university.
Study Permit – Designated Learning Institutions
A Designated Learning Institution (DLI) is a school approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students. All primary and secondary schools in Canada are DLIs.
In order to be eligible for a Study Permit, you need an acceptance letter from one of these DLIs (the list can be found at the bottom of this page).
Graduating from a DLI does not necessarily mean you will be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). For more information on the PGWP criteria, you can check out this page.
For changing designated learning institutions (DLI), international students at the post-secondary level already in Canada with a Study Permit must apply and be approved for a new Study Permit in order to be allowed to go ahead with the change.
The following situations do not require a new Study Permit:
- Changing from primary to secondary levels,
- Changing DLIs within primary or secondary levels, or
- Moving in post-secondary levels at the same DLI.
Study Permit – Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL)
Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) and Territorial Attestation Letters (TALs) are documents issued by provincial or territorial governments in Canada to confirm that a private educational institution is authorized to host international students. Each province is allocated a fixed number of attestation letters they are allowed to produce per year.
Except in some cases, you will need one of these letters when applying for a Study Permit. To obtain a PAL or TAL, students typically need to request it directly from their designated learning institution (DLI), which will coordinate with the provincial or territorial authority.
Unless it has a specified expiry date, a PAL/TAL is only valid for a specific Study Permit cap year:
- For the 2024 cap year, a PAL/TAL is valid until January 21, 2025, provided it was issued between January 22, 2024 and January 21, 2025.
- For the 2025 cap year, a PAL/TAL is valid until December 31, 2025, if it was issued between January 22, 2025, and December 31, 2025.
Your PAL/TAL must be valid at the time of your Study Permit application.
You can reapply for a Study Permit with the same PAL/TAL if:
- your PAL/TAL is still valid and your Study Permit application was accepted for processing and you voluntarily withdrew your application before a final decision was made, OR
- your Study Permit application was not accepted for processing.
You must get a new PAL/TAL before you reapply if:
- your PAL/TAL has expired or is no longer valid,
- your previous Study Permit application was approved or refused,
- you are changing schools, or
- you are changing your level of study (moving from post-secondary level to graduate level, or from graduate level to post-secondary level).
Some students may be exempt from requiring a PAL/TAL, such as those attending primary or secondary schools, exchange students, etc. The full list is available below.
PAL/TAL Exemptions
You don’t need a PAL/TAL when applying for a Study Permit in the following situations.
- You are applying to study at a (i) preschool, (ii) primary school (including kindergarten), (iii) secondary school (up to grade 12), (iv) school participating in the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) and have a letter of acceptance from this school identifying you as an applicant under the FMCSP, (v) federally designated military college, or (vi) school in Quebec in a vocational training program that leads to a diploma of vocational studies (DVS), an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS), or a skills training certificate (STC).
- You are an exchange student studying under an exchange arrangement between your home institution and a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada, and you don’t pay tuition fees to the DLI.
- You have received a scholarship from Global Affairs Canada.
- You are in Canada or entering Canada at a port of entry and are eligible for an exemption from certain study permit requirements based on a public policy as part of a migration response to a crisis or other pressure.
- You are exempt from certain study permit requirements under the temporary measures to reunite families of Indigenous people separated by Canada’s border.
- You have entered Canada and one of the following situations applies to you:
- You are applying for a study permit extension at the same DLI and level of study as your current study permit.
- You are under a removal order, but can’t be removed from Canada at this time.
- You have a temporary resident permit (TRP) valid for at least 6 months.
- You are a protected person.
- You are eligible for permanent residence (i) based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, or (ii) based on a current public policy, or (iii) as a spouse or common-law partner (through the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class).
Study Permit – Financial Requirements
You are required to prove you have enough money to cover tuition fees and to support yourself and any accompanying family members for the first year of studies. You should also make sure that funding will be available for the remaining years of the program of study. The funds and financial support can come from a parent, family member or a friend, and in this case, a letter of support will be required.
There are specific amounts that need to be met and depend on if you will study in Quebec or outside Quebec (amounts below are in Canadian dollars):
- Outside Quebec:
In addition to the amounts below, you will need to add the tuition cost for the first year.
For a Study Permit application submitted on or after September 1, 2025
If you apply for a Study Permit on or after September 1, 2025, you need to meet these requirements for financial support.
| Number of family members | Total Amount for 1 year (in CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $22,895 |
| 2 | $28,502 |
| 3 | $35,040 |
| 4 | $42,543 |
| 5 | $48,252 |
| 6 | $54,420 |
| 7 | $60,589 |
| For each additional members | $6,170 |
For a Study Permit application submitted before September 1, 2025
If you apply for a Study Permit before September 1, 2025, you need to meet these requirements for financial support.
| Number of family members | Total Amount for 1 year (in CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $20,635 |
| 2 | $25,690 |
| 3 | $31,583 |
| 4 | $38,346 |
| 5 | $43,492 |
| 6 | $49,051 |
| 7 | $54,611 |
| For each additional members | $5,559 |
- In Quebec:
Please refer to the Studying in Quebec page for the financial requirement amounts if you are studying in Quebec.
Study Permit – Validity Period
The validity of the Study Permit is generally equal to the program of studies’ duration, plus an additional 3 months. This additional time is given to allow you, either (i) to prepare an application for another permit or visa (Post-Graduate Work Permit, or Visitor for example), or (ii) to prepare your departure to your home country.
In case you want to continue studying in Canada after the expiration of your Study Permit, you need to apply for an extension of your permit.
If you finish your studies earlier than expected, the Study Permit will expire on whichever date comes first : either (i) the expiration date on your Study Permit, or (i) 90 days following the completion of your study program (either the date you receive a communication from your institution that you completed the program, or the date you receive your credential).
Study Permit – What’s the Difference with a Visa?
It is important that you understand that your Study Permit is not a visa. You will not be allowed entry to Canada without an eTA or a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), and your Permit.
When you first apply for your Permit, you will be issued, either an eTA or a TRV depending on your situation, and you will not have to pay additional fees. However, you will need to check the validity of your eTA and TRV (which could be different that the one in your Study Permit), and if they are single-entry or multiple-entry, so you can renew it if you want to leave Canada and re-enter during your studies.
United States citizens and permanent residents, as well as residents of Greenland or St. Pierre and Miquelon do not need an eTA or a TRV and are allowed to apply for the Study Permit directly at a Canadian Port of Entry.
Study Permit – How to Apply
In most cases, if you want to get a Study Permit, you need to apply online, whether you are inside or outside of Canada.
You must have a debit/credit card to pay the fees and a camera/scanner to make electronic copies of your documents.
One exception to applying online is if you have a disability that makes it difficult to apply online or if you have a specific type of identity or travel document for non-national residents, refugees, or stateless persons. In those exceptional cases, you can apply on paper.
The second exception is that you can apply for a Study Permit at of Port of Entry if you are a:
- citizen of the U.S.
- permanent resident of the U.S.
- person who has lawfully been admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence
- resident of Greenland, or
- resident of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.
If you are planning in studying in Quebec but did not get your “Certificat d’Acceptation du Québec (CAQ)” before requesting a Study Permit at the Port of Entry, the Study Permit can still be issued, but you will need to request your CAQ within 6 weeks of your arrival in Canada.
Study Permit – Supporting Documents
The following list of documents supporting your application is not exhaustive and will help you have a better idea of what you will need:
- Proof of fee payment. Make ensure to include the application processing fee and, if applicable, the biometric fees.
- Photocopy of the information page(s) of your valid passport or travel document which includes: passport number, issuance and expiry dates, photo, name, date and place of birth.
- Photograph(s) meeting the requirements.
- Letter of acceptance from where you intend to study, it must be issued by the Canadian institution on official letterhead, showing the exact amount of tuition fees you are required to pay, the anticipated starting and finishing dates, and the date by which you need to register.
- Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL) from the province or territory where they plan to study outside Quebec (not required if exemption apply).
- “Certificat d’acceptation du Québec” (CAQ) if enrolled in an institution in Quebec.
- Proof of financial support. Examples of supporting documents:
- Proof of a Canadian bank account in your name, if you’ve transferred money to Canada,
- Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution,
- Proof of a student or education loan from a bank,
- Bank statements for the past 4 months,
- Bank draft that can be converted to Canadian dollars,
- Proof you paid tuition and housing fees,
- Letter from the person or school giving you money, and/or
- Proof of funding paid from within Canada, if you have a scholarship or are in a Canadian-funded educational program.
- Photocopy of your Marriage License/Certificate if married.
- Photocopy of your current immigration status if your country of residence differs from the country of citizenship listed on your passport.
- Your medical exam report, if applicable.
It is important to consult the visa office instructions of your country of residence because it is possible that certain specific documents will be required for a particular country.
Study Permit – Biometrics
Study Permit – Medical Examination
Study Permit – Police Certificate
There are specifications for each country, use this link and choose your country for detailed information.
Study Permit – Application Fees
Study Permit – Processing Times
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has a target service standard of processing:
- 80% of study permit applications submitted outside Canada within 60 days, and
- 80% of study permit applications submitted inside Canada (initial and extension) within 120 days.
According to the annual data published in December 2025 – From April 2024 to March 2025, IRCC processed:
- 81% of study permit applications submitted outside Canada within the 60-day standard, and
- 85% of study permit applications submitted inside Canada within the 120-day standard.
The current average processing times for a study permit can be found here. Select “Temporary residence (visiting, studying, working)”, then either “Study permit (from outside Canada)” or “Study permit (from inside Canada)”.
