Independent advisory firm — not a government agency. Study permits are issued only by IRCC.
Canada offers internationally recognised universities and colleges, welcoming cities and a clear route from study to Canadian work experience. A study permit allows you to study at a designated learning institution (DLI) and, for eligible students, to work part-time during your studies.
Canada has tightened its student programme since 2024. Most new applicants now need a provincial attestation letter, funds requirements have risen, and graduate work permit rules depend on your institution, programme and language results. Planning early makes a real difference.
Public universities and colleges across every province.
Eligible students can work up to 24 hours per week off campus in term, and full-time in scheduled breaks.
The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) can give eligible graduates up to three years of open work authorisation.
1-to-1 Advisor Guidance
PAL, funds and PGWP planning in one place
For university, college and other programmes at a DLI. Your permit is normally valid for your programme length plus 90 days. Most new applicants also need a PAL or TAL.
Courses of six months or less that you will finish within your authorised period of stay do not need a study permit. You may still need a visa or eTA to enter Canada.
Studying in Quebec for more than six months normally requires a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) before you apply for the study permit, and Quebec applies its own funds requirement.
Figures checked October 2026. Confirm current amounts with the official source before you apply.
We discuss your academic background, budget, goals and timeline.
We help you compare institutions, programmes and PGWP eligibility.
We explain the PAL/TAL process (and the CAQ for Quebec) and what your school provides.
We help you organise proof of funds and supporting documents.
We review your study plan or letter of explanation for clarity and consistency.
We review the details of your online application with you and explain the biometrics step.
Housing, work-rights guidance, and a plan for PGWP and later options.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Study permit application fee | CAD 150 | Paid to IRCC when you apply. |
| Biometrics fee | CAD 85 | Where biometrics are required. |
| Proof of living funds (shown, not paid) | CAD 22,895 | Single applicant outside Quebec, plus tuition and travel. |
| Medical exam and police certificate | Varies | Required for some applicants; costs set by providers. |
| PGWP application fee (later) | About CAD 255 | Paid after graduation; confirm on IRCC's fee list. |
| Tuition fees | Varies | Set by each institution. |
Fees are set by the Government of Canada and change without notice. Confirm current amounts on canada.ca before applying.
Public universities and colleges with strong global reputations.
Part-time work during study and a graduate work permit afterwards.
Welcoming, diverse cities and campuses.
High living standards and safe cities.
A transparent, if tightened, framework once you know the PAL and funds requirements.
Answers to the questions applicants ask most.
A study permit is the document that authorises you to study at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada. It is not a visa: depending on your nationality you may also need a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorisation to enter. Both are issued only by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Not if your course or programme lasts six months or less and you will finish it within the period of stay authorised when you enter Canada. Anything longer, including most diplomas and degrees, requires a study permit. Check your situation before you travel.
A DLI is a school approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students. You need a letter of acceptance from a DLI to apply, and the DLI number appears on that letter. Whether your school is public or private can affect your PAL requirement and your post-graduation work permit options.
A Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL) confirms that your application fits within your province's or territory's share of the national study-permit cap. Most new applicants need one. From 1 January 2026, master's and doctoral students at public institutions are exempt, and some other categories are too, so confirm your own case.
Yes. Canada's national cap on international students continues in 2026 and is divided among provinces and territories. Published figures differ by source: the Levels Plan targets about 155,000 new student arrivals, while another reported figure of around 408,000 appears to include extensions. Check IRCC's current announcements.
A single applicant outside Quebec must show at least CAD 22,895 for living costs (the figure applying since 1 September 2025), plus first-year tuition and return travel costs. Amounts rise with family size. Quebec applies its own, higher funds requirement, so check the Quebec rules if you are going there.
A Guaranteed Investment Certificate is still an accepted way to prove funds, but it is no longer required and no longer gives faster processing, because the Student Direct Stream ended in November 2024. You can also show bank statements, a student loan, a funding letter or proof of paid tuition and housing.
The study permit application fee is CAD 150 and biometrics are an additional CAD 85 if required, both payable to IRCC. A later post-graduation work permit application costs more. Fees change, so confirm the amounts on IRCC's fee list on the day you apply.
Processing times vary by country, season and the completeness of your file, and IRCC publishes current estimates on its website. Securing your PAL or TAL first can add several weeks, so students usually start 6 to 9 months before their intake and do not book travel until a decision is issued.
Typically a passport, your letter of acceptance, your PAL or TAL (unless exempt), proof of funds, a study plan or letter of explanation, language results where your school requires them, a police certificate and medical exam where requested, and biometrics. Your online IRCC checklist shows exactly what applies to you.
IRCC does not set one test for all study permit applicants. Your school sets its own English or French admission standard, and a strong result also helps support your study plan. A language test will matter again later if you apply for a post-graduation work permit.
If you will study in Quebec for longer than six months you generally need a Certificat d'acceptation du Québec (CAQ) from the Quebec government before you apply for the federal study permit. Quebec also sets its own funds requirement and intake cap, so plan extra time.
Eligible students can work off campus up to 24 hours per week during regular academic sessions, counted across all employers, and full-time during scheduled breaks. On-campus work is permitted if your permit allows it. Co-op or internship placements that are part of your programme need a separate co-op work permit.
Spouses of master's, doctoral and certain professional-degree students may qualify for an open work permit; partners of most other students generally do not since January 2025. Dependent children may be able to attend school. Each family member needs their own application and must meet the requirements.
The PGWP is an open work permit that lets eligible graduates of Canadian programmes work for any employer. Its length depends on your programme, and eligibility depends on your institution, programme, language results and timing of your application. It is a stepping stone to Canadian work experience, not a guarantee of anything beyond it.
University degree graduates need a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 7 in all four skills, and college diploma and certificate graduates need CLB 5. Take an approved test such as IELTS General Training, CELPIP or TEF, and check IRCC's current requirements before you apply.
For college and non-degree programmes, yes: your programme must be on IRCC's list of eligible fields. IRCC confirmed in January 2026 that the list is frozen for the year, at 1,107 programmes according to published guidance. Bachelor's, master's and doctoral graduates from universities are exempt from the field-of-study rule.
A study permit is normally valid for your programme length plus 90 days. If your programme ends earlier than planned, your permit may shorten too. Apply to extend from inside Canada before it expires if you need more time, and keep your enrolment current.
Yes, but you must notify IRCC when you change your DLI, and your new school must also be a DLI. A change of level or programme may need a new permit or a PAL, so speak to your school's international office and an adviser before you transfer.
It can help: study and Canadian work experience can support a later application through Express Entry or a provincial nominee programme. It is not guaranteed, and the Express Entry points system is being reviewed. Plan your studies around a realistic, flexible post-study route.
IRCC will give a reason in its decision letter. Common reasons include unconvincing funds, an unclear study plan or concerns about your intention to leave Canada after your studies. Review the reasons with an adviser before reapplying, so the new application addresses them directly.
No. Visatrix Global is an independent advisory firm. Only IRCC decides whether a study permit is issued, and no consultant can guarantee approval or processing times. We help you shortlist programmes and prepare an accurate, well-organised application.
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Disclaimer: Visatrix Global Services – FZCO is an independent advisory firm licensed in the UAE. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Government of Canada, any province or any institution. Study permits are issued only by IRCC, and officers make all decisions. We do not guarantee admission, study permit approval, post-graduation work permit eligibility or processing times. Our services are limited to education counselling and application-document preparation; regulated immigration advice on Canadian applications must come from a CICC-licensed consultant, a lawyer or a Quebec notary, which you can verify at college-ic.ca. Rules, fees and funds thresholds change frequently; always confirm them with official sources before acting.
