What is a Study Permit

A Study Permit is a document issued by IRCC that allows foreign nationals to study at designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada. Most foreign nationals need a study permit to study in Canada. (See Study Permit)

Who Does Not Need a Study Permit

You do not need a study permit if:

You are coming to Canada for a program that lasts six months or less
You are a family or staff member of a foreign representative to Canada accredited by Global Affairs Canada
You are a member of a foreign armed force on official duties in Canada
You have Registered Indian status in Canada, even if you are a citizen of another country

Eligibility Requirements

You can come to Canada to study if you:

Are enrolled at a designated learning institution (DLI)
Prove you have enough money to pay for your tuition fees, living expenses for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada, and return transportation for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada
Obey the law, have no criminal record and get a police certificate if required
Are in good health and get a medical exam if required
Prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your study permit expires

Your Responsibilities as a Student

While studying in Canada you must:

Make progress towards completing your program
Respect any conditions listed on your study permit
Stop studying if you no longer meet the requirements

Depending on your case, there may be conditions on your study permit such as:

Whether you are allowed to work in Canada
The specific date you must leave Canada
Where you can study (a specific DLI listed on your permit)

Documents Required

To apply for a study permit you will need:

(1) Letter of Acceptance — Your school will give you a letter of acceptance. For post-secondary students, your school will be asked to confirm your letter of acceptance is valid.

(2) Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) — In most cases, you need to accept your offer and pay your tuition fees, either in part or in full, to get your PAL/TAL. If you are studying in Quebec, you need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (Certificat d’acceptation du Québec — CAQ).

(3) Proof of Identity — You and each family member who comes with you must have a copy of a valid passport or travel document.

(4) Proof of Funds — You must show proof that you can support yourself and any family members coming with you.

(5) Letter of Explanation — recommended. You must explain why you want to study in Canada and that you understand your responsibilities as an international student in Canada.

(6) Medical Exam — You may need a medical exam if you plan to stay in Canada for more than six months, you recently spent time in certain countries, or you plan to work in certain jobs where public health must be protected.

(7) Police Certificate — In some cases IRCC may ask you for a police certificate. If you think you might need one, you should apply for one as early as possible.

(8) Proof of Care for Minor Children — Children under the age of 17 who are not coming to Canada with a parent or legal guardian must have an appointed custodian.

Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL)

2026 International Student Cap

In 2026, up to 180,000 study permits are expected to be issued to applicants who require a PAL/TAL. A total of 309,670 study permit application spaces are available under the cap for 2026. Each province or territory is responsible for distributing their allocated spaces to their respective designated learning institutions.

Who Does NOT Need a PAL/TAL in 2026

The following groups are exempt from the PAL/TAL requirement in 2026:

Master’s and doctoral degree students enrolled at public designated learning institutions — new as of January 1, 2026
Primary and secondary (kindergarten to grade 12) students
Certain Government of Canada priority groups and vulnerable cohorts
Existing study permit holders applying for an extension at the same DLI and at the same level of study

PAL/TAL Validity

Your PAL/TAL must be valid when you apply for your study permit. It does not need to be valid when you start your studies. A PAL/TAL issued in 2026 is valid until December 31, 2026. You cannot apply with a PAL/TAL issued during a previous cap year.

How to Apply

Study permit applications must be submitted online, whether you are outside of Canada or already in Canada. Applications are submitted through an IRCC secure online account.

Doctoral (PhD) students and their accompanying family members may be able to get faster processing on their applications.

Working While Studying

You may be eligible to work in Canada while studying if your study permit includes a condition that says you can work on or off campus. You can only start working in Canada when you start your study program. You cannot work before your studies begin.

You will need to get a work permit if your study program includes a required co-op or internship placement.

Off-Campus Work

You can work off campus without a work permit if you meet all of these requirements:

You are a full-time student at a designated learning institution
You have started your study program
You have a valid study permit or you applied to extend your study permit before it expired
Your study program is at least six months long and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate
You have conditions printed on your study permit that allow you to work off campus

You can work up to 24 hours per week off campus.

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

You may be able to stay and work in Canada after you graduate by getting a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). PGWP eligibility depends on several requirements, including when you submit your study permit application. Check the requirements before you submit your study permit application.

PGWP has three sets of eligibility requirements:

General eligibility requirements — for example, you must complete an eligible program of study at a PGWP-eligible DLI
Eligibility requirements based on your study program — these may include language or field of study requirements
Eligibility requirements based on your physical location

Field of Study Requirement

Depending on your study program, you may need to meet a field of study requirement to be eligible for a PGWP. You do not need to meet the field of study requirement if:

You submitted your PGWP application before November 1, 2024
You graduated from a PGWP-eligible flight school
You graduated with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctoral degree
You applied for a study permit before November 1, 2024

Length of PGWP

The length of your PGWP depends on the level and duration of your study program as well as the expiry date of your passport, whichever comes first:

Programs of less than two years — PGWP valid for up to the same length as your study program
Programs of two years or more — PGWP valid for up to three years
Master’s degree programs — you can apply for a three-year PGWP even if your master’s program was less than two years

Most PGWP applicants now need to provide proof of language results when they apply.

Minor Children

Minor children may not need a study permit if:

They are in Canada attending preschool, primary school or secondary school and are accompanied by a parent who is authorized to study or work in Canada
They are in Canada unaccompanied and attending preschool, primary school or secondary school

When minor children reach the age of majority (18 or 19 years old depending on the province or territory), they must apply for a study permit if they want to keep studying.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws change frequently. Please consult a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer for advice specific to your situation. Last updated: July 1, 2026.

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