To get a Canadian study permit, you must first apply to a designated learning institute. Once accepted, you may proceed to apply for a study permit. Along with the application itself, you will be required to submit certain documentation, as well as meet all requirements set by the Canadian government.
Your school must send you a letter of acceptance. Include the original or electronic copy of your letter with your study permit application.
Conditional acceptance and prerequisite courses
If you’ve been conditionally accepted, this means you need to take prerequisite courses. For example, these might be English as a second language or French as 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.
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
- Online applicants: Upload a copy of the information page of your passport when you apply online.
- If you’re approved, you must then send us your original passport.
- Citizens of the United States have some options on the identification documents they can carry.
- 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
- 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
- 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
Minimum funds needed to support yourself as a student (and family members who come with you):
Outside Quebec
| Persons coming to Canada |
Amount of funds required per year (doesn’t include tuition) |
Amount of funds required per month (additional to the tuition) |
| You (the student) |
CAN$10,000 |
CAN$833 |
| First family member |
CAN$4,000 |
CAN$333 |
| Every additional accompanying family member |
CAN$3,000 |
CAN$255 |
Example:
If you and 2 family members want to come to a province (other than Quebec) for a year, you will need
- living expenses: $10,000 (for the student)
- living expenses: $4,000 (for the first family member)
- living expenses: $3,000 (for the second family member)
Total: $17,000
In Quebec
| People coming to Canada |
Amount of funds required per year (doesn’t include tuition) |
Amount of funds required per month (doesn’t include tuition) |
| 1 person under the age of 18 |
CAN$6,569 |
CAN$547 |
| 1 person aged 18 or over |
CAN$13,134 |
CAN$1,095 |
| 2 people aged 18 or over |
CAN$19,264 |
CAN$1,605 |
| 2 people aged 18 or over and 1 person under the age of 18 |
CAN$21,579 |
CAN$1,798 |
| 2 people aged 18 or over and 2 people under the age of 18 |
CAN$23,290 |
CAN$1,941 |
If your country uses foreign-exchange controls, you must prove that you’ll be allowed to export funds for all of your expenses.
Letter of explanation
This letter helps the visa officer to understand you and your goals. It explains
- why do you want to study in Canada and
- 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.
Québec Acceptance Certificate
If you want to study in Quebec for longer than 6 months, you need a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) issued by the Gouvernement du Québec. Your school can give you all the details on how to apply for the CAQ.
If your application for a CAQ got approved by the ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), but you’re still waiting to get the CAQ, you can apply for your study permit with the approval letter from the MIFI. You don’t need to wait for the CAQ to apply.
Get your documents ready
When you apply, you should submit
If you plan to study in Quebec, you must provide a valid Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) or your letter of approval for your CAQ.
Apply online
If you’re applying for a study permit, you must apply online, whether you’re outside of Canada or already in Canada.
You’re only eligible to apply on paper if you
- have a disability that prevents you from applying online
- hold an identity or travel document for non-national residents, refugees or stateless persons
- Venezuelan passport holders
