Study permits

The Canadian Experience Class requires Canadian skilled work experience that: is in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3; was gained in Canada (including Quebec, but an applicant who worked in Quebec must include proof they do not plan to settle there) while authorized to work under temporary resident status (remote work counts only if physically in Canada and working for a Canadian employer); shows the NOC lead statement and most main duties were performed; was paid; and totals at least 1 year of work or 1,560 hours (30 hours per week) in the 3 years before applying. Work cannot be counted if the person was studying full-time (co-op work terms also don't count), self-employed (limited exception for some physicians), a volunteer or unpaid intern, or not legally allowed to work. Other requirements: approved language test meeting the minimum in all 4 abilities, admissibility, and a plan to live outside Quebec. There is no education requirement, but Canadian credentials earn Express Entry ranking points.

Most foreign nationals need a study permit to study in Canada. A study permit is not needed for a program that lasts 6 months or less. Other listed exceptions: family or staff of a foreign representative accredited by Global Affairs Canada (may not need one); members of a foreign armed force of a country designated under the Visiting Forces Act on official duties; persons with Registered Indian status; minor children who are refugees or refugee claimants, whose parents are refugees or refugee claimants, whose parents are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, or who attend preschool, primary or secondary school either accompanied by a parent authorized to study or work in Canada or unaccompanied; temporary residents and asylum seekers taking French language and cultural integration courses in Quebec; temporary residents taking provincial/territorial settlement and integration courses; construction apprentices in eligible trades who hold a valid work permit, a job in an eligible construction occupation and a registered apprenticeship agreement; and valid work permit holders studying in a program of 6 months or less (authorized for up to 6 months or until the work permit expires, whichever comes first). A person studying without a study permit cannot work while studying unless they hold a work permit.

A letter of acceptance (LOA) from a designated learning institution is always required for a study permit. For post-secondary students, IRCC asks the school to confirm the LOA is valid; if the school does not respond by the deadline, the application is returned and the processing fee refunded (IRPR s. 216(1)(e) and 219(1)(a) require the DLI's confirmation). Exception: a family member of someone whose study permit or work permit application has been approved in writing before they come to Canada does not need a letter of acceptance. All primary and secondary schools in Canada are DLIs; post-secondary schools must appear on IRCC's DLI list.

A PAL/TAL from the province or territory of study, obtained through the DLI, is usually required for a study permit and must be submitted with the application (not after), for each applicant, even when a family applies together. In most cases the student must accept the offer and pay tuition in part or in full to get a PAL/TAL (study permit documents page). Unless it shows an earlier expiry date, a PAL/TAL issued between January 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026 is valid until December 31, 2026 (2026 cap year); a PAL/TAL from a previous cap year cannot be used. It must be valid when the study permit application is made but need not be valid when studies start. A new PAL/TAL is required if it has expired, if a previous study permit application with it was approved or refused, when changing schools (as of January 22, 2025), in most cases when changing level of study, and when restoring student status. A new one is not needed for an extension at the same DLI and level of study, or when moving from post-secondary to a degree-granting graduate program at a public DLI. The same valid PAL/TAL can be reused only if the earlier application was withdrawn before a decision or was not accepted for processing.

A PAL/TAL is not needed when applying to study at: preschool, primary school (including kindergarten) or secondary school (up to grade 12); a degree-granting graduate program at the master's or doctoral level at a public DLI (starting January 1, 2026); a school participating in the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot with an LOA identifying the applicant under the pilot; a federally designated military college; or a Quebec vocational program leading to a DVS, AVS or STC. Also exempt: exchange students under an exchange arrangement who do not pay tuition to the DLI; Global Affairs Canada scholarship recipients; persons in or entering Canada eligible for a crisis-response public policy exemption from certain study permit requirements; persons exempt under the temporary measures to reunite families of Indigenous people separated by Canada's border; and persons who have entered Canada and are applying for an extension at the same DLI and level of study, are under a removal order that cannot be enforced, hold a temporary resident permit valid for at least 6 months, are protected persons, or have applied for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, under a current public policy, or in the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class. Proof of the exemption must be included if no PAL/TAL is provided.

To study in Quebec, the applicant needs an attestation of issuance of a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) issued by the Government of Quebec instead of a PAL/TAL. Most students who do not need a PAL/TAL but want to study in Quebec must still get a CAQ (very few exceptions). The CAQ must be valid when IRCC receives the application (a CAQ issued in a different year is accepted if still valid) and must include the line confirming the applicant has a place in Quebec's share of the distribution of study permit applications or is exempt from it (not required for applications received before 8:30 a.m. ET on January 22, 2024). The same valid CAQ can be reused after any decision unless changing level of study; when changing schools it can be reused only if issued before December 6, 2024 and the change is at the same level, or for a minor child at primary/secondary level whose CAQ is not linked to a specific school. Under IRPR s. 216(3) a study permit is not issued for study in Quebec without a CAQ where Quebec law requires one (other than under a federal assistance program for developing countries). Financial requirements for Quebec are set by Quebec's Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration.

The applicant must prove enough money, without working in Canada, for: tuition fees; living expenses for themselves and accompanying family members; and transportation to and from Canada for themselves and accompanying family (IRPR s. 220). Funds must cover the first year of studies; for programs longer than a year the applicant must also explain how the full duration will be paid. Living-expense amounts per year (excluding tuition and transportation), all provinces and territories except Quebec, for applications on or after September 1, 2026: 1 person $23,448; 2 $29,192; 3 $35,888; 4 $43,572; 5 $49,419; 6 $55,736; 7 $62,054; each additional family member beyond 7 add $6,318. For applications from January 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026 (inclusive): 1 $22,895; 2 $28,502; 3 $35,040; 4 $42,543; 5 $48,252; 6 $54,420; 7 $60,589; each additional $6,170. Quebec: amounts set by Quebec's Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration for the CAQ. If the applicant's country uses foreign exchange controls, they must prove they will be allowed to export the funds.

The applicant must prove to an officer that they will leave Canada when the study permit expires (IRPR s. 216(1)(b): the officer must be satisfied the applicant will leave by the end of the authorized period). A letter of explanation of why the applicant wants to study in Canada and that they understand their responsibilities as an international student is recommended.

To study in Canada the applicant must obey the law, have no criminal record, and get a police certificate if required. Police certificates are mandatory for permanent residence, citizenship and International Experience Canada; for other programs (including study permits) a person with a prior criminal record may need to provide one, and the program's document checklist or local visa office instructions say when. The applicant and family members 18 or older may need a certificate. An admissibility problem (criminality, security, misrepresentation, health, prior enforcement) can lead to refusal.

The applicant and each family member who comes with them must provide a copy of a valid passport or travel document (the original passport is sent if approved) and 2 recent passport-size photos (name and date of birth on the back). Children under the age of 17 who are not coming to Canada with a parent or legal guardian must have an appointed custodian. A letter of explanation is recommended. Other documents may be required by the local visa office; applicants not in their home country may have to prove their immigration status in the country they apply from; if the passport-issuing government requires a re-entry permit, it must be obtained before applying. Special rules apply to expired Venezuelan passports issued before June 7, 2019.

A study permit holder in Canada must enroll at the DLI named in their permit and remain enrolled until they complete their studies, and must actively pursue their course or program of study (IRPR s. 220.1(1)); they must provide evidence of compliance if an officer asks (s. 220.1(4)). A holder whose permit names a DLI and who is accepted at, and intends to attend, a different DLI must apply for a new study permit naming the new DLI (s. 217.1). A study permit is not issued to a foreign national who has engaged in unauthorized work or study in Canada or failed to comply with a permit condition unless 6 months have elapsed since the non-compliance ended, the non-compliance was only of conditions under s. 185(a), 185(b)(i)-(iii) or 185(c), or they were later issued a temporary resident permit (s. 221). A study permit becomes invalid on the first of: the day 90 days after the holder completes their studies; the day the holder is no longer enrolled at the DLI named in the permit, other than as a result of completing their studies; the day it is cancelled under s. 222.7, 222.8 or 243.2; or the day it expires (s. 222(1)).

To keep studying at the school on the permit, the student must apply to extend at least 30 days before the permit expires (IRCC guidance; legally the renewal application must be made before expiry, IRPR s. 217(1)). A study permit cannot be extended beyond passport expiry. If the extension is applied for before the permit expires, the student may continue studying under the same conditions until a decision, as long as they stay in Canada. If studies finish early, the permit expires on the earlier of the date on the permit or 90 days after the day studies are completed (the 90 days start on the first notification from the school of completion, or when the credential is received). When changing schools, the student applies to extend before finishing at the current school and cannot start at the new school until the extension is approved, except that a student who applied for a new study permit naming the new DLI may study there while waiting for the decision if they have stayed in Canada since receiving its letter of acceptance, keep complying with their previous permit's other conditions, and their previous DLI closed, discontinued the program, was placed on the suspension list or lost its designated status before they completed the program (IRPR s. 189.1); IRCC states 60-day processing for students changing to a new post-secondary DLI who follow its instructions. A study permit also becomes invalid the day the holder is no longer enrolled at the DLI named in it, other than by completing studies (IRPR s. 222(1)(a.1)).

Student status is lost if the study permit expired before applying for a new one, if conditions on the permit (DLI, type, location or time period of study) were changed, or if permit conditions were not respected. Once status is lost the person cannot study until status is restored. If the permit expired but the person keeps meeting the requirements of their stay and has respected the permit conditions, they may apply to restore status as a student by applying for a new study permit and restoration of temporary resident status, with all supporting documents and fees (select "Restore my status", explain the reason). They may stay in Canada while the application is processed, without a guarantee of approval. Accompanying spouse/partner and dependent children who lost status must each apply separately and pay the restoration fee. Temporary resident permit applicants do not benefit from maintained status.

A student can work off campus without a work permit only if all of these are met: full-time student at a DLI; has started the study program (no work before studies begin); enrolled in a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program or a secondary-level vocational training program in Quebec; holds a valid study permit or applied to extend it before it expired; the program is at least 6 months long and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate; off-campus work conditions are printed on the initial study permit (can be added free if eligible); and has a social insurance number (SIN). Part-time students may work only if they are in their last semester, don't need a full course load to complete, and were full-time until then. No off-campus work while on authorized leave or while switching schools and not studying. A student cannot work off campus without a work permit if the permit says they are not authorized, they are only in an ESL/FSL program, only taking general interest courses, or only taking courses required for admission to a full-time program.

During regular school terms an eligible student may work off campus up to 24 hours per week (more than one job allowed within that total). A permit that says 20 hours per week still allows up to 24 hours while eligibility requirements are met. During breaks scheduled by the DLI (e.g., summer and winter holidays, reading week) the student may work unlimited hours and may take courses part-time or full-time. If the program has no scheduled breaks, the limit is 24 hours per week. Working more than 24 hours per week violates the study permit conditions: status can be lost, future study or work permits may be refused, and the student may have to leave Canada. The student must track hours and prove compliance (actively pursuing studies, not over 24 hours, meeting other conditions); self-employed students too. Remote work for an employer outside Canada does not count toward the 24 hours. (IRPR s. 186(v)(iii).)

A student may work on campus without a work permit if they are a full-time student at a DLI (part-time in the final semester is allowed if full-time in every previous semester), enrolled in a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program or a Quebec secondary-level vocational program, hold a valid study permit or applied to extend it before it expired, have on-campus work conditions printed on the permit, and have a SIN. There is no limit to on-campus hours during regular terms or scheduled breaks. On-campus work must stop if the student stops full-time study (except final semester), the permit expires, they are on authorized leave, or they are switching schools and not studying. Work cannot start before the program starts. Work at a hospital or other place where public health must be protected requires a medical exam.

After completing the program, a student may work unlimited hours only if: (1) they were eligible to work off campus during studies, applied for a work permit or PGWP before the study permit expired, and are waiting for a decision (IRPR s. 186(w)); or (2) they were already able to work off campus during previous studies, have a valid study permit or applied to extend it before expiry, received written confirmation from the school that they completed the program, received an LOA for a new full-time program at a DLI, and will start the new program within 150 calendar days of the completion confirmation. If the work or study permit application is refused, they must stop working and leave Canada.