Study permits: the 2026 requirements, with no surprises.

Planning to study in Canada involves more than securing admission. You may also need a provincial attestation letter or, in Québec, a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ), proof of funds, biometrics and a federal study permit. Requirements vary by situation and change, so build your application around the current official instructions.

Visa Canada Rouge, an immigration consulting firm in Montréal, helps students understand the application sequence, prepare their documents and choose a program with their longer-term goals in mind.

Do you need a study permit?

Most international students do: admission alone isn't enough. IRCC lists exceptions, the main ones being a program of 6 months or less, some minor children (for example, when a parent is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident), family or staff of an accredited foreign representative, and, in Québec, temporary residents taking French-language and integration courses. The full list is on IRCC's page "Who can study without a permit"; check it before enrolling on the basis of an exemption.

The basic requirements

• Be accepted by a designated learning institution (DLI); check that the school is on IRCC's list of designated learning institutions
• Include a provincial or territorial attestation letter, or the CAQ in Québec, in most cases
• Show you have enough money for tuition, living expenses for yourself and any family members coming with you, and transportation
• Have no criminal record, and provide a police certificate if asked
• Be in good health, and complete a medical exam if asked
• Satisfy the officer that you will leave Canada when your authorized stay ends

Once you're studying, you also have to make progress toward completing your program and respect the conditions on your permit. See IRCC's study permit eligibility page.

The provincial attestation letter (PAL/TAL)

In most cases you must include a letter from the province or territory where you plan to study, confirming that a space has been set aside for you. Your school obtains it and sends it to you, and it has to be filed with your application, not after.

• In Québec, the CAQ replaces this letter. The usual order: admission, an application for temporary selection for studies with Québec's immigration ministry (MIFI), then the study permit. See our guide to the CAQ for studies.
• Exemptions: preschool through grade 12, federally designated military colleges, Québec vocational programs (DVS, AVS, STC) and, since January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral programs at a public institution.
• Validity: a letter issued for 2026 is valid until December 31, 2026. An expired one can't be used.

See IRCC's page on the provincial or territorial attestation letter.

Proof of funds

For applications submitted on or after September 1, 2026, outside Québec, you must show:

• $23,448 per year for a single applicant
• $6,318 per year for each accompanying family member

These amounts are on top of tuition and travel costs. For Québec, the amounts set by the MIFI apply, at the CAQ stage. See IRCC's proof of financial support page.

A bank balance doesn't always tell the whole story: the file must show where the money comes from, who owns it and whether it will be available during your studies. Depending on your situation:

• recent bank statements showing how the balance has evolved;
• proof that tuition or housing has been paid, if it has;
• a letter of financial support and the sponsor's proof of income;
• documents for a scholarship, loan or other source of funding;
• explanations and records for any large or unusual deposit.

Documents to prepare

• A valid passport or travel document
• Your DLI letter of acceptance, with accurate program and start-date information
• A PAL or TAL, if required, or your CAQ for studies in Québec
• Evidence of funds, with records that explain the source of the money
• A letter explaining your study plan
• Documents for accompanying family members
• Translations that meet IRCC's instructions, for documents not in English or French
• A police certificate or medical exam results, if requested

For the Québec sequence, see our guide studying in Québec: CAQ, then study permit.

The study plan and common refusals

The study plan explains the link between your previous education, the program you chose and your goals: why this school, why this program, why Canada, and how it fits your path. There's no standard text; your explanation has to match your documents and your real situation. If you changed fields, had a gap in your studies or a previous refusal, explain the context.

The most common concerns:

• funds that are insufficient, hard to trace or unconvincing;
• a vague study plan, or a program that's hard to link to your background;
• doubts that you'll leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay;
• a missing attestation letter or CAQ, or one that doesn't match the application;
• omissions or inconsistencies between the forms and the documents;
• medical, criminal or security admissibility issues.

After a refusal, reapplying without answering the officer's concerns often leads to the same result: see our visa refusal page.

Federal fees

• Study permit, including an extension: $150 per person
• Biometrics: $85 per person, to a maximum of $170 per family

In Québec, the CAQ fee ($135 in 2026) comes on top. Check IRCC's fee list before paying, and see our biometrics guide.

Working while you study

• 24 hours a week off campus during academic sessions
• No limit during scheduled breaks, such as summer or reading week
• Conditions: full-time enrolment at a designated learning institution, in a program of at least 6 months leading to a credential, studies already started, a permit that authorizes work, and a social insurance number

Going over the limit isn't a minor slip: it breaches the conditions of your permit, with consequences for your status and for future applications. Don't count on work income to replace the proof of funds. See IRCC's page on working off campus.

Your spouse and children

Family members have their own applications, and their costs count in the funds you must show. Since January 21, 2025, the spouse or common-law partner of a student can get an open work permit only if the student is enrolled in one of these:

• a master's program of at least 16 months;
• a doctoral program;
• certain professional university programs listed by IRCC (including medicine, dentistry, law, pharmacy, optometry, veterinary medicine, nursing, education and engineering);
• certain programs designated by IRCC; in Québec, for example, programs that recognize the skills of internationally trained nurses, respiratory therapists and medical technologists.

Other situations no longer qualify. This is something to settle before you leave, not after you arrive. See IRCC's page to help your spouse or common-law partner work in Canada and our guide to the spousal open work permit rules.

Extending a study permit

If your permit expires before your program ends, apply to extend it before the expiry date. A complete application filed in time lets you keep your status while it's processed, as long as you stay in Canada. In Québec, plan the CAQ renewal too: it runs on its own schedule. See IRCC's page to extend your study permit and our guide to renewing your CAQ and study permit.

And after graduation?

The post-graduation work permit is no longer automatic: program length, institution, field of study and language level all count. In Québec, the experience you gain afterwards can lead to the PSTQ or the PEQ. That's why the program you pick should be chosen with the next step in mind, from the day you enrol.

What we do for you

• Check that the institution, the program and the field of study lead where you want to go
• Build a financial file that holds together, with documented sources of funds
• Coordinate the attestation letter or the CAQ, then the study permit application
• Write a study plan with you that matches your real background
• Anticipate the common grounds for refusal: insufficient funds, a vague study plan, weak ties to your home country

The authorities make the decision; our support prepares a file that follows the published rules. To discuss your plans, book a consultation or describe your situation.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in Québec with just a study permit?

No. For programs that require it, you first obtain the Québec Acceptance Certificate, then apply to IRCC for the study permit. The CAQ then serves as your provincial attestation letter.

What if my study permit expires before my program ends?

You need to apply for an extension before the expiry date. An application filed in time lets you keep your status while it's processed. Plan for the CAQ renewal too, if one applies: it runs on its own schedule.

How long does a study permit take to process?

It changes from week to week and depends on the country you apply from. IRCC publishes it in its processing times tool. In Québec, add the time it takes to get your CAQ, which comes first.

Do I need to give biometrics?

In most cases, yes, and the fee is $85 per person. Our biometrics guide explains who has to give them and who is exempt.

Can I work as soon as I arrive in Canada?

Not necessarily: you must have started your studies, be enrolled full-time in an eligible program and hold a permit that authorizes work. Check the conditions printed on your permit before accepting a job.

Which financial documents should I submit?

Depending on your source of funds: bank statements, proof of paid tuition, a support letter and the sponsor's income, scholarship documents. What matters is showing the money will be available and explaining any unusual amounts.

Official sources: IRCC, "Study permit: Who can apply" (canada.ca, modified January 26, 2026), "Provincial attestation letter or territorial attestation letter" (September 2, 2026), "Proof of financial support" (August 28, 2026), "Work off campus" (April 15, 2026), "Citizenship and immigration application fees" (July 2, 2026) and the notice "2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap". Accessed September 20, 2026. IRCC, "Who can study without a permit" (September 9, 2026), "Help your spouse or common-law partner work in Canada" (February 3, 2026) and "Extend your study permit": accessed October 11, 2026.