Do you need a study permit?
| Situation | Rule | Caution |
|---|---|---|
| Program longer than 6 months | A study permit is normally required before you travel. | Most applicants also need a PAL/TAL; Quebec students need a CAQ. |
| Program of 6 months or less | No permit is needed if the course is not part of a longer program and you finish within your authorized stay. | IRCC still recommends a permit if you may continue studying. |
| Minor children | Some children may study without a permit, for example in kindergarten, or already in Canada at preschool to grade 12 while a parent is a citizen, permanent resident or authorized to work or study. | A child whose parent is only a visitor generally needs a permit. |
| Work-permit holders | Under a temporary measure (September 9, 2026 to December 31, 2027), eligible workers notified by IRCC may study up to 6 months without a study permit. | Full-time study still requires a study permit. |
The full list of exemptions is in our study permit overview and in IRCC's online tool.
Check the program before you pay tuition
- Match the detailsThe institution name, campus, DLI number, credential and start and end dates must match the letter of acceptance.
- Read the refund termsKnow what happens to deposits after a refusal, withdrawal, deferral or cancellation. Keep every receipt and written promise.
- Check career valueFor a regulated profession or trade, confirm with the regulator that the credential will be recognized.
- Check PGWP eligibilityCheck the exact program on the DLI list, not only the school. Use our DLI, PGWP and CIP checker and keep a record of the result.
- Identify the CIP codeFor college and non-degree programs, ask the school for the 6-digit CIP code; the PGWP field-of-study rule may apply.
- QuebecConfirm the CAQ and provincial financial requirements before the federal application.
Documents
Letter of acceptance
Always required. Your DLI must confirm the letter to IRCC. If it does not respond by the deadline, IRCC returns the application and refunds the fee.
PAL/TAL or proof of exemption
Your DLI helps you get it from the province or territory where you will study. When it is issued, and whether a deposit is required first, depends on the school and the province. Upload it in the "Provincial attestation letter" field. If you are exempt, upload proof of the exemption.
Quebec CAQ
Required for study in Quebec instead of a PAL/TAL. The program and dates must match the federal application.
Proof of identity
A copy of your valid passport or travel document and two recent passport-size photos. The original passport is requested if you are approved.
Proof of funds
Always required, for you and every accompanying family member. See the amounts below.
Letter of explanation
Recommended. Explain why you chose this program, school and Canada, how it fits your path, and that you understand a student's responsibilities.
Medical exam and police certificate
A medical exam may be needed if you stay more than 6 months, recently lived in certain countries, or will work in health, child-care or school settings. IRCC may ask for police certificates.
Country-specific documents
Check your visa office's instructions. Some countries require extra documents or re-entry permits.
The provincial attestation letter (PAL/TAL)
The province or territory where you will study issues the PAL/TAL through your DLI. A PAL/TAL for the 2026 cap year must have been issued in 2026 and is valid until December 31, 2026, unless it shows an earlier date. It must be valid on the day you apply, not on the day studies start. A PAL/TAL from an earlier year cannot be used.
Main exemptions
Preschool to grade 12; degree-granting master's or doctoral programs at a public DLI (since January 1, 2026); the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot; Quebec vocational programs (DVS, AVS, STC); exchange students who pay no tuition to the DLI; Global Affairs Canada scholarship recipients.
Already in Canada
No new PAL/TAL is needed to extend at the same DLI and level. A new one is needed to change school or level, and to restore student status, with limited exceptions.
Proof of funds
For applications made on or after September 1, 2026, outside Quebec, IRCC requires the following yearly living-cost amounts. Tuition and transportation are additional.
| People (including the student) | From September 1, 2026 | January 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $23,448 | $22,895 |
| 2 | $29,192 | $28,502 |
| 3 | $35,888 | $35,040 |
| 4 | $43,572 | $42,543 |
| 5 | $49,419 | $48,252 |
| 6 | $55,736 | $54,420 |
| 7 | $62,054 | $60,589 |
| Each additional person | $6,318 | $6,170 |
You must show enough money, without counting on work in Canada, for first-year tuition, living costs for you and any accompanying family members, and return transportation for everyone. For a program longer than one year, also explain how you will pay for the full length of the program. If a scholarship covers tuition only, you still need proof of funds for living and travel costs.
Accepted proof includes, for example, a DLI receipt for first-year tuition and housing, a student or education loan from a bank, a scholarship, a Canadian guaranteed investment certificate (GIC), a Canadian bank account in your name if you have already transferred money, bank statements for the past 6 months (including the month of the application or the month before) showing the source of the money, recent pay stubs, pension or rental-income documents, and a supporter's letter stating their employment, their relationship to you, their number of dependants and the amount of support, with proof of the relationship and their ID or business registration. In Quebec, the amounts set by the province apply. If your country has currency controls, you must show you can move the money out.
How to apply
- Apply onlineThrough your IRCC secure account. Paper is allowed only for applicants with a disability that prevents online filing, holders of refugee or stateless travel documents, or when the online system has a problem.
- Pay the feesPay the study permit and biometrics fees with the application to avoid delays.
- Give biometricsMost applicants aged 14 to 79 give fingerprints and a photo, usually once every 10 years, within 30 days of IRCC's letter.
- Medical examIf required, see a panel physician. Medical fees are paid directly to the clinic.
- Family membersA spouse, partner or child applies for their own visitor visa, work permit or study permit at the same time, so IRCC processes the files together.
- From inside CanadaOnly certain people can apply from inside Canada, for example holders of a valid study or work permit and their family members, minor children at school, and people who completed a prerequisite course for admission. Visitors generally cannot.
- Port of entryAs a rule you cannot apply at the border. IRCC's tool screens for a few narrow exceptions.
Government fees
| Item | Federal fee (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Study permit, including extensions | $150 per person | Each family member's visa or permit is a separate fee. |
| Restore student status with a new study permit | $396.25 | $246.25 restoration plus $150 study permit. |
| Biometrics | $85 per person; $170 maximum for a family applying together | Only when required. |
Tuition, PAL/TAL or CAQ costs, medical exams, police certificates, translations, visa application centre services, insurance and travel are separate.
What the officer assesses
- FundsEnough money, available to you, with a clear source. Explain large recent deposits.
- Study logicAcademic background, language readiness, career plan and whether the cost makes sense.
- Temporary stayTies and a credible plan. Wanting permanent residence later is allowed, but you must be able to leave if you do not get further status.
- HonestyDisclose all refusals, immigration history, family members and representatives.
- After approvalFrom outside Canada you receive a port-of-entry letter of introduction and, if needed, a visa or eTA. The border officer issues the study permit when you arrive. A visa or eTA, if you need one, is issued with the study permit at no extra charge.
Family members
Spouse or partner
An open work permit is possible if the student holds a valid study permit and is in a master's program of 16 months or longer, a doctoral program, a listed university professional degree (dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, nursing, education or engineering) or certain eligible provincial or pilot programs. Otherwise the spouse may apply as a visitor, student or for another work permit.
Children
A child may need a study permit depending on age and the parents' status. School-board admission is separate. Dependent children of a student are not eligible for an open work permit under the spousal measure; they can apply for a visitor visa or a study permit.
Visitors
A family member who will not work or study needs the right visitor document.
Funds
The living-cost amount increases with each accompanying person (see the table above).
Minor students
- Age of majority18 in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan; 19 elsewhere.
- CustodianA child under 17 who is not travelling with a parent or legal guardian needs a custodian in Canada who is an adult citizen or permanent resident. For a minor aged 17 or older a custodian is optional, but an officer may require one. The custodian signs page 1 of form IMM 5646 and has it notarized in Canada; the parents sign page 2 and have it notarized in their home country.
- Permit lengthPrimary-school permits are usually issued for 1 year and renewed; secondary-school permits can cover the program, up to 4 years. Apply to renew at least 90 days before the permit expires.
- Consistent family filesFunds, custody, travel and accommodation must be consistent across all applications.
After you arrive
Enrolment and progress
Stay enrolled at a DLI and make progress in each semester. Keep enrolment letters and transcripts.
Authorized leave
Up to 150 days if authorized by your DLI. No work on or off campus during the leave.
Permit conditions
Follow the conditions printed on the permit: level of study, work, medical reporting and the date to stop studying.
Expiry
The permit ends on the printed date or 90 days after your school first tells you that you completed your program, whichever comes first.
Official sources
- IRCC: Who needs a study permit
- IRCC: Prepare to study
- IRCC: Get the right documents
- IRCC: Provincial or territorial attestation letter
- IRCC: Proof of financial support
- IRCC: Apply for a study permit
- IRCC: Fee list
- IRCC: Minor children studying in Canada
- IRCC: Open work permits for spouses of students
- IRCC: Study permit conditions
This page is general information about Canadian immigration law and policy as of the date above. It is not legal advice for your situation. Programs, forms and fees change often; check the official sources before you apply.