Study Permit

A Canadian study permit is required for most international students to study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada. The 2024 reforms tightened nearly every aspect of the program — Provincial Attestation Letters, doubled proof of funds, capped intake, and revised work eligibility. This page covers everything for 2026 applicants.

Study permit at a glance (2026)

• Application fee: CAD $150 (study permit) + $85 biometrics
• Processing time: 4–8 weeks via SDS; 8–16 weeks regular stream (varies by country)
• Annual intake cap: Approx. 437,000 study permits (2026), down from 485,000 (2024)
• Validity: Equal to program length + 90 days
• Required documents: PAL, LOA, proof of funds (GIC), letter of explanation, passport, biometrics
• Off-campus work: 24 hours/week during term (changed Nov 2024)

Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a DLI

Your first requirement is an unconditional Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Not every Canadian school is a DLI — only those approved by the province to host international students.

What makes a strong LOA

• Unconditional — no missing English test, no conditional admission to a pathway program first
• Names a specific program — degree/diploma/certificate, level (bachelor's, master's, college diploma), length
• Includes start date and program duration in months/years
• States tuition and fees for the first year
• Lists the DLI number (starts with letter O for Ontario, etc.) — IRCC verifies this
• Issued within the last 6 months of your application date

Choosing a DLI strategically

Not all DLIs are equal — and the choice affects PGWP eligibility, PAL availability, and visa approval rates:

• Public universities/colleges — strongest PGWP eligibility, full PAL availability, highest visa approval rates
• Private degree-granting universities — strong PGWP eligibility if degree-level program
• Private career colleges (PCCs) — many lost PGWP eligibility in 2024 if they were in public-private partnership; verify before applying
• Language schools (ESL/FSL only) — no PGWP regardless
• Schools in cap-exempt categories — Master's/PhD programs at universities aren't subject to the PAL cap

Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) — post-2024 requirement

Since January 2024, most study permit applicants need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from the province where their DLI is located. This is one of the largest changes to the program since its creation.

What is a PAL?

The PAL confirms that the province has counted you against its annual cap. Each province gets an allocation of study permit slots, distributed across DLIs. The DLI issues the PAL after the province assigns one to your seat.

Who needs a PAL

• Required: Most undergraduate, college diploma, and certificate program applicants
• Required: Most graduate-level master's programs (added Sept 2024 — many were exempt before)
• NOT required:
  • Doctoral (PhD) program applicants
  • K-12 (primary/secondary) school applicants
  • Study permit extensions if you're already in Canada
  • Family members accompanying a worker or student
  • Students from Quebec issued a CAQ (Quebec Acceptance Certificate)

Getting a PAL

1. Apply to a DLI and receive a conditional acceptance
2. Pay tuition deposit (most DLIs require 50% or full year)
3. DLI submits your file to the provincial allocation system
4. Province issues PAL — typically 2–8 weeks after deposit (highly variable)
5. DLI sends you the PAL number/letter
6. Submit study permit application to IRCC with PAL attached

Provincial PAL availability (2026)

Most provinces have allocations roughly proportional to historical international student volumes. Ontario, BC, and Alberta have the largest allocations but also the highest demand. Atlantic provinces have smaller allocations but easier access. Quebec uses the CAQ system instead and has no PAL requirement.

Proof of Funds (GIC) — doubled in 2024

In January 2024, IRCC doubled the proof-of-funds requirement for new study permit applicants — the first major increase since 2007. As of 2026:

This is in addition to first-year tuition. For a student at a university in Ontario, total proof of funds typically runs CAD $50,000–$60,000 ($30K tuition + $20,635 living + travel costs).

Ways to prove funds

• Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) — most popular for SDS countries. Buy a $20,635 GIC from a participating Canadian bank (Scotiabank, ICICI, RBC, etc.). Bank releases monthly payments after you arrive in Canada.
• Bank statements — last 4 months showing consistent balance ≥ required amount, with normal transaction activity
• Education loan approved by a recognized financial institution
• Scholarships or sponsored funding with documented terms
• Bank draft in your name (less commonly accepted)

What IRCC scrutinizes

• Sudden large deposits within 3 months of application — must show source
• Funds from family — letter of support + sponsor's NOAs + bank statements
• Funds tied up in fixed deposits maturing after your travel date
• Currency conversion at the time of application (volatile currencies)
• Mismatch between declared funds and your declared employment/family income

Student Direct Stream (SDS) — faster track

The Student Direct Stream (SDS) is an expedited processing pathway for residents of 14 partner countries. SDS applications get processed within 20 calendar days IF requirements are met.

SDS countries (as of 2026)

Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Vietnam.

SDS requirements (stricter than regular stream)

• Resident of an SDS country — citizenship/PR not enough; must be physically resident
• Letter of Acceptance from a DLI (post-secondary only — not language schools)
• Tuition fees paid in full for the first year (or first semester for some institutions)
• $20,635 GIC from a participating Canadian financial institution
• Recent language test:
  • IELTS Academic: overall band 6.0+ (no skill below 6.0)
  • OR CELPIP-General: CLB 7 in all four skills
  • OR TEF Canada / TCF Canada: NCLC 7+ for French-stream applicants
• Most recent secondary or post-secondary transcript in English/French
• Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) — even for SDS
• Medical exam completed before application (upfront, not after)

SDS vs regular study permit stream

Off-Campus Work Rules — 24 hours/week (post-Nov 2024)

In November 2024, IRCC changed the off-campus work limit from 20 hours/week to 24 hours/week during academic sessions. Full-time work (40+ hours) remains allowed during scheduled breaks (winter, summer, reading week).

Off-campus work eligibility

• Valid study permit with the condition noted: "May work 24 hours per week off-campus or full-time during regularly scheduled breaks"
• Full-time enrolled at a DLI in a post-secondary academic, vocational, or professional program 6+ months long
• Started studies — you cannot work before classes begin
• Social Insurance Number (SIN) obtained from Service Canada
• Not enrolled in a general-interest or language-only program

What counts as "during a break"

• Scheduled academic breaks (winter holiday, summer between terms, reading weeks)
• Must have been a full-time student in the term before AND will be a full-time student in the next term
• Does NOT include unscheduled absences or program completion

Common off-campus work mistakes

• Working before classes start (even by 1 day) = unauthorized work = misrepresentation
• Working during a study break when you're not returning to studies = unauthorized
• Going over 24 hours per week, even by 1 hour = unauthorized = potential study permit cancellation
• Working while between programs (e.g., diploma ended, master's not yet started)
• On-campus work doesn't count toward the 24-hour limit (separate authorization)

Study Permit Extension

If your study permit is about to expire and you need to continue studying, you must apply for an extension before your current permit expires.

When to apply

• 30 days before expiry — recommended minimum window
• Maintained (implied) status — if you apply before expiry, you can continue studying and working under same conditions while IRCC processes your application
• If you missed the deadline: apply to restore status within 90 days of expiry. Cannot study or work during restoration period.

Documents

• Current study permit + passport
• Letter from DLI showing continued enrollment (program not yet complete)
• Proof of program length and remaining requirements
• Proof of funds for the remaining period
• Fees: $150 (extension) + $85 biometrics if needed

Change of DLI / Transferring Schools

Since November 2024, students changing DLIs face stricter requirements. The old "study permit follows you to a new DLI" approach is gone.

Post-Nov 2024 DLI change rules

• You can no longer simply move to a new DLI on the same study permit
• You must apply for a new study permit from inside Canada (or restoration if past deadline)
• The new application requires a new PAL from the destination province
• You can continue studying at the old DLI during processing under maintained status
• If you're moving from a university to a college, the college's DLI may not have available PAL slots

Common mistakes

• Starting at the new DLI before the new study permit is approved (unauthorized study)
• Failing to notify IRCC of the change within 30 days (compliance violation)
• Choosing a DLI that lost PGWP eligibility — your future plans matter
• Underestimating PAL processing time at the new province (often months)

The "genuine student" criterion

IRCC applies a genuine-student test on every application. Officers look for evidence that:

• You have a clear academic and career plan tied to the program of study
• Your prior education and work experience align with the chosen program
• The cost-benefit makes sense (program cost vs your home-country career prospects)
• Your financial situation can sustain you without unauthorized work
• You have ties to your home country supporting return after studies
• Your statement of purpose is specific and consistent with your background

Common study permit refusal reasons

• Weak statement of purpose — vague, generic, doesn't explain choice of program/school
• Inadequate proof of funds — sudden deposits, source unexplained, total below threshold
• Insufficient ties to home country — single applicant, no property, no job to return to
• Program doesn't align with prior education — career switcher needs strong explanation
• Missing or inadequate PAL — applied before PAL received (auto-refusal post-2024)
• SDS rejected for missing strict requirements — language band below 6.0, GIC not from approved bank
• Misrepresentation — undisclosed visa refusals, false employment history

Family — bringing spouse and children

• Spouse Open Work Permit (SOWP): Only available if you're enrolled in a master's (16+ months), doctoral, or select professional program. NOT available for bachelor's or college spouses since 2024.
• Children: Minor children can study at K-12 public schools without their own study permit while their parent holds a valid study permit
• Family visitor visa: Apply alongside your study permit for spouse and children

Useful official resources

• IRCC — Study permit overview
• IRCC — Designated Learning Institutions (DLI) list
• IRCC — Student Direct Stream (SDS)
• IRCC — Provincial Attestation Letter information
• IRCC — Off-campus work rules

Planning to study in Canada? The 2024–2025 reforms shifted study permit refusal rates above 50% in many regions. We pre-screen your eligibility, optimize DLI choice for PGWP, and craft genuine-student statements that withstand IRCC scrutiny. Book a free study permit assessment.