How to Study in Canada
To study in Canada, you need an acceptance letter from a Designated Learning Institution, a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter if your program requires one, and proof of funds: CAD $23,448 a year in living costs for a single applicant outside Quebec, plus tuition and travel. Then you apply for a study permit, and an officer decides.
$23,448
Living funds for one person outside Quebec, applications from September 1, 2026
$150
Study permit application fee
$85
Biometrics, per person ($170 maximum per family applying together)
The Funds Calculator adds up the total for your family.
Which schools can you attend on a study permit?
You can only attend a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) on a study permit. DLIs are schools approved by provincial or territorial governments to host international students. IRCC verifies every post-secondary letter of acceptance with the school (since December 1, 2023), and you can confirm any school against the official DLI list on canada.ca.
Not all programs at all DLIs lead to a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Verify it before accepting an offer:
- The program must generally be at least 8 months, and IRCC's DLI list shows which schools offer PGWP-eligible programs.
- Graduates of public-private partnership college programs are generally not eligible.
- If you submitted your study permit application on or after November 1, 2024, every program other than a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree must be in an eligible field of study linked to jobs in long-term shortage.
- The list has six categories: agriculture and agri-food, healthcare and social services, STEM, trade, transport, and education. IRCC froze the list for 2026.
The rule
You can only attend a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) on a study permit.
Do you need a PAL/TAL?
Canada introduced a national cap on new study permit applications starting in 2024 and has tightened it each year. For 2026, IRCC expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits in total, counting new students and extensions, and will accept up to 309,670 study permit applications from students who need a PAL/TAL. Those spaces are allocated to provinces and territories, which then distribute them to their institutions.
Most applicants whose category is subject to the cap must include a PAL/TAL from their intended province or territory with their study permit application. Your DLI usually helps you obtain one as part of accepting your offer, and a PAL/TAL must in most cases be used in the year it was issued.
| Who | PAL/TAL required? |
|---|---|
| College diploma, bachelor's degree, most undergraduate programs | Generally yes, before the study permit application |
| Master's and doctoral students at a public DLI | Generally exempt as of January 1, 2026 |
| Primary and secondary (K-12) school students | Generally exempt |
| Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot, exchange students who pay no tuition to the DLI, Global Affairs Canada scholarship holders and other listed categories | Exempt if you meet a listed exception, and you must provide proof of it |
| In-Canada extensions at the same DLI and level of study, protected persons and certain other applicants already in Canada | Exempt; changing school, or in most cases your level of study, needs a new PAL/TAL |
Exemptions and scope change frequently, so verify whether your category needs one on canada.ca.
How much money do you need to show?
A single applicant outside Quebec must show CAD $23,448 for one year of living expenses, for applications made on or after September 1, 2026. First-year tuition and your travel costs must be shown in addition. The amount rose from $22,895 for applications from January 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026.
IRCC set the 2024 living-cost amount at 75% of Canada's Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) and said it would adjust it each year when Statistics Canada updates LICO. If family members come with you, you must show additional funds per person. Quebec sets its own amounts.
A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a Canadian financial institution is one accepted way to show living funds, not a requirement. IRCC's page sets no terms for a GIC. Other proof may also be accepted:
- bank statements for the past 6 months, with documents showing where the money came from
- proof of a student or education loan
- scholarship or funding letters
- a combination of these
An officer assesses whether your funds are sufficient and genuinely available.
Do you need a language test?
Language requirements for Canadian study are set by individual institutions, not IRCC. IRCC sets no test score for the study permit itself, and its study permit document list asks for no language test; your school checks your English or French when it admits you.
If you plan to apply for PR through Express Entry after graduation, a test you take for school counts only if it is one Express Entry accepts (IELTS Academic is not), and Express Entry results must be less than 2 years old.
How do you apply for a study permit?
Get your acceptance letter
Get a letter of acceptance from a DLI, and a PAL/TAL if your category requires one. When you receive your offer letter, ask whether a PAL/TAL has been issued or how to request it.
Gather your proof of funds
Show the living-cost amount plus first-year tuition and travel.
$23,448 living funds
Apply online
IRCC requires study permit applications to be made online, whether you are outside Canada or already in Canada. Paper applications are accepted only in limited situations, such as a disability that prevents you from applying online.
$150 fee
Give your biometrics
If you are between 14 and 79, you probably need to give biometrics, usually at a visa application centre (VAC) by appointment. You only need to give them once every 10 years.
$85 per person
Wait for the decision
Processing times vary significantly by country and over time. Check IRCC's current processing-time tool on canada.ca and apply well ahead of your program start date. An IRCC officer makes the decision.
Arrive with your documents
Your study permit is issued at the port of entry. The border services officer checks your documents and issues your permit when you arrive.
Can you work during and after your studies?
Eligible students can generally work up to 24 hours per week off campus during academic sessions and full-time during scheduled breaks. A study permit by itself does not authorize work; your eligibility comes from the conditions on your permit.
After graduating from an eligible program at an eligible DLI, you may apply for a PGWP, an open work permit whose length is tied to your program length, up to a maximum of 3 years. A PGWP is issued once; the one extension IRCC describes is for a permit cut short by passport expiry.
Skilled Canadian work experience on a PGWP may make you eligible for Express Entry through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), one route to permanent residence for former international students. Eligibility and selection are not guaranteed.
Which free tool checks your own case?
- Funds CalculatorProof of funds, super visa and sponsorship income
- Document ChecklistTypical documents by application type
- Fee CalculatorCurrent government fees, itemized
Free, with no account. What you enter in a tool stays in your browser.
What do people ask?
Do I need a PAL or TAL to apply for a study permit in Canada?
Yes for most college diploma and undergraduate applicants. Most applicants whose category falls under the study permit cap need a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter from their intended province or territory. As of January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students at a public DLI generally do not. Ask your DLI for help when you get your offer. The Provincial Attestation Letter guide lists the exemptions.
How much money do I need to show for a Canadian study permit in 2026?
CAD $23,448 in living funds for one year, for a single applicant outside Quebec applying on or after September 1, 2026. That is separate from first-year tuition and travel, and each family member who comes with you adds more. Quebec sets its own amounts. A GIC, bank statements, a loan or scholarship letters can all serve as proof. The Funds Calculator adds up the total for your family.
Can I study in Canada without IELTS?
Often yes, because the school sets the language rule. IRCC leaves language requirements for study to each institution, and schools may accept other tests such as TOEFL iBT, the Duolingo English Test, CAEL, PTE Academic, or TEF and TCF for French. Check your school's list before you book a test. If you later aim for Express Entry, only CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada and TCF Canada count. The Language Tests guide compares them.
Can I study in Canada for free?
Rarely. IRCC asks you to show first-year tuition plus CAD $23,448 a year in living costs before it issues a study permit, so you need the money or funding in place. A scholarship or funding letter can count toward that proof, alone or combined with a GIC, bank statements or a loan. The Student Budget and Cost of Living guide shows what a year in Canada costs.
Does the Student Direct Stream (SDS) still exist?
No. The Student Direct Stream and Nigeria Student Express ended on November 8, 2024. Applicants from India, China, the Philippines, Nigeria and every other country now use the regular study permit stream, which still accepts a GIC as proof of financial support. No stream promises a faster timeline. The SDS Closure guide explains what changed for applicants who used it.
How many hours can I work while studying in Canada?
Up to 24 hours a week off campus during academic sessions, and full time during scheduled breaks, for eligible students. The limit rose from 20 hours on November 8, 2024. Your study permit conditions must allow off-campus work, and eligible full-time post-secondary students at a DLI may also work on campus, with no hour limit. The Working While Studying guide covers the conditions and what counts toward the hours.
What is a PGWP and how do I qualify in 2026?
A Post-Graduation Work Permit is an open work permit for graduates of an eligible program of at least 8 months at an eligible DLI. It lasts up to 3 years, based on program length, and is issued once. PGWP applications on or after November 1, 2024 need CLB/NCLC 7 for university programs or 5 for college programs, and if you applied for your study permit on or after that date, any program other than a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree must be in an eligible field. The PGWP Canada guide covers every rule.
Can studying in Canada lead to permanent residence?
It can, with no automatic step. One route is study, then a PGWP, then skilled Canadian work experience, then Express Entry through the Canadian Experience Class. French speakers may also benefit from French-language category draws. An officer decides each application, so treat this as a possible route. The Study Permit to PR guide walks through each stage.
Part of:Studying in CanadaStudy permits
- Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Guide 2026
- Study Permit Proof of Funds 2026: How Much Money You Need
- Canada Student Visa for Indian Students: 2026 Guide
The textbook on this subject
Volume 2: Immigrating to Canada $79
The economic and family pathways to permanent residence, explained from the published criteria.
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This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.