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 Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (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 for international students, offering globally 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 current, step-by-step process for obtaining a Canadian study permit, including the documents you need, the fees you will pay, the financial requirements, and the rules that determine whether you need a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL).
Why International Students Choose Canada
Canada hosts hundreds of thousands of international students across its colleges, universities, and vocational schools. 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.
Studying in Canada also means access to a wide range of designated institutions and programs across every province and territory, from short vocational certificates to doctoral degrees.
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 in Canada is a DLI, so confirm your school’s status and DLI number on the official DLI list before applying.
Once accepted, your school will issue 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 exactly.
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 PAL/TAL is issued by the province or territory where you plan to study, confirms that you have been assigned one of its allocated spaces under the national study permit cap, and must be submitted with your application (not after).
You do not need a PAL/TAL if you fall into one of the following groups:
- Applicants to preschool, primary school, or secondary school (up to grade 12)
- Applicants to a degree-granting master’s or doctoral 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 (FMCSP)
- 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, protected persons, and some pending permanent residence applicants
If you plan to study in Quebec, you need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) instead of a PAL/TAL – issued by Quebec’s Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration, not IRCC.
A PAL/TAL is tied to the calendar year it was issued and to the school named on it. If you change schools, you generally need a new PAL/TAL before applying, and a PAL/TAL from a previous study permit cap year cannot be reused.
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. IRCC updates the required living-expense amount every year, based on Statistics Canada’s Low-Income Cut-Off.
For applications submitted on or after September 1, 2025, the minimum amount required for living expenses (in all provinces and territories except Quebec, and excluding tuition and transportation) is:
| Family members (including applicant) | Amount required per year (CAN$) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $22,895 |
| 2 | $28,502 |
| 3 | $35,040 |
| 4 | $42,543 |
| 5 | $48,252 |
| 6 | $54,420 |
| 7 | $60,589 |
| Each additional member (8+) | +$6,170 |
This threshold has risen sharply in recent years: it was $10,000 for a single applicant before January 2024, rose to $20,635 in January 2024, and increased again to $22,895 in September 2025. Expect a further increase every September 1.
Quebec sets its own financial requirement. If you plan to study in Quebec, check the current cost-of-study amounts set by the Quebec government, since they differ from the federal chart above. See our overview of financial requirements to study in Quebec for details.
Acceptable proof of funds includes bank statements from the past four months, a Guaranteed Investment Certificate from a participating Canadian bank, proof of a student loan, or a letter of financial support accompanied by evidence of the sponsor’s ability to pay.
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
- Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL), or proof of an exemption
- Proof of financial support
- A Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ), if studying in Quebec
- Digital photo and biometrics (fingerprints), unless exempt
- Immigration medical exam results, if required for your situation
- A custodianship declaration, if you are a minor studying without a parent or legal guardian in Canada
You should apply before you travel to Canada, and note that application fees are non-refundable even if your application is refused.
Application Fees and Biometrics
As of this writing, the standard study permit application fee is CAN$150. This is separate from any DLI tuition deposit, PAL/TAL processing fee your school or province may charge, or biometrics fee.
Unless you are exempt, you must also give your biometrics (fingerprints and a photo):
- Individual applicant: CAN$85
- Family applying together: maximum total of CAN$170
Biometric exemptions include children under 14, applicants over 79, and those who have already given biometrics for a permanent resident application still in process. Always confirm current fees on the official IRCC fee schedule before paying, since fees are adjusted periodically.
Medical Exams and Police Certificates
Most study permit applicants do not need an immigration medical exam (IME). You generally need one only if you have lived in or travelled through certain designated countries or territories for six months or more in the year before coming to Canada, or if you plan to work in an occupation where public health must be protected (such as healthcare or childcare). Only a physician on IRCC’s approved panel can perform the exam, and results are valid for 12 months. The list of countries requiring an IME is updated periodically, so check it close to your application date.
A police certificate is not required for every study permit application, but a visa office may request one, particularly if you have a criminal record or have lived somewhere for an extended period. If requested, a certificate for your country of current residence must generally be issued within six months of your application, while certificates from other countries where you lived for six consecutive months or more must date from after your last residence there.
The 2026 Study Permit Cap
Canada has capped the number of study permit applications it accepts each calendar year since 2024. For 2026, IRCC has set a national allocation of 309,670 study permit application spaces for PAL/TAL-required applicants, distributed to provinces and territories based on population and historical approval rates.
Within that structure, IRCC expects to issue up to 180,000 study permits in 2026 to applicants who require a PAL/TAL, alongside PAL/TAL-exempt cohorts (master’s and doctoral students at public DLIs, primary and secondary students, and other exempt groups). In total, IRCC expects to issue approximately 408,000 study permits in 2026, combining new arrivals and extensions for students already in Canada – a reduction from prior years as part of Canada’s effort to bring down the size of the temporary resident population.
Each province and territory allocates its share of spaces to its designated learning institutions, so a strong application does not guarantee entry into a program if that province has exhausted its allocation for the year.
Processing Times
Study permit processing times vary by country of application, application volume, and whether your application is complete. There is no single fixed processing time for all applicants. Check IRCC’s official processing times tool for the current estimate for your country before you apply, and apply as early as possible – ideally several months before your program start date.
Travelling to Canada and Study Permit Conditions
You cannot enter Canada before the start date listed on your study permit. When you arrive, a border officer reviews your documents and issues the physical study permit. From that point, your study permit comes with conditions you must maintain, including that you:
- Must be enrolled at a DLI and remain actively pursuing your course or program of study
- Must study at the specific DLI named on your study permit – you cannot simply switch schools without following the correct process
- Must make progress toward completing your program
- Must stop studying if you no longer meet the conditions of your permit
Post-secondary DLIs are required to report on the enrolment status of their international students to IRCC’s Designated Learning Institution Portal twice a year, in spring and fall, and must respond to any additional compliance request within 10 days. If your school reports that you are not enrolled or not attending, your study permit can become invalid, and you may be barred from future study or work permits.
Changing Your School or Program
You do not automatically keep the same study permit if you switch schools. In most cases, changing your DLI means applying to extend or amend your study permit, and, since January 22, 2025, you must obtain a new, valid PAL/TAL before submitting that application (unless you qualify for an exemption). Your new school must also be a DLI.
Some changes do not require a new PAL/TAL or permit, including moving from post-secondary studies into a degree-granting master’s or doctoral program at a public DLI, or changing programs at the same school and level of study without changing your conditions. If you are outside Canada and your study permit application has already been approved, changing schools means submitting an entirely new application and fees. If you are studying in Quebec, changing schools generally also requires a new Quebec Acceptance Certificate.
Failing to notify IRCC of a school change is treated as a breach of your study permit conditions and can affect your ability to study, work, or immigrate to Canada in the future.
After Graduation: Work and Permanent Residence Pathways
Most international students can already work while they study without a separate work permit, generally up to the hours allowed under their study permit conditions during the academic session and without a cap during scheduled breaks.
After completing a program at an eligible DLI, many graduates qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which allows open work authorization in Canada for a period tied to the length of your study program. Canadian work experience gained afterward can support an application for permanent residence through Express Entry’s Canadian Experience Class, a Provincial Nominee Program, or Quebec’s own economic immigration streams. See our guide on how to apply for permanent residence after studying in Canada for the available pathways.
Note: The Student Direct Stream (SDS), which once offered faster study permit processing to applicants from a list of eligible countries, was discontinued on November 8, 2024. All study permit applicants, regardless of home country, now go through the same standard application stream.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) to study in Canada?
Most applicants do. Exceptions include primary and secondary students, master’s and doctoral applicants at public DLIs (as of January 1, 2026), exchange students who don’t pay DLI tuition, Global Affairs Canada scholarship recipients, and a few other specific groups. If you’re applying to study in Quebec, you need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate instead.
How much money do I need to prove for a Canadian study permit?
For applications submitted on or after September 1, 2025, a single applicant must show at least $22,895 in living expenses for the first year, on top of tuition and transportation costs, with higher amounts required for accompanying family members. This amount increases annually. Quebec sets its own financial requirement, separate from the federal chart.
What is the 2026 study permit cap?
For 2026, IRCC has allocated 309,670 study permit application spaces to provinces and territories for PAL/TAL-required applicants, with a target of issuing up to 180,000 study permits to that group. Including PAL/TAL-exempt cohorts, IRCC expects to issue about 408,000 study permits in total during 2026.
Is the Student Direct Stream still available?
No. The Student Direct Stream (SDS), which offered faster processing for applicants from a specific list of countries, was discontinued on November 8, 2024. All applicants now apply through the standard study permit process.
Can I change schools after I already have a study permit?
Yes, but in most cases you must apply to extend or amend your study permit for the new school, and, since January 22, 2025, you generally need a new, valid PAL/TAL before you submit that application. Your new school must also be a designated learning institution. Failing to report a school change can invalidate your study permit.
Can I work while I study in Canada?
Most international students can work on campus or off campus without a separate work permit, subject to the hour limits and conditions on their study permit, and can typically work full-time during scheduled breaks such as winter and summer holidays.