Current rules — Studying in Canada

1. The number of permits is capped. In 2026, Canada is targeting 408,000 study permits: 155,000 for new students and 253,000 extensions. It will accept a maximum of 309,670 applications subject to the attestation letter requirement.
2. Most students need a provincial attestation letter (PAL). It comes from the province, through the institution. In Quebec, the CAQ serves this purpose.
3. New in 2026: master's and doctoral students at public institutions no longer need a PAL and no longer count towards the cap, as of January 1, 2026.
4. The proof of funds requirement has increased. Outside Quebec: $23,448 per year for a single person, for applications submitted since September 1, 2026, in addition to tuition and transportation costs. In Quebec: $24,617 since January 1, 2026.
5. The officer now verifies the source of funds in all cases (July 2026 directive). Have six months of bank statements ready.
6. Your letter of acceptance is verified directly with the institution. Without confirmation within 10 days, the application is returned.
7. You can work off campus for 24 hours per week during academic terms, and without a limit during scheduled breaks. Since April 1, 2026, a mandatory work placement (co-op) no longer requires a separate work permit at the post-secondary level.
8. Changing institutions requires a new study permit and a new PAL. You cannot start at the new school until you have the permit.
9. The post-graduation work permit (PGWP) requires a language test: NCLC 7 for university graduates, NCLC 5 for college graduates. College programs must also be in an eligible field of study; the list is frozen for 2026.
10. A spouse can obtain an open work permit only in certain cases: a master's program of 16 months or longer, a doctoral program or certain professional programs.
11. Quebec has its own caps per institution until December 2027, and the PEQ graduate stream reopened from July 2 to October 31, 2026.
12. Be wary of promises. No consultant can guarantee a visa. Check the institution on the DLI list and the consultant in the CICC register.

For 2026, Canada is targeting a maximum of 408,000 study permits, 7% fewer than in 2025 (437,000) and 16% fewer than in 2024 (485,000). The number of permit holders fell from more than one million (January 2024) to about 725,000 (September 2025).

Only students who need a PAL count towards the cap. IRCC will accept a maximum of 309,670 applications from this group for the calendar year. Spaces are allocated based on population, then adjusted according to each province's average approval rate in 2024 and 2025.

Nunavut has no application spaces because it has no designated post-secondary institution. In Quebec, the gap between applications (93 069) and targeted permits (39 474) reflects a high refusal rate in 2024-2025.

For subsequent years, the Immigration Levels Plan provides for 155 000 new students in 2026, followed by 150 000 in 2027 and 150 000 in 2028. The government wants to bring temporary residents below 5% of the population by the end of 2027.

Most study permit applications must include a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL or TAL). It proves that you have a space within that province's allocation under the cap.

How to obtain it

1. Get admitted to a designated learning institution (DLI).
2. Request the PAL from your institution: it requests the letter from the province, which issues it.
3. Include it with your permit application. Each person needs their own letter, even in a family application.
4. In Quebec, the CAQ replaces the PAL. It must contain wording confirming that you have a space within Quebec's allocation.

Validity

• Letters for 2026 are valid until December 31, 2026, unless an earlier date is indicated.
• The letter must be valid on the day you submit the application, not the day you start classes.
• A letter from a previous year cannot be used.
• You can reuse it only if your previous application was withdrawn before a decision or was not accepted for processing.

When you need a new letter

• After an approval or refusal.
• When the letter has expired, or to restore your status.
• When you change institutions or levels of study (since January 22, 2025), except when moving to a graduate degree at a public DLI.

Who does not need one

If you are exempt, you must demonstrate this in your application; IRCC confirms it during processing. Without a valid PAL or an exemption, the application will not be processed.

You must prove that you can pay the first year of tuition, round-trip transportation and your living expenses, without relying on a job in Canada. For a program longer than one year, explain how you will pay for the remainder.

Federal amounts (outside Quebec)

These amounts cover only living expenses for one year. Add tuition and transportation.

The amount for a single person rose from $10 000 (unchanged since the early 2000s) to $20 635 in January 2024, then to $22 895 and $23 448. It is set at 75% of the low-income cut-off and adjusted annually.

Quebec amounts

Quebec requires its own amounts for the CAQ; see the Quebec section. For a single person: $24 617 since January 1, 2026.

Accepted documents (examples)

• Guaranteed investment certificate (GIC) from a Canadian bank.
• Canadian bank account in your name.
• Student loan or education loan.
• Bank statements for the last 6 months, up to the month of the application or the preceding month.
• Receipt from the institution for tuition and accommodation already paid.
• Proof of a scholarship or funding through a Government of Canada program.
• Letter from the person or organization funding you, with proof of your relationship.
• Pension or rental income.
• If your country controls foreign currency outflows: proof that you can transfer the money.

New in 2026: since the July 24, 2026 update, the officer must verify the source of funds in all cases. A large, recent deposit without an explanation may lead to a refusal.

You apply online, through an IRCC secure account. Paper applications are allowed only in rare cases (certain disabilities, refugee or stateless person travel documents, system outages).

The steps

1. Obtain your letter of acceptance from a DLI, then your PAL or CAQ if you need one.
2. Read the instruction guide (IMM 5269) and complete the online questionnaire to get your document checklist.
3. Create your IRCC account, upload the documents and pay the fees.
4. Provide your biometrics, then undergo a medical exam if requested.
5. Respond promptly to IRCC requests.
6. If the application is approved, you receive a letter of introduction. The permit is printed when you arrive in Canada.

If you need a temporary resident visa or an eTA, it is issued automatically with the permit, at no additional cost.

Verification of the letter of acceptance

Since December 1, 2023, post-secondary institutions have confirmed each letter of acceptance directly with IRCC. Since November 8, 2024, they have 10 days to do so; without confirmation, the application is returned without being processed.

Fees

These fees have not changed in 2026. Permanent residence fees increased on April 30, 2026 (right of permanent residence fee: $600).

Biometrics, medical exam and criminal record

• Biometrics: generally required for ages 14 to 79, valid for 10 years, to be provided within 30 days of the instruction letter.
• Medical exam: required if you are staying for more than 6 months and have lived or travelled for 6 consecutive months in a designated country during the past year, or if you will work in health care, a school or a daycare. You can undergo an upfront exam with a panel physician.
• Police certificate: only if required by your document checklist or the visa office.

Processing times

• Check the current processing time for your country using IRCC's official tool. It reflects the processing time for 80% of recent applications; it is not a guarantee.
• Doctorate: since November 6, 2025, a processing target of 2 weeks for online applications made outside Canada (including family), once biometrics have been provided and the letter verified. Master's degrees are not covered.

Where to apply

• Outside Canada: the normal route.
• In Canada: only certain groups, including valid study or work permit holders and their families, minors in elementary or secondary school, exchange students, and those completing a prerequisite course.
• At the border: only United States citizens and permanent residents and residents of Greenland or Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. “Flagpoling” (leaving and re-entering to obtain a permit) has not been possible since December 23, 2024.

Special cases

• Program of 6 months or less: no study permit is required.
• Prerequisite course (e.g., English or French before a bachelor's degree): since December 22, 2025, the permit is valid for the length of the course plus 90 days (instead of one year).
• Student Direct Stream (SDS): ended on November 8, 2024, as did the Nigeria Student Express stream. All applications go through the regular process.

To study for more than 6 months in Quebec, you need the CAQ first (Quebec Acceptance Certificate), then the federal study permit. Quebec also sets its own caps by institution.

Obtaining the CAQ

1. Obtain your admission letter.
2. Create an Arrima account (the immigration ministry's portal).
3. Complete the form in a single session: it cannot be saved.
4. Pay by credit card within the following hour. The application is received only once payment is made.
5. You will receive a file number within 48 hours.
6. Upload your documents within 15 days. A representative cannot do this on your behalf.

• 2026 fee: $135 ($132 in 2025).
• Processing time: a decision within 25 business days for 80% of complete files.
• Fully online programs do not qualify for a CAQ.

Financial capacity (applications from January 1, 2026)

These amounts now include settling-in expenses and health and hospitalization insurance. Tuition and transportation are additional. In 2025, a single person had to show $15 508 (a 59% increase).

Quebec caps

• Act 74 (2024) allows the government to limit or suspend applications by region, level, language, program or institution, for a maximum of 48 months.
• Order covering December 17, 2025 to December 16, 2027: a cap on CAQ applications set by institution for each one-year period. Elementary school, general secondary education and the Barreau are excluded.
• Approximate figures announced per period: around 54 700 university applications, 22 600 college applications and 27 900 vocational training applications (figures from the December 2025 news release, to be confirmed in the Gazette officielle).
• An order dated July 22, 2026 revised the caps for certain institutions; freed-up spots are made available again on certain Thursdays at 14:00.
• Practical tip: ask your institution whether it still has spots available before paying for the CAQ.
• Quebec's share of the 2026 federal cap: 93,069 application spaces, with a target of 39,474 permits.

University tuition fees

• For 2026-2027, amounts for students from outside Quebec are indexed: for example, $12,985.50 (English) and $9,730.50 (French) for 30 credits at McGill.
• At the undergraduate (1st-cycle) level, universities may charge international students more than the minimum.
• Students from France: the rate for Canadians from outside Quebec at the undergraduate (1st-cycle) level, and the Quebec resident rate for master's and doctoral studies. French-speaking Belgian students have access to the rates for students from France.
• English-language universities: June 2026 agreement between Quebec and McGill, Concordia and Bishop's. Target: 60% of undergraduate (1st-cycle) students from outside Quebec (starting in fall 2026) reach level 4 in French within 4 years.

Health insurance

• Health and hospitalization insurance for the entire stay is a condition of the CAQ, for you and your family.
• Students from countries with a social security agreement with Quebec may be covered by RAMQ (including France, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and Sweden).
• Others must join their institution's group plan, which is often mandatory and billed along with tuition fees (approximately $900 per year, as an example).

You can work up to 24 hours per week off campus during academic terms, and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks (summer, holidays). The 24-hour limit has been in effect since November 8, 2024; previously, it was 20 hours.

Conditions for working off campus

All of these conditions must be met:

• You study full-time at a DLI.
• You are in post-secondary education, or in secondary-level vocational training in Quebec.
• Your program has started.
• It lasts at least 6 months and leads to a degree, diploma, certificate or attestation.
• Your permit is valid (or you applied for an extension before it expired) and includes a condition authorizing work.
• You have a Social Insurance Number (SIN).

What is prohibited

• Working before your classes begin.
• Working during an authorized leave or while changing institutions.
• Working off campus if you are only taking language courses (English or French as a second language), general interest courses or a prerequisite course.
• Exceeding 24 hours per week during academic terms: this can affect your status and your PGWP.

Remote work for a foreign employer does not count towards the 24 hours. A part-time final term is allowed if you were a full-time student up to that point.

On campus

There is no limit on hours, subject to the same basic conditions: full-time studies, a valid permit with the work authorization condition, and a SIN.

Mandatory work placements (co-op)

Since April 1, 2026, post-secondary students no longer need a separate co-op work permit if:

• their initial permit includes the condition authorizing on-campus work;
• the institution provides a letter confirming that the placement is mandatory;
• their permit is valid and they study full-time;
• the placement accounts for 50% or less of the program.

Secondary school students still need a co-op permit.

After completing the program

If you apply for a PGWP before your study permit expires and you were authorized to work off campus, you can work full-time while awaiting the decision.

Watch for updates: in April 2026, IRCC proposed expanding work authorization while awaiting an extension; this is not yet in effect.

Conditions to meet

• Remain enrolled at a DLI and make genuine progress in your studies. Part-time studies are allowed, but may cause you to lose your work authorization and PGWP eligibility.
• Authorized leaves are limited to 150 days, with no work during the leave.
• Leave Canada when your permit expires.
• If you fail to comply, IRCC may ask you to leave, and you may have to wait 6 months before applying for another permit.

Changing institutions

• Since November 8, 2024, changing DLIs at the post-secondary level requires a new study permit (applied for as an extension) and, since January 22, 2025, a new PAL.
• You cannot study at the new school while waiting, unless your previous institution has closed, cancelled your program, been suspended or lost its designation.
• Changing programs at the same institution: your permit remains valid, but a new PAL may be required if you change levels.

Extending your permit

• The permit normally covers the length of the program plus 90 days.
• Apply for an extension at least 30 days before expiry (fee: $150).
• Maintained status: if you apply before midnight (UTC) on the expiry date and remain in Canada, you can continue studying under the same conditions. This status ends if you leave Canada.
• In the event of a refusal or expiry, you have 90 days to apply to restore your status ($396.25).

Institutional compliance

• DLIs must report your enrolment to IRCC within 60 days of a request.
• Your permit may become invalid if you are no longer enrolled.
• A non-compliant DLI may be suspended for up to 12 months. New applications for that DLI are then returned, except for completion of an ongoing program.

The PGWP allows you to work for any employer in Canada after your studies. You can obtain it only once in your lifetime. Three conditions have changed significantly since 2024: language, field of study and institution.

Basic eligibility

• A program of at least 8 months (900 hours in Quebec) at a PGWP-eligible DLI.
• Full-time studies in every term, except the last.
• Apply within 180 days of confirmation of program completion, with a study permit that was valid at some point during those 180 days.
• At least 50% of the program in class in Canada (for programs started on or after September 1, 2024). Time spent studying abroad is deducted from the length of the PGWP.

Not eligible

• Programs offered through a public-private partnership (a private college delivering a public college's program), started after May 15, 2024.
• Language-only courses, general interest courses and non-credit programs (IRCC clarification dated June 24, 2026).
• Global Affairs Canada scholarship recipients required to return to their home country.
• People who have already held a PGWP.
• In Quebec, certain programs at non-subsidized private institutions: check the institution on IRCC's list.

Language requirement (since November 1, 2024)

Minimum test scores (reading / writing / listening / speaking):

The test must be taken in person and be less than 2 years old at the time of application. Graduates of eligible flight schools are exempt.

Field of study requirement

• It applies to college and non-degree programs if the study permit application was submitted on or after November 1, 2024.
• Exempt: bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, doctorates, flight schools, and study permit applications submitted before November 1, 2024.
• The program must match a 6-digit CIP code on the eligible list, linked to occupations facing shortages: agriculture and agri-food, education, health care and social services, science and technology (STEM), trades, transportation.
• List frozen for 2026: IRCC is neither adding nor removing any fields this year.
• Some codes are eligible depending on the date of your study permit application. Check your exact code in IRCC's table before enrolling.

Duration

The PGWP cannot extend beyond the passport's expiry date.

Fees and waiting period

• $255 ($155 permit fee + $100 open work permit fee), plus $85 for biometrics if required.
• You can work full-time while awaiting the decision if your study permit was valid when you applied, you were authorized to work off campus and you did not exceed your permitted hours.

Open work permit for a spouse

Since January 21, 2025, a student's spouse or common-law partner is eligible for an open work permit only if the student is enrolled in:

• a master's program of 16 months or more;
• a doctoral program;
• certain professional university programs: medicine, dentistry, law, optometry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, nursing, education (B.Ed.), engineering;
• certain specific programs, such as the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot or nursing in Quebec.

Permits issued under the previous rules remain valid and can be renewed to match the student's permit. Outside these cases, the spouse can come as a visitor or apply for their own permit.

Children

• Minor children can attend preschool, primary and secondary school without a study permit if a parent is authorized to study or work in Canada. They must maintain valid visitor status. IRCC still recommends obtaining a permit.
• Since January 21, 2025, dependent children can no longer obtain an open work permit based on a working parent's permit.
• A minor studying alone needs a custodian in Canada if they are under 17. The age of majority is 18 in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, P.E.I., Quebec and Saskatchewan, and 19 elsewhere.
• Every family member counts towards the proof of funds requirement (see the table above).

A study permit does not automatically lead to permanent residence. The usual path involves a PGWP, followed by skilled work experience in Canada. Several pathways reserved for graduates were closed in 2025-2026.

Express Entry (federal)

• Canadian Experience Class: at least 1 year (1,560 hours) of skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) in Canada in the last 3 years, with authorization to work. Work done during full-time studies and co-op placements do not count.
• Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points: a Canadian credential provides 15 points (1 to 2 years) or 30 points (3 years or more); French, 25 or 50 points; a provincial nomination, 600 points.
• Job offer: it no longer provides points as of March 25, 2025.
• 2026 priority categories (announced on February 18, 2026): French-language proficiency; health care and social services; trades; physicians with Canadian experience; researchers and senior managers with Canadian experience; transport; military recruits.

Provincial programs

• Ontario: the Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams were discontinued in 2026 (last invitations in March and April). The new “Ontario Workforce Priority” stream includes an option for recent Ontario graduates with a job offer.
• British Columbia: the international graduate streams closed in 2025, and the planned new streams were cancelled in April 2026 (to be confirmed on the BC PNP website).
• Other provinces: graduate streams change often. Check the province's official website before choosing where to study.

Quebec

• PEQ graduate stream: abolished in November 2025, then temporarily reopened from July 2, 2026 to July 2, 2028. First application window: July 2 to October 31, 2026.
• Condition for this reopening: the eligible Quebec diploma must have been obtained no later than November 19, 2025. See the full conditions in the official Quebec sources.
• Eligible credentials: a Quebec bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, a technical DCS, or a DVS (with or without an AVS), totalling at least 1,800 hours.
• French: level 7 in speaking and listening and 5 in reading and writing (spouse: 4 in speaking and listening). Test exemption if 75% of courses or 3 years of full-time studies were completed in French.
• PSTQ (Skilled Worker Selection Program): the main pathway, by invitation, with 4 streams based on employment level. Fee: $940 for the principal applicant.

Permanent residence fees (since April 30, 2026)

• Principal applicant (economic programs): $990
• Right of permanent residence fee: $600
• Dependent child: $270

Intermediaries take advantage of the complexity of the rules. Before paying anyone, carry out these three checks.

1. Is the institution a DLI? Look it up on IRCC's official list of designated learning institutions. The list also indicates whether it is PGWP-eligible and which programs are exempt from the PAL requirement.
2. Is the consultant authorized? Only the following can represent you for a fee: members of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC public register), lawyers who are members of a law society, Quebec notaries and Ontario paralegals. Any representative, even an unpaid one, must be declared in the application.
3. Pay your tuition directly to the institution, never to an intermediary.

Warning signs

• Someone offers to submit your application without a letter of acceptance from a DLI, or to sell you a letter.
• Someone guarantees you a visa, a scholarship for a fee or permanent residence.
• Someone claims that all programs qualify for a PGWP.
• Someone promises you a job in exchange for money.

The consequences

A false statement or a fraudulent document results in refusal, a 5-year ban on entering Canada and, if you are already in Canada, possible removal. You bear the consequences, even if the false information comes from the consultant.

If your school closes

If your institution closes or loses its designation, you can start at a new DLI while waiting for your new permit, provided you have remained in Canada. Languages Canada offers assistance to students affected by language school closures, such as ILAC's closure in September 2026.

Rules change often and sometimes with little advance notice. Before taking any steps, check the last updated date on the relevant official IRCC page.

Federal (IRCC)

• 2026 cap and provincial allocations (Nov. 25, 2025) ↗
• 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan ↗
• Provincial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) ↗
• Proof of financial support ↗
• Instructions for officers: assessing applications (July 24, 2026) ↗
• How to apply for a study permit ↗
• IRCC fee list ↗
• Faster processing for doctoral studies ↗
• Processing times ↗
• Medical exam for temporary residents ↗
• Studying without a permit (short programs) ↗
• Working off campus ↗
• Working on campus ↗
• Co-op placements without a separate permit (notice dated April 9, 2026) ↗
• Study permit conditions ↗
• Changing schools ↗
• Extending a study permit ↗
• Designated learning institutions (DLI) list ↗
• PGWP: eligibility ↗
• PGWP: eligible fields of study ↗
• PGWP: language test results ↗
• PGWP: duration ↗
• Spousal work permit ↗
• Minor children ↗
• Canadian Experience Class ↗
• 2026 Express Entry categories (Feb. 18, 2026) ↗
• Study permit fraud ↗
• Authorized representatives ↗ and CICC register ↗
• End of flagpoling (CBSA, Dec. 2024) ↗

Quebec

• Application for temporary selection for studies (CAQ) and caps ↗
• Cost of studies and financial capacity in 2026 ↗
• Requirements (health insurance) ↗
• 2026 immigration fees (PDF) ↗
• Programme de l'expérience québécoise ↗
• PSTQ: requirements ↗
• Notice on tuition fees for 2025-2026 (PDF) ↗
• RAMQ: international students ↗

Provinces

• Ontario Workforce Priority stream ↗