CAQ for studies: the document checklist to finish before you apply

Use this CAQ for studies document checklist to organize your school, identity, financial and situation-specific records before opening an application. Once you pay, you have only 15 days to upload your documents, so gather everything first and apply second. This guide keeps Québec’s temporary selection process separate from your federal study permit application, and is based on Québec government and IRCC pages checked on October 17, 2026.

Key takeaways

What to prepare	What to remember
Two distinct application files	The CAQ goes through Québec; the study permit is a separate federal application. Use the Québec temporary selection instructions and IRCC’s study permit document guidance for their respective steps.
Admission and identity records	Check that your letter identifies your program and study period, and prepare legible identity pages from your passport. Québec’s CAQ document guidance describes the provincial records.
Declarations and translations	Complete the forms shown in your personalized list; a document in another language needs a translation signed and certified by a professional translator.
Financial support	Make the link between available funds, the account holder and any sponsor commitment easy to understand.
Individual circumstances	Check for records tied to exemptions, age, guardianship or a renewal instead of assuming every applicant has the same checklist.
Online submission	Pay within one hour of submitting, then upload each requested item in Arrima within 15 days and keep the files and confirmation.

Start with the CAQ checklist, not the study permit checklist

The Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ, for certificat d’acceptation du Québec) is part of Québec’s temporary selection for studies. A federal study permit is a separate application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), with its own instructions and supporting documents. For studies in Québec, the CAQ comes first: it is part of the study permit application.

Application	What it does	Where its document list applies
CAQ for studies	Requests Québec’s temporary selection for studies.	Québec’s instructions and the personalized list for the CAQ file.
Study permit	Requests federal authorization to study in Canada.	IRCC’s checklist and instructions for the study permit file.

You apply to Québec’s immigration ministry (MII, formerly MIFI) through an online application for temporary selection for studies, and you use an Arrima account to pay and upload documents. The steps, in order:

1. Create an Arrima account with your names written exactly as in your passport.
2. Fill in the online application.
3. Pay in Arrima within one hour of submitting: the application only counts as submitted once paid. For applications from January 1, 2026, the fee is $135 for an international student.
4. Your personalized document list appears in your online file.
5. Upload the documents in Arrima within 15 days.

Prepare now, but do not treat a general checklist as the final list for your application. Match each item Québec requests to your own circumstances and the instructions in your account. Keeping two folders, one for the CAQ and one for the federal study permit, helps; our CAQ for studies page introduces the Québec process.

Use a simple tracker before uploading. Record what evidence answers each request, the file name and language, and whether the file is ready.

Requirement	Evidence that answers it	File name and language	Status
Admission and program	Letter of admission from the institution	For example, admission-letter.pdf, English	Ready / needs work
Identity	Passport identity page and any additional item requested	Record the file name and language	Ready / needs work
Financial support	Records showing funds and any declared sponsor support	Record the file name and language	Ready / needs work
Other personalized request	The document that directly answers the request	Record the file name and language	Ready / needs work

Check your admission letter and passport details

Before applying, compare your letter of admission with the information you plan to enter. The student, institution, program, level and planned study period should be identifiable, so the letter supports the details in the application rather than leaving them open to interpretation. Tuition amounts and dates should also be consistent with the letter.

Check whether the program includes an internship and whether the letter addresses it. For a program with an internship, Québec’s instructions say the letter must give the number of internship hours or state that internship time does not exceed 50% of the total duration of the program, if applicable.

Prepare clear copies of the identity page of your passport. Compare your name and other identifying details with the admission letter and forms, and resolve differences with appropriate supporting evidence or a concise explanation.

The passport signature rule depends on your situation. Québec states that a person aged 18 or over whose passport does not include a signature must also provide another official identity document featuring their signature and photo.

Complete declarations, signatures and translations carefully

Use the personalized checklist to identify every declaration, undertaking and authorization that applies to you. Complete the correct form and all applicable fields, including those tied to your age or other individual circumstances, following Québec’s document instructions.

When a declaration of financial support or another form requires a signature, use the method specified in the official instructions. Any document in a language other than French or English must be accompanied by a translation signed and certified by a professional translator.

Make complete, legible scans and use clear file names that identify the document and its owner. If a record does not directly establish the requested fact, add a short explanation and relevant supporting evidence rather than expecting the reviewer to infer the connection.

Build financial evidence that explains who will pay

Proof of financial capacity must show you can cover all the costs of studying in Québec, and it should tell a coherent story: who owns the funds, where they come from and whether they will really be available for your studies. Québec asks for one or more listed proofs, such as bank statements for the last six months, a guaranteed investment certificate or a student loan. A balance on its own says little; if a large deposit appears recently, explain it with documents.

When another person covers your costs, Québec asks for a signed Declaration of financial support and that person’s detailed financial proof. Connect the sponsor’s signed commitment with records that establish the sponsor’s identity, the relationship to the student where requested, and the ability to provide the stated support, with the same names and amounts throughout.

Compare dates, account names and amounts across the records. If a bank record shows funds but does not establish that the sponsor has committed them to you, pair it with the signed declaration or other supporting evidence. Depending on your country of residence, the proof of financial capacity goes either into Arrima or to the Canadian visa office: your list tells you which.

Keep this provincial evidence separate from the proof of funds requested by IRCC; see our guide to study permit documents for the federal file.

Match extra evidence to exemptions and personal circumstances

Québec sets by order a maximum number of applications for temporary selection for studies per educational institution; the current order covers December 17, 2025 to December 16, 2027, revised by an order of July 22, 2026. When an institution reaches its cap, new applications can no longer be received for that period. Some applicants are exempt. Do not claim an exemption unless your circumstances meet a Québec-stated exemption, and connect each claim to the supporting record requested.

Use the personalized checklist to identify additional documents linked to age, guardianship or another individual circumstance. Québec states that applications concerning a child aged 16 or under require additional documents in Arrima.

If Québec requests missing or additional documents, follow the deadline and method stated in the request.

Keep provincial and federal requests distinct. A CAQ document request and an IRCC study permit request come from different authorities, so use each authority’s instructions for each stage. For the federal side, IRCC notes that children under 17 who are not coming to Canada with a parent or legal guardian must have an appointed custodian.

For a CAQ renewal, show continued study

A renewal file explains the student’s current academic situation, not simply the original application. Organize your current CAQ, proof of enrolment and academic records that show progress, then use the personalized checklist to identify which records and periods Québec requests.

An official transcript should make completed studies and current academic standing understandable. If it does not show the relevant context directly, add a brief explanation that clarifies the record without replacing it. Include proof of health and hospitalization insurance when the instructions require it.

Compare the renewed study dates and admission information with the forms so the new file describes one consistent study plan. Our guide on renewing your CAQ and study permit covers the order and timing.

Review the file before uploading it in Arrima

Once you start the online application, compare every checklist entry with a complete, readable file. Mark each item as ready, needing translation or awaiting evidence so you can see what remains, keeping the 15-day window in mind.

Upload each document to the corresponding request in your account and keep a copy of the submitted files and any confirmation. Before submitting, reconcile names, dates, program details and financial commitments across the application, forms and supporting records.

Beyond documents, your file should make sense as a whole. If you are switching fields or have a gap in your studies, explain it briefly and factually. A program that can lead to a post-graduation work permit fits a coherent plan better than a choice with no link to your goals; see our PGWP eligibility checklist.

After you receive your CAQ, check every detail on the certificate, then apply for your study permit with IRCC; our study permit page covers that step. To discuss your file, you can describe your situation or book a consultation.

Frequently asked questions

How long does CAQ approval take?

Québec says a decision is rendered within 25 business days after receipt of a complete application in 80% of cases. That is not a fixed date for every file.

Is the CAQ fee refundable?

Generally not. Fees are adjusted every January 1.

What should I do if my study start date changes after I apply?

You may need an updated admission letter. If your application is already in process, follow MII’s instructions to send the new information.

Can I apply for a CAQ before I receive a final letter of admission?

The application calls for admission information from the institution, so apply when you have a letter that identifies the program and study period. If your school issued a conditional letter, ask it what document it can provide for the CAQ.

Can I apply for my study permit before I have my CAQ?

No. For studies in Québec, the CAQ is part of the federal study permit application, so it comes first.

Conclusion

A useful CAQ document checklist starts with separate provincial and federal folders, a clear admission letter, consistent identity records, complete declarations and financial evidence that explains who will pay. Add the documents your personal situation or renewal requires, then use the personalized Arrima list as the final guide to what you submit within the 15 days.

Official sources

Official pages consulted on October 17, 2026:

• Québec — Application for temporary selection for studies (French)