Study in Canada: Step-by-Step Guide for International Students

On This Page, You Will Find:

• Why international students choose Canada
• Step 1: Get accepted by a Designated Learning Institution
• Step 2: Find out if you need a PAL/TAL
• Step 3: Prove you have enough money to study in Canada
• Step 4: Gather your documents and apply for a study permit
• Application fees and biometrics
• Medical exams and police certificates
• The 2026 study permit cap
• Processing times
• Travelling to Canada and study permit conditions
• Changing your school or program
• After graduation: work and permanent residence pathways
• Frequently asked questions

Canada remains one of the world’s most popular study destinations, offering recognized credentials and, for many graduates, a pathway to permanent residence. But the application process has changed significantly over the past two years, and the steps that worked in 2023 or 2024 no longer apply.

This guide walks through the process in the order you will actually experience it – from acceptance to arrival, and what happens if you later change schools. For an overview of the permit itself, the 2026 cap and the full provincial allocation table, see our Canada study permit guide.

Why International Students Choose Canada

Canadian institutions are known for strong academic reputations, multicultural campuses and, for eligible graduates, access to a Post-Graduation Work Permit and permanent residence pathways. If you are still weighing Canada against other destinations, our article on why study in Canada sets out costs, work rights and the honest trade-offs.

Step 1: Get Accepted by a Designated Learning Institution

You can only study in Canada as an international student at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) – a school approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students. Not every college or university is a DLI, so confirm your school’s status and DLI number on the official DLI list before applying.

Once accepted, your school issues a Letter of Acceptance (LOA). This is the foundational document for your study permit application, and its details, including your DLI number, must match your application.

Step 2: Find Out if You Need a PAL/TAL

Most study permit applicants must submit a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL or TAL) with their application. The letter is issued by the province or territory where you plan to study, confirms that you have been assigned one of its spaces under the national cap, and must be included when you apply. You do not need a PAL/TAL if you fall into one of these groups:

• Applicants to preschool, primary school or secondary school (up to grade 12)
• Applicants to a master’s or doctoral degree program at a public DLI – exempt as of January 1, 2026
• Applicants to a federally designated military college
• Applicants to a Quebec vocational program leading to a DVS, AVS or STC
• Students accepted under the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot
• Exchange students who do not pay tuition to the Canadian DLI
• Recipients of a Global Affairs Canada scholarship
• Certain applicants already in Canada, including those extending a permit at the same DLI and level of study

If you plan to study in Quebec, you also need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ), issued by Quebec’s Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration. A PAL/TAL is tied to the year and school named on it and cannot be reused for a later application or a different school.

Step 3: Prove You Have Enough Money to Study in Canada

You must show, without needing to work in Canada, that you can cover tuition, living expenses for yourself and any accompanying family members, and return transportation. For applications submitted on or after September 1, 2026, the minimum living-expense amount outside Quebec is $23,448 for a single applicant, $29,192 for two people, $35,888 for three and $43,572 for four, excluding tuition and transportation. Larger families need more. Our page on how much money you need to study in Canada has the full table, worked examples and the most common reasons financial evidence is refused.

The amount is updated every year: it was $10,000 for a single applicant before January 2024, rose to $20,635 in 2024, then to $22,895, and to $23,448 on September 1, 2026. Quebec sets its own amounts; see our overview of financial requirements to study in Quebec.

Acceptable proof of funds includes proof of paid tuition and housing, a student loan, a scholarship, a GIC from a Canadian financial institution, a sponsor letter with supporting documents, or bank statements. If you rely on bank statements, provide the past six months, including the month you applied or the month before, together with documents showing the source of the funds, such as employment income or savings transfers.

Step 4: Gather Your Documents and Apply for a Study Permit

Once you have your Letter of Acceptance, PAL/TAL (if required) and proof of funds, you can apply for your study permit through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). A complete application typically includes:

• Letter of Acceptance from a DLI
• Valid passport or travel document
• PAL/TAL, or proof of an exemption
• Proof of financial support
• A CAQ, if studying in Quebec
• Digital photo and biometrics, unless exempt
• Immigration medical exam results, if required
• A custodianship declaration, if you are a minor studying without a parent or legal guardian in Canada

Apply before you travel to Canada. Application fees are non-refundable even if your application is refused.

Application Fees and Biometrics

The study permit application fee is CAN$150. This is separate from any tuition deposit or PAL/TAL fee your school or province may charge. Unless you are exempt, you must also give biometrics:

• Individual applicant: CAN$85
• Family applying together: maximum CAN$170

Biometric exemptions include children under 14 and applicants over 79. Confirm current fees on IRCC’s fee list or our immigration fee schedule before paying.

Medical Exams and Police Certificates

Most study permit applicants do not need an immigration medical exam. You generally need one if you have lived in or travelled to certain designated countries for six months or more in the year before coming to Canada, or if you will study or work in a field where public health must be protected, such as healthcare or childcare. Only an IRCC-approved panel physician can perform the exam, and results are valid for 12 months – they must still be valid on the day you enter Canada.

A police certificate is not required for every application, but a visa office may request one. Follow the instructions in the request for which countries and dates it must cover.

The 2026 Study Permit Cap

Canada caps the number of study permit applications it accepts each year. For 2026, IRCC set 309,670 application spaces for PAL/TAL-required applicants and expects to issue about 408,000 study permits in total, including extensions and exempt groups. Each province distributes its share among its DLIs, so a strong application does not guarantee a place if your school’s allocation is exhausted. Our study permit guide sets out the full provincial breakdown.

Processing Times

Study permit processing times vary by country of application, volume and completeness. Check IRCC’s processing times tool for your country before you apply, and apply as early as possible – ideally several months before your program starts.

Travelling to Canada and Study Permit Conditions

IRCC sets no fixed window for how early you can arrive before your program starts; you should allow yourself a reasonable amount of time to settle in. What matters is that you meet the entry requirements when you arrive. You are not allowed to work, on or off campus, until your studies begin.

At the border, you will need your passport, the port of entry letter of introduction, a copy of your valid letter of acceptance, any documents the visa office told you to bring, your visitor visa or eTA, and valid medical results if you needed an exam. If you deferred your start date, bring the DLI’s approval and an updated LOA. The border services officer then issues your study permit, which carries conditions you must maintain, including that you:

• Remain enrolled at a DLI and actively pursue your studies
• Make progress toward completing your program
• Stop studying if you no longer meet the conditions of your permit

Post-secondary DLIs report on the enrolment status of their international students to IRCC. If your school reports that you are not enrolled or not attending, your permit may become invalid and future applications may be refused.

Changing Your School or Program

Changing to a different post-secondary school – whether at the same level, moving up (for example from a bachelor’s to a master’s), or to complete prerequisite courses – means you need a new study permit, obtained by applying to extend your current one before you start at the new DLI. You must include a letter explaining the change and, since January 22, 2025, a new, valid PAL/TAL unless you qualify for an exemption.

The PAL/TAL exemption for master’s and doctoral students at public DLIs removes only the attestation letter: graduate students changing to a new DLI still need to apply for a new study permit. IRCC aims to process extension applications from students changing post-secondary DLIs in about 60 days if you answer “Yes” to the school-change question when applying.

Some changes do not require a new permit:

• Changing schools within a joint program that leads to a single credential
• Changing schools within the primary or secondary level
• Changing programs at the same post-secondary school, as long as your current permit remains valid and you meet its conditions (if you need to extend, you may need a new PAL/TAL)

You can generally start at the new school while the extension is pending only if your previous DLI closed, discontinued your program, was suspended or lost its designation, and you have not left Canada since receiving the new LOA. If you are still outside Canada and your permit was already approved, changing schools means a new application and new fees. In Quebec, you generally need a new CAQ. Changing schools without telling IRCC is a breach of your conditions and can affect future study, work or immigration applications.

After Graduation: Work and Permanent Residence Pathways

Most international students can work while they study without a separate work permit – up to 24 hours a week off campus during academic sessions and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. Since April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary students also no longer need a co-op work permit for a required work placement.

After completing an eligible program, many graduates qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Canadian work experience gained afterwards can support permanent residence through Express Entry’s Canadian Experience Class, a Provincial Nominee Program, or Quebec’s own programs. See our guide on how to apply for permanent residence after studying in Canada.

The Student Direct Stream, which once offered faster processing to applicants from certain countries, was discontinued on November 8, 2024. All applicants now use the standard stream.

Frequently Asked Questions