Get the right documents
You need these documents to apply for a study permit:
- proof of acceptance
- a provincial attestation letter from the province or territory where you plan to study NEW: January 22, 2024
- proof of identity
- proof of financial support
You may also need
- a letter of explanation
- a medical exam
- a custodian declaration (minors only), or
- other documents
Proof of acceptance
Your school must provide you with a letter of acceptance (LOA). Include the original or electronic copy of your letter with your study permit application.
Post-secondary students
Your school will be asked to make sure your letter of acceptance is valid.
If your school does not respond by the deadline, we’ll return your application and refund your processing fee. Confirm with your school that they will validate your letter of acceptance before resubmitting your application.
Make sure you only attach your LOA in the LOA-specific space when uploading documents for your online application. If you attach other documents in this space, you’re giving your consent to disclose these additional documents to your school. All other required documents should be attached in the corresponding spaces in your online application.
Conditional acceptance and prerequisite courses
If you’ve been conditionally accepted, you need to take prerequisite courses. For example, these might be English as a second language or French as a second language courses. You must complete these before you can start your main study program.
If this is the case, we’ll only issue your study permit for the length of those courses plus 1 year. Once you’re accepted into your main program, you’ll need to apply for a new student permit to extend your stay as a student.
Exceptions
If you’re the family member of someone who has a study permit or work permit application that’s been approved in writing before you come to Canada, you don’t need a letter of acceptance.
Provincial attestation letter from the province or territory where you plan to study
NEW: January 22, 2024
Most students need to provide a provincial attestation letter (PAL) from the province or territory where they plan to study.
How to get a PAL
For schools outside of Quebec For schools in Quebec
Who doesn’t need a provincial attestation letter
You do not need a PAL when applying for a study permit if you
- are applying to study in a preschool, primary school or secondary school (up to grade 12)
- are applying to study in a master’s degree or doctoral degree program or
- have entered Canada and one of the following situations applies to you:
o You’re applying for a study permit extension.
o You have a work permit.
o You’re a temporary resident who is a visiting or exchange student studying at a designated learning institution (DLI).
o You’re a temporary resident who has completed a course or program of study that is a prerequisite to you enrolling at a DLI.
o You’re under a removal order, but can’t be removed from Canada at this time.
o You have a temporary resident permit valid for at least 6 months.
o You’re the family member of a foreign national who lives in Canada and is one of the following:
a study permit holder
a work permit holder
a temporary resident permit holder with a permit that’s valid for at least 6 months
a member of armed forces in another country under the Visiting Forces Act
an accredited foreign government representative
a participant in certain sports activities or events
a worker in Canada who is a member of a foreign news company
a religious worker
Learn more about changes for international students.
Proof of identity
When applying for your study permit, you and each family member who comes with you to Canada must have
- a valid passport or travel document
o Online applicants: Upload a copy of the information page of your passport when you apply online.
If you’re approved, you must send us your original passport.
o Citizens of the United States have some options on the identification documents they can carry.
o Lawful permanent residents of the United States must travel with a valid green card (or equivalent official proof of status in the U.S.) and a valid passport from their country of nationality (or an equivalent document).
- two recent passport-size photos
o The name and date of birth of the person should be written on the back of each photo.
Proof of financial support
You must prove that you can support yourself and the family members who come with you while you are in Canada.
You can prove your funds with
- proof of a Canadian bank account in your name, if you’ve transferred money to Canada
- a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution
- proof of a student or education loan from a bank
- your bank statements for the past 4 months
- a bank draft that can be converted to Canadian dollars
- proof you paid tuition and housing fees
- a letter from the person or school giving you money, or
- proof of funding paid from within Canada, if you have a scholarship or are in a Canadian-funded educational program
If your country uses foreign exchange controls, you must prove that you’ll be allowed to export funds for all of your expenses.
Minimum funds needed to support yourself as a student (and family members who come with you)
All provinces except Quebec
Before January 1, 2024On or after January 1, 2024
Quebec
To study in Quebec, applicants must prove they meet the financial requirements outlined by the ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration.
Letter of explanation
This letter helps the visa officer to understand you and your goals. It explains
- why you want to study in Canada
- that you understand your responsibilities as a student
You should include this letter if you decide to apply for a study permit, even if you don’t have to get a study permit for your program.
Medical exam
You may need a medical exam if any of these situations apply to you:
- You plan to stay in Canada for more than 6 months.
- You recently spent time in certain countries.
- You plan to work in certain jobs where public health must be protected.
Find out who needs a medical exam.
Custodian declaration (minor children)
If the minor requires a custodian, you must include the Custodianship Declaration form (PDF, 1.02 MB) with your application. It has 2 pages that must be notarized (certified by a notary) and then included with your study permit application.
The custodian in Canada must sign the first page, and the parents or legal guardians of the minor child in the child’s home country must sign the second page.
Other documents
Check the visa office instructions for your country or region for local requirements.
If you aren’t currently in your home country, you may have to prove your immigration status in the country you apply from.
If the government that issued your passport or travel document needs you to have a re-entry permit, you must get one before you apply for a Canadian visa. You may also need other documents.