How to Apply for a Canada Study Permit

Before you start

A Canada study permit is applied for through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The exact steps, forms, and fees depend on your situation and country, and they change over time.

This is general information, not immigration advice. Use the steps below to understand the shape of the process, then follow the official instructions and verify every requirement on the official Government of Canada source before you apply.

Step 1 — Get accepted by a DLI

You generally cannot apply for a study permit until a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) has accepted you and issued an acceptance letter. A DLI is a school approved to host international students.

Make sure the institution is on the official Designated Learning Institutions list, and keep your acceptance letter, since you will normally need it as part of the application.

• Apply to and receive acceptance from a DLI
• Confirm the school is on the official DLI list
• Keep the acceptance letter for your permit application

Step 2 — Obtain a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL), where applicable

Since the Government of Canada introduced the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) in January 2024, most study-permit applicants must include a PAL (or, in Quebec, a provincial attestation) issued by the province or territory where they will study.

Some applicants are exempt. Because the list of who needs a PAL and how it is issued is set by IRCC and the provinces and can change, confirm whether you need one — and how to get it — on the official Government of Canada source and your destination province or territory.

Step 3 — Show proof of funds

Study-permit applicants generally must show they have enough money to cover tuition and living costs. The required amount is set by IRCC and was raised in 2024, so do not rely on older figures.

One common way to demonstrate living-cost funds is a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution, though other forms of proof may be accepted. Verify the current required amount and the acceptable forms of proof on the official Government of Canada source.

Step 4 — Submit the application to IRCC

With your acceptance letter, PAL (if required), and proof of funds ready, you submit the study-permit application through the official IRCC system, along with any other documents IRCC requests for your situation (such as a passport and photos) and the applicable fees.

Note that the Student Direct Stream (SDS), a former faster-processing pathway, was ended on 8 November 2024 — applicants now use the regular study-permit process. Always check the current application channels and steps on the official Government of Canada source.

Step 5 — After you apply

After submitting, IRCC may ask for additional information, such as biometrics or a medical exam, depending on your situation. Processing times vary by country and time of year.

If your application is approved, IRCC will issue the documents you need, and you will receive your study permit in line with the official process. The decision rests with IRCC. This is general information only — verify every step and requirement on the official Government of Canada source, and remember that approval is never guaranteed.