1. Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for a Canadian study permit, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Acceptance at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI): You must have a valid letter of acceptance from a Canadian school, college, or university on the DLI list. Every school that can legally accept international students is on this list — if the institution is not listed, the acceptance letter is not valid for a study permit.
- Proof of financial support: You must demonstrate you can pay tuition for your first year plus CAD $10,000 for living expenses (or CAD $11,000 if studying in Quebec). For a spouse or common-law partner accompanying you, add CAD $4,000. For each dependent child, add CAD $3,000. Financial evidence typically covers the first year but must be credibly projected for the entire program duration.
- Genuine student intent: IRCC must be satisfied you will leave Canada when your studies are complete. This is assessed through ties to your home country and the strength of your study plan.
- Clean criminal record: A criminal record or inadmissibility finding can result in refusal. Certain convictions require rehabilitation applications before a study permit can be issued.
- Good health: A medical examination (IME) may be required depending on your country of residence and program length. Students studying in healthcare, childcare, or primary/secondary education require an IME regardless of country.
- Biometrics: Most applicants must provide biometrics (fingerprints and photo) at a designated collection centre. Biometrics are valid for 10 years once submitted.
2. The Application Process Step by Step
The study permit process has several distinct stages that must be completed in sequence:
Step 1: Choose your program and get an acceptance letter
Before anything else, you need a letter of acceptance (LOA) from a DLI for a full-time program of study. The LOA must include: the institution name (on the DLI list), your name, the program of study, the anticipated start date, the duration, and the conditions of acceptance. Part-time programs do not generally qualify for study permits — there are narrow exceptions for final semester students.
Step 2: Gather your documents
Prepare all supporting documents before lodging — incomplete applications cause delays and can trigger refusal if key documents are missing. See the full document list in Section 3 below.
Step 3: Complete the medical examination (if required)
If you require an IME, you must visit a Panel Physician (a doctor authorised by IRCC) in your country of residence. The examination results are sent directly to IRCC — you do not hold or submit the results yourself. Medical exam results are valid for 12 months.
Step 4: Submit your application online
Most applicants apply via the IRCC secure online portal. Paper applications are no longer accepted from most countries. After submitting, IRCC will send biometric instructions if you have not already provided them. You have 30 days from the biometric instruction letter to attend a collection point.
Step 5: Provide biometrics
Attend a Visa Application Centre (VAC) in your country to provide fingerprints and a photo. Biometric appointments can be booked online. Once provided, biometrics are valid for 10 years — you will not need to provide them again for subsequent applications within that period.
Step 6: Receive a decision
IRCC will issue either a Letter of Introduction (LOI) if approved, or a refusal letter with reasons. The LOI is not the study permit itself — it is proof of approval that you present at the Canadian port of entry.
Step 7: Travel to Canada and receive your study permit
A Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer at the port of entry (airport or land border) issues the actual study permit document. The officer reviews your LOI and supporting documents, confirms your identity, and stamps the study permit. The conditions, including expiry date and any work authorisation, are recorded on this document. Ensure the officer correctly records your program end date plus 90 days as the expiry.
3. Required Documents
The following documents are required for most study permit applications. Some may not apply in every case — the IRCC document checklist generated during your online application is the authoritative list for your specific situation.
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Letter of Acceptance from DLI | Must include program, duration, start date, conditions |
| Valid passport | Must be valid for duration of study plus 6 months |
| Proof of financial support | Bank statements (6 months), scholarship letters, GIC confirmation |
| Statement of purpose / Letter of explanation | Explains study plans, career goals, ties to home country |
| Passport-style photos | Per IRCC specifications |
| Travel history | Passports showing prior travel, visa history |
| Academic transcripts and certificates | All prior education, with certified translations if not in English/French |
| English/French language proficiency evidence | Required by institution; useful supporting document for IRCC |
| Medical examination results | If required — submitted by Panel Physician directly to IRCC |
| Police certificate | Required from countries where you have lived 6+ months since age 18 |
| Custodian declaration | Required for minors studying in Canada without parents |
Proof of funds: what IRCC accepts
Acceptable financial evidence includes: bank account statements (own account or parent/sponsor with evidence of relationship), fixed deposits or investment statements, proof of scholarship or bursary, GIC from a designated Canadian financial institution, or a letter from a sponsor confirming financial support with their own financial evidence attached. Savings that appeared in an account very recently (large deposits within the past 30–60 days) are treated sceptically — IRCC assesses whether funds are genuinely available, not just temporarily parked.
4. The Genuine Student Test
This is the most commonly misunderstood part of the study permit application — and the most common ground for refusal. Case officers apply a two-part assessment:
Part 1: Do you have genuine intent to study?
Officers assess whether there is a credible academic and career rationale for the proposed study. This means evaluating:
- Whether the chosen program aligns with your existing qualifications and career history
- Whether the program is available in your home country at comparable quality (if not, this helps justify the choice of Canada)
- Whether the specific institution and location makes sense (a student from Mumbai choosing a small college in rural Saskatchewan raises questions that need answering in the letter of explanation)
- Whether the program is at an appropriate academic level (e.g., a PhD graduate applying for a certificate program may face heightened scrutiny)
Part 2: Do you have sufficient ties to your home country?
Officers assess whether you are likely to return home after your studies. Relevant factors include:
- Family members in your home country (especially spouse, children, parents)
- Property or assets in your home country
- Employment history and future employment prospects at home
- Financial ties (business ownership, investments)
- Prior travel history and compliance with visa conditions
Applicants with no established ties — particularly young, unmarried applicants applying for their first visa from a country with high immigration pressure — are subject to more scrutiny. This does not mean refusal is inevitable, but it means the letter of explanation needs to work harder.
Writing an effective letter of explanation
The letter of explanation (sometimes called a statement of purpose or letter of intent) is your primary vehicle for addressing the genuine student test. A strong letter specifically covers: why this program, why this institution, why Canada, your career goals in the context of your home country, and what you plan to do when your studies are complete. Generic statements ("I want to study in Canada to improve my education") are consistently insufficient. Specific, credible, personally-grounded explanations are consistently effective.
5. Work Rights While Studying
International students in Canada have significant work rights built into the study permit:
Off-campus work (since November 2024)
Students enrolled full-time at a post-secondary DLI can work up to 20 hours per week off-campus during academic sessions. This is a significant policy — previously the limit was also 20 hours, but there was a brief period when it was unlimited (which caused policy review). The current 20-hour limit applies during semesters. During scheduled breaks (summer, winter holidays, spring break), eligible students can work full-time.
On-campus work
There is no hour limit for on-campus work — students can work any number of hours at their institution or for a business physically on campus (e.g., campus food outlets, campus retail). This does not require separate authorisation.
Co-op and practicum placements
If your program includes a mandatory co-op or work placement, you may need a co-op work permit in addition to your study permit. This is typically requested at the same time as the study permit application if the co-op is a required program component.
6. What Happens at Port of Entry
The Letter of Introduction (LOI) you receive from IRCC is not the study permit. The actual study permit is issued by a CBSA officer at the Canadian border — either at an international airport, a land crossing, or a marine port of entry.
At the border, the CBSA officer will:
- Review your Letter of Introduction, passport, and supporting documents
- Verify your biometrics
- Confirm your program details and institution
- Issue and stamp your study permit document
Check the study permit document carefully before leaving the border crossing. The document should correctly record: your name (matching your passport exactly), your DLI and program, the permit conditions (including work authorisation), and the expiry date (which should be your program end date plus 90 days). Errors on the study permit need to be corrected immediately — requesting corrections after you have left the port of entry requires a separate application.
7. Post-Graduation Options
One of the strongest features of Canadian study is the post-graduation pathway. After completing a qualifying program at an eligible DLI, graduates can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP):
- Programs under 2 years: PGWP for the length of the program (minimum 8 months)
- Programs 2 years or more: 3-year PGWP (the maximum)
- The PGWP is an open work permit — you can work for any employer in any occupation in Canada
- PGWP cannot be extended and can only be obtained once in a lifetime
After gaining Canadian work experience on the PGWP, most graduates become eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry. See our full Study-to-PR pathways guide for the complete roadmap from student to permanent resident.