دليل تصريح الدراسة في كندا 2026

You need five things to get a Canadian study permit in 2026: a Letter of Acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL), proof you can cover CAD$20,635 plus one year of tuition, biometrics costing CAD$85, and a clean criminal record. The application fee is CAD$150. Processing takes 4 to 16 weeks depending on your country. Once approved, you can work up to 20 hours per week during term and full-time during scheduled breaks. This guide covers every step from gathering documents to landing at a Canadian airport.

Who Needs a Study Permit?

Any international student planning to study in Canada for more than six months needs a study permit. Programs shorter than six months do not require one, but getting a permit anyway unlocks work rights, so many short-program students still apply.

Citizens of most countries also need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada. Citizens of the US, most European countries, Australia, Japan, and South Korea need only an eTA (CAD$7). Citizens of India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Bangladesh need a TRV, which Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issues alongside your study permit at no extra cost.

Entry Document	Who Needs It	Cost
eTA	Visa-exempt nationals (EU, UK, Australia, Japan, South Korea)	CAD$7
TRV	Visa-required nationals (India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan)	Included with study permit
Neither	US citizens and permanent residents	N/A

Check the Canada visa and arrival guide for the full list of visa-exempt countries.

What Is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)?

A DLI is a school approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students. Only a Letter of Acceptance from a DLI qualifies you for a study permit. Canada has roughly 1,500 DLIs. All public universities and colleges are DLIs. Many private institutions are not.

Before you pay tuition or accept an offer, search the DLI list on the IRCC website. Enter the institution name and confirm it has a valid DLI number (format: O followed by 12 digits). A school that loses DLI status mid-program puts your study permit at risk.

The Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) — New Since 2024

Canada introduced the PAL requirement on January 22, 2024. Every new study permit applicant for a program at a college, undergraduate university degree, or master's program needs a PAL from the province or territory where the DLI is located. Doctoral students and K-12 students are exempt.

You do not apply for the PAL yourself. Your DLI requests it from the provincial government after issuing your Letter of Acceptance. The DLI then sends you the PAL, which contains a unique attestation number. You enter this number in your online study permit application.

Why does the PAL matter? Canada capped new study permits at approximately 360,000 for 2025 and maintained similar levels for 2026. Each province gets a share of the cap. Once a province's allocation fills up, no more PALs are issued until the next intake. Apply early. A December application for a September start gives you the best chance.

Quebec exception: Quebec does not issue PALs. Instead, you need a Certificat d'acceptation du Québec (CAQ), which serves the same purpose. The CAQ costs CAD$127 and takes 4 to 6 weeks to process. Apply for the CAQ before submitting your study permit application.

Required Documents — Full Checklist

Missing one document delays your application by weeks. Gather everything before you start the online form.

Document	Details	Notes
Letter of Acceptance	From a DLI, with DLI number	Must match the name on your passport exactly
PAL or CAQ	Province-issued attestation	Your DLI obtains this for you
Valid passport	Valid for the full duration of your program	If it expires mid-program, renew before applying
Passport photos	Two recent photos, 35 mm x 45 mm	White background, neutral expression
Proof of funds	CAD$20,635 + first year tuition	GIC, bank statements, or scholarship letter
Biometrics	Fingerprints and photo at a VAC	CAD$85, valid for 10 years
Medical exam	Required for some nationalities	Must be done by an IRCC-approved physician
Police certificate	From your home country and any country you lived in 6+ months	Must be less than 6 months old
Statement of purpose	Why you chose this program and plan to return home after	1 page, specific and concrete
Language test scores	IELTS, TOEFL, or TEF/TCF for French programs	Check your DLI's minimum scores

Proof of Funds: How Much and How to Show It

IRCC requires you to prove you can cover tuition for the first year plus CAD$20,635 for living expenses (or CAD$25,690 if studying in Quebec). That means if your tuition is CAD$30,000, you need to show at least CAD$50,635 in total.

The most common method is a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC). You deposit the living-expense amount into a GIC at a participating Canadian bank (Scotiabank, CIBC, BMO, or SBI Canada). The bank locks the funds and releases them monthly after you arrive — about CAD$1,720 per month. Opening a GIC takes 3 to 5 business days. A student in Lagos or Mumbai can open one online without visiting Canada first.

Alternatives to a GIC include bank statements showing sufficient funds for at least four consecutive months, a scholarship or bursary letter, or a letter from a person or institution providing you with money. IRCC prefers the GIC because it proves the money is set aside and accessible in Canada.

Biometrics

Most applicants aged 14 to 79 must provide biometrics (fingerprints and a digital photo). The fee is CAD$85. After you submit your study permit application online, IRCC sends a Biometrics Instruction Letter. You then visit a Visa Application Centre (VAC) in your country within 30 days.

Biometrics are valid for 10 years. If you gave biometrics for a previous Canadian visa application, check whether they are still valid — you may not need to provide them again.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Get Your Letter of Acceptance

Apply to a DLI and receive your formal Letter of Acceptance. This letter includes the DLI number you need for the permit application. Read our guide to applying to Canadian universities for detailed steps.

Step 2: Obtain Your PAL (or CAQ)

Your DLI requests the PAL from the province. For Quebec, apply for the CAQ yourself through the Ministere de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Integration (MIFI). Budget 4 to 6 weeks for the CAQ.

Step 3: Open a GIC

Choose a participating bank, complete the online application, and transfer the required amount. You receive a GIC confirmation letter within 3 to 5 business days.

Step 4: Create an IRCC Online Account

Go to the IRCC website and create an account. You can use a GCKey or sign in through a Canadian bank partner. Fill out the study permit application form (IMM 1294) online.

Step 5: Upload Documents and Pay

Upload all required documents in the formats IRCC specifies (usually PDF, max 4 MB per file). Pay the CAD$150 application fee and the CAD$85 biometrics fee by credit card. Total: CAD$235.

Step 6: Give Biometrics

Visit your nearest VAC within 30 days of receiving the Biometrics Instruction Letter. Bring your passport and the instruction letter.

Step 7: Attend an Interview (If Required)

IRCC may request an interview at the embassy or VAC. This is not standard for all applicants. If called, bring originals of every document you uploaded.

Step 8: Receive Your Decision

IRCC sends the decision to your online account. If approved, you receive either a port-of-entry letter of introduction (for TRV-required nationals, the TRV is stamped in your passport) or an eTA confirmation. The actual study permit is issued when you arrive at a Canadian port of entry.

Processing Times by Country

Processing times vary widely. Here are 2026 estimates for common applicant countries.

Country	Estimated Processing Time
India	8–12 weeks
China	6–10 weeks
Nigeria	10–16 weeks
Pakistan	8–14 weeks
Philippines	6–10 weeks
Brazil	4–8 weeks
France / Germany	4–6 weeks
Turkey	6–10 weeks
Bangladesh	10–16 weeks

A student from Mumbai applying in March for a September start has about 24 weeks — enough for the 8 to 12 week processing window plus buffer time for biometrics and document gathering. A student from Lagos should start even earlier because processing can stretch to 16 weeks.

Work Rights on a Study Permit

Your study permit lets you work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions and full-time during scheduled breaks (winter, spring, and summer holidays). You do not need a separate work permit for this.

You need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work legally. Apply at a Service Canada office after arriving — processing takes about 15 minutes. Your SIN starts with the digit 9, indicating temporary resident status.

If your program includes a mandatory co-op or internship, you need a separate co-op work permit. Apply for it at the same time as your study permit. There is no additional fee.

After graduation, most students apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which allows open work for up to 3 years depending on program length. Read more in our Canada work and career guide.

Arriving in Canada

Your study permit is not in your passport. A border officer at the Canadian port of entry issues it. Carry these documents in your hand luggage:

• Passport with TRV stamp (or eTA confirmation)
• Port-of-entry letter of introduction from IRCC
• Letter of Acceptance from your DLI
• Proof of funds (GIC confirmation, bank statements)
• Proof of accommodation for your first weeks

The officer asks a few questions about your program and plans, reviews your documents, and prints your study permit. This process takes 10 to 30 minutes. If you arrive at Toronto Pearson or Vancouver International during peak September intake, expect longer queues at immigration.

Extending Your Study Permit

Apply to extend at least 90 days before your current permit expires. You apply online through your IRCC account. The extension fee is CAD$150. While your extension application is pending, you have implied status — you can continue studying legally even if your current permit expires before the decision arrives.

You can extend as long as you remain enrolled full-time at a DLI. If you switch institutions, you must notify IRCC through your online account within the same application.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Applying to a non-DLI school. Your permit application is automatically refused. Always verify DLI status before paying any deposit.

Forgetting the PAL. Applications submitted without a PAL since January 2024 are returned as incomplete. Your DLI must request it before you apply.

Insufficient funds. Showing CAD$20,635 in living expenses but forgetting to add tuition is a common reason for refusal. The total must be living expenses plus tuition.

Weak statement of purpose. IRCC officers look for dual intent risks. Explain concretely why you chose this program, how it connects to your career in your home country, and why Canada specifically. "I want to study abroad" is too vague.

Late biometrics. You have 30 days after the instruction letter to give biometrics. Miss this window and your application may be deemed abandoned.

Costs Summary

Item	Cost (CAD$)
Study permit application	150
Biometrics	85
GIC deposit (living expenses)	20,635
CAQ (Quebec only)	127
eTA (if applicable)	7
Medical exam (if required)	100–300
Total (excluding tuition)	~20,877–21,177

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a Canadian study permit in 2026?

Processing takes 4 to 16 weeks depending on your country. Indian applicants average 8 to 12 weeks. European applicants often receive a decision in 4 to 6 weeks. Add 2 to 4 weeks for gathering documents and giving biometrics. Start the process at least 4 to 6 months before your program starts.

What is the PAL and why do I need it?

The Provincial Attestation Letter is a document from the province where your school is located. Canada introduced it in January 2024 to manage study permit volumes under a national cap of roughly 360,000 new permits per year. Your DLI requests the PAL for you after issuing your Letter of Acceptance. Without a PAL, IRCC returns your application.

Can I work while studying in Canada?

Yes. Your study permit allows up to 20 hours per week during academic sessions and full-time during scheduled breaks. You need a Social Insurance Number from Service Canada. Co-op placements require an additional co-op work permit applied for alongside your study permit.

What is a GIC and do I need one?

A Guaranteed Investment Certificate is a locked bank deposit that proves you have living expenses covered. You deposit CAD$20,635 into a GIC at a Canadian bank. The bank releases about CAD$1,720 per month after you arrive. IRCC does not require a GIC specifically, but it is the strongest form of financial proof and speeds up processing.

Do I need a separate visa to enter Canada?

It depends on your nationality. Visa-exempt nationals (most EU citizens, UK, Australia, Japan) need an eTA costing CAD$7. Visa-required nationals (India, China, Nigeria) receive a Temporary Resident Visa alongside their study permit. US citizens need neither.

What happens if my study permit application is refused?

You receive a refusal letter explaining the reasons. The most common reasons are insufficient funds, a weak statement of purpose, or doubts about your intent to return home. You can reapply immediately with stronger documentation. There is no limit on reapplications, but each costs another CAD$150 plus CAD$85 biometrics if they have expired.

Can I switch schools after arriving in Canada?

Yes, but only to another DLI. Notify IRCC through your online account before starting at the new school. You do not need a new study permit for the transfer, but your new school must also have PAL allocation available.

What is implied status?

If you apply to extend your study permit before it expires, you can continue studying under the same conditions while IRCC processes your extension. This is called implied status. It protects you from being out of status during processing delays. Apply at least 90 days before expiry to be safe.

Do I need health insurance on a study permit?

Canada has no federal student health insurance. Coverage varies by province. British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan include international students in their provincial health plans. Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia do not — you must buy private health insurance or a university health insurance plan (UHIP). Costs range from CAD$600 to CAD$900 per year. Check our costs and funding guide for details by province.