Study Permits
If you plan to study in Canada for more than six months, you will likely need a Canadian study permit. This document allows you to pursue your studies at a designated learning institution and opens doors to many opportunities in Canada.
Including Family Members
Applicants for a study permit may include their spouse or common-law partner and dependent children in their application. Benefits include:
- Open Work Permit for Spouses – Your partner may be eligible to work for any Canadian employer while you study.
- School Access for Children – Your minor children can attend Canadian elementary or secondary schools without needing a separate study permit.
Free Assessment
Exemptions from a Study Permit
You may not need a study permit if:
- Your program of study in Canada is six months or less.
- You are a minor child or fall under specific exemption categories set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
How to Obtain a Study Permit
It is important to apply for a study permit as soon as you receive your Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Processing times vary by country, and delays are common during peak periods (especially in the summer months).
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to apply for a Canadian study permit, you must:
- Letter of Acceptance (LOA): Obtain an LOA from a DLI.
- Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL): Secure a PAL from the province or territory where the DLI is located (unless exempt).
- Financial Proof: Demonstrate sufficient funds to cover your first year of tuition, living expenses, and return transportation to your home country.
- Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ): If studying in Montreal or elsewhere in Quebec, you must obtain a CAQ.
- Criminal Background: Have no criminal record or security concerns. IRCC may request a police clearance certificate.
- Medical Examination: Be in good health. IRCC may request a medical exam.
- Temporary Intent: Convince the immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay.
Supporting Documents
Applicants may also be required to submit:
- Valid passport for the applicant and all accompanying family members.
- Two passport-sized photos for the applicant and each family member (with full name and date of birth written on the back).
- Marriage certificate, if applicable.
- Any additional documents requested by the visa office handling the application.
Fast-Track Option: Student Direct Stream (SDS)
⚠️ Important Update: As of November 8, 2024, the Student Direct Stream (SDS) has officially been closed. Only applications submitted before 2:00 PM (EST) on November 8, 2024 will continue to be processed under the expedited SDS timeline.
All new study permit applications must now be submitted through the standard study permit process (outlined above).
Before Closure of SDS
Prior to its closure, SDS offered faster processing (20 calendar days) for eligible applicants from specific countries. Applications had to be submitted online, and applicants had to be residing in one of the eligible countries at the time of application.
Eligible SDS Countries:
- India
- Vietnam
- Colombia
- Trinidad and Tobago
- China
- Morocco
- Peru
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- The Philippines
- Senegal
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Pakistan
- Brazil
- Costa Rica
Financial Support
Applicants for a Canadian study permit must prove they have sufficient funds to cover the first year of tuition fees as well as living expenses for themselves and any accompanying family members. These funds must be available for each year of study in Canada.
Proof of Financial Resources
Applicants may demonstrate financial support with one or more of the following:
- Canadian bank account statements in the applicant’s name (if funds have already been transferred to Canada)
- Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution
- Proof of a student or educational loan from a financial institution
- Bank statements from the past four months
- Bank draft in convertible currency
- Proof of payment of tuition and accommodation fees
- A letter from a person or institution providing financial support
- Proof of a scholarship or funding from within Canada
Family or friends of the applicant may also provide letters of financial support confirming that they will assist during the student’s stay in Canada.
Minimum Financial Requirements
All provinces except Quebec:
| Number of people | Minimum funds required |
|---|---|
|
Single student |
$20,635 CAD for 12 months |
|
With 1 family member |
$25,690 CAD |
|
With 2 family members |
$31,583 CAD |
|
With 3 family members |
$38,346 CAD |
|
With 4 family members |
$43,492 CAD |
|
With 5 family members |
$49,051 CAD |
|
With 6 family members |
$54,611 CAD |
|
Each additional family member |
+$5,559 CAD |
Quebec financial requirements (in addition to tuition):
| Situation | Minimum funds required |
|---|---|
|
One accompanying family member under 18 |
$7,541 CAD |
|
One accompanying family member age 18 or older |
$15,078 CAD |
|
Two accompanying family members age 18 or older |
$22,115 CAD |
|
Two family members over 18 and one under 18 |
$24,773 CAD |
|
Two family members over 18 and two under 18 |
$26,737 CAD |
If an Application is Approved
If a Canadian study permit application is approved, the applicant will receive the following documents (depending on their country of citizenship):
- Confirms that the application has been approved.
- Important: This is not the actual study permit.
- The LOI must be presented to a Canadian immigration officer upon arrival in Canada.
- The immigration officer may then issue the official study permit at the port of entry.
- Issued if the applicant is from a country whose citizens require an eTA.
- The eTA is automatically included with the LOI (no separate application required).
- As the eTA is linked to the applicant’s passport, the applicant must travel with the same passport used in the study permit application.
- Issued if the applicant is from a country whose citizens require a TRV.
- The TRV will be placed in the applicant’s passport.
- The applicant must enter Canada before the expiry date shown on the TRV.
- The TRV will indicate whether it is:
- Single-entry (one entry into Canada), or
- Multiple-entry (unlimited entries during its validity).
- All applicants are automatically considered for multiple-entry TRVs.
⚠️ Note: Applicants do not need to apply separately for a TRV. If required, the TRV will be issued automatically along with the LOI when the study permit application is approved.
Study Permit Renewal
After obtaining a study permit, international students may need to renew, extend, or change their study permit during the course of their studies in Canada.
Changing Institutions or Programs
- Students at a post-secondary institution who wish to change:
- Institutions (e.g., from college to university),
- Programs of study (e.g., Geography to Philosophy), or
- Levels of study (e.g., Bachelor’s to Master’s), do not need a new study permit.
👉 However, students must update IRCC when they change institutions.
As long as the study permit remains valid, students may continue their studies in Canada.
When a New Study Permit Condition is Required
Students must apply for a change to their study permit conditions if they are moving:
- From elementary school to high school, or
- From high school to a post-secondary institution.
In these cases, updating the study permit is mandatory before continuing studies in Canada.
Options After Graduation
A study permit automatically expires 90 days after graduation, regardless of the expiry date printed on the permit. Graduates must update their status with IRCC within this 90-day window to avoid losing legal status in Canada.
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
Many international graduates are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
- Valid for up to three years.
- Allows graduates to work for any employer, anywhere in Canada.
- Work experience gained through a PGWP may support permanent residence applications, especially through:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Certain Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams
Other Options to Maintain Status
If a graduate does not apply for a PGWP, they may choose to:
- Apply to change status to a visitor
- Obtain another work permit, if eligible (e.g., employer-specific work permit)
- Apply for a new study permit to begin another program (e.g., pursuing a Master’s after completing a Bachelor’s)
- Leave Canada
Frequently Asked Questions
In most cases, foreign nationals require a study permit to pursue studies in Canada. However, there are some exceptions.
You do not need a study permit if:
Your program of study is less than six months long.
You are a family member (spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child) of a foreign diplomat or staff member of a diplomat.
You are a member of the foreign armed forces of a designated state under the Visiting Forces Act.
Yes. If you know you need a study permit, you may be required to apply as though you are applying from outside of Canada.
You should apply as soon as you receive your Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a designated learning institution.
Processing times vary depending on the visa office. Applications are usually processed faster if you are eligible under the Student Direct Stream (SDS).
The SDS is a fast-track program that aims to process study permit applications within 20 calendar days.
It is available to residents of the following countries:
India
China
The Philippines
Pakistan
Vietnam
Morocco
Senegal
Brazil
Colombia
Peru
Antigua and Barbuda
Costa Rica
Trinidad and Tobago
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Additional requirements for SDS applicants include:
Obtaining a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of CAD $20,635
Meeting the minimum language test requirements:
IELTS Academic/General Training: at least 6.0 in each skill (reading, writing, listening, speaking)
CELPIP General: minimum CLB 7
CAEL: minimum score of 60
PTE Academic: minimum score of 60
TOEFL iBT: minimum score of 83
Yes. You may include your spouse/common-law partner and dependent children in your application.
Your partner may be eligible for an open work permit (subject to conditions).
Your dependent children may be eligible to attend public schools in Canada.
The requirement for an eTA depends on the country that issued your passport or travel document. You can check Canada’s official list to confirm whether you need one before traveling.
Whether you require a TRV depends on the country that issued your passport or travel document. Check the official IRCC guidelines to see if a TRV is necessary for you.
A DLI is a school, college, or university approved by a Canadian province or territory to host international students. You must have an acceptance letter from a DLI to apply for a study permit.
Yes. If your study permit states that you are allowed to work on or off campus, you can:
Work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions.
Work full-time during scheduled breaks (e.g., summer or winter holidays).
📌 Special measure: Some international students already in Canada, or those who submitted a study permit application on or before December 7, 2023, may be eligible to work more than 20 hours per week until April 30, 2024.
Yes, you can. You do not need to apply for a new study permit to change your institution or program. However, you must inform IRCC about the change.
Yes. If you transfer from a DLI in another province to a Quebec DLI, you will need to obtain a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) before continuing your studies.
A study permit expires 90 days after the end of your program, regardless of the date printed on the permit.
If you are taking prerequisite courses, your study permit will expire 1 year after the end of those courses. If you are later accepted into your main program, you must apply to extend your stay.
If you do not finish your program before the permit expiry date, you must apply to extend your study permit.
If you finish your program early, your study permit will expire 90 days after completion, even if the permit shows a later date.
You must apply for an extension at least 30 days before your current study permit expires to maintain your student status.
Yes. You may leave Canada during your studies. To re-enter Canada, you must:
Prove that you are still enrolled in your institution, and
Ensure that your visa or eTA (if required) is valid.
Eligible graduates may apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which allows them to remain in Canada and gain valuable Canadian work experience.
If you are not eligible for the PGWP, or if you choose not to apply, you must maintain legal status in Canada by one of the following options:
Apply for another type of work permit (for example, an employer-specific work permit, depending on your situation and eligibility).
Apply to change your status to visitor to legally remain in Canada without working.
Apply for a new study permit if you wish to continue your studies.
In most cases, yes. You may qualify for a PGWP if:
You completed a PGWP-eligible program at a designated learning institution (DLI).
Your program was at least 8 months long.
You were a full-time student during every semester (part-time status is acceptable in your final semester, or if your studies were disrupted due to COVID-19).
You have a transcript or an official letter from your institution confirming that you completed your program.
You apply for the PGWP within 180 days of completing your program and receiving your transcript.
Contact the Visa Canada Now for Assistance
Planning to study in Canada and need professional guidance? The Visa Canada Now can help. With over 45 years of experience in Canadian immigration law, our team has assisted thousands of students in achieving their study and post-graduation goals.
📞 Book a Free Telephone Consultation with one of our immigration lawyers today and get personalized advice for your situation.