| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Governing legislation | Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA); IRPR |
| Administered by | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) |
| Application fee | $150 CAD |
| Biometrics fee | $85 CAD (individual) |
| Financial proof required | $20,635/year for living expenses + tuition + transportation |
| Off-campus work limit | 24 hours/week during academic sessions |
| Post-graduation work permit | Up to 3 years (program-dependent) |
| Last updated | June 2026 |
A study permit is not a visa. It does not let you enter Canada — it authorizes you to study here once you arrive. Many applicants confuse the two, which causes delays and refusals. This article explains what a study permit covers, what changed in 2024, and what your options are after graduation.
What a Study Permit Is — and What It Is Not
A study permit is a document issued by IRCC that authorizes a foreign national to study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada. It is separate from:
- A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) — required for citizens of visa-required countries to enter Canada
- An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) — required for visa-exempt nationals travelling by air
Most international students need both a study permit and either a TRV or eTA. IRCC typically processes them together when you apply online, but they are legally distinct documents. A study permit does not authorize you to work unless specific conditions are met.
Who Needs a Study Permit
You need a study permit if you are a foreign national studying in Canada for more than 6 months at a DLI.
Exceptions — no study permit required:
- Courses or programs shorter than 6 months
- Diplomats and their family members
- Members of foreign armed forces
- Refugee claimants and protected persons (though they may still apply for one)
Designated Learning Institution (DLI): A school approved by a provincial or territorial government to enroll international students. As of 2026, there are approximately 1,800 DLIs across Canada. Before applying, confirm your school is on the current DLI list — institutions can be removed if they fail compliance requirements, and a study permit tied to a removed DLI becomes invalid.
How to Apply: Documents and Costs
Applications are submitted online through the IRCC portal. Paper applications are accepted only in limited circumstances (no internet access, certain refugee situations).
Required documents:
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Letter of Acceptance (LOA) | From a DLI; must be current and unconditional |
| Attestation letter | Required from your province/territory for most applicants (see below) |
| Proof of financial support | Bank statements, scholarship letters, sponsor letters |
| Valid passport | Must cover your intended period of study |
| Biometrics | Required for most applicants; $85 CAD |
| Medical exam | Required for students from certain countries or in healthcare/childcare programs |
| Photos | Per IRCC specifications |
Fees:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Study permit application | $150 CAD |
| Biometrics (individual) | $85 CAD |
| Biometrics (family) | $170 CAD |
| Medical exam | Varies by panel physician; typically $200–$350 CAD |
Attestation Letters: The Requirement Most Applicants Miss
As of January 22, 2024, most study permit applicants must include an attestation letter from their province or territory. This letter confirms that the applicant falls within the province's allocation under Canada's cap on international study permits.
Who is exempt from the attestation letter requirement:
- Master's and doctoral degree students
- Students in primary or secondary school (K–12)
- Students in certain short-term programs
- Refugees and protected persons
- Minor children
If you are applying for an undergraduate or college program, you almost certainly need this letter. Contact your school's international student office — most DLIs coordinate the attestation process on behalf of accepted students and submit the request to the province directly.
Financial Proof Requirements
IRCC increased the financial proof threshold on January 1, 2024. The new requirement is nearly double the previous $10,000/year standard.
Current financial proof requirements (2024 onward):
| Expense Category | Amount Required |
|---|---|
| Living expenses (applicant) | $20,635/year |
| Living expenses (spouse or partner) | Additional $4,635/year |
| Living expenses (each dependent child) | Additional $2,756/year |
| Tuition | Full first-year tuition amount |
| Return transportation | Estimated cost to return home |
These amounts must be demonstrated through bank statements, scholarship letters, or a combination. IRCC officers assess whether funds are genuinely available — large deposits made immediately before the application date are routinely flagged as insufficient proof of stable financial support.
Working While Studying
International students with a valid study permit can work in Canada under specific conditions. The rules differ depending on where the work takes place.
On-campus work: No separate work permit required. You can work on the campus of the institution where you are enrolled, for any employer operating on that campus.
Off-campus work: Up to 24 hours per week during academic sessions. During scheduled breaks (winter break, summer break), you can work full-time with no hour limit. This 24-hour limit became permanent in 2024 after being temporarily increased from 20 hours in 2022.
Conditions that must be met to work off-campus:
- Enrolled full-time at a DLI
- Study permit is valid
- Program is at least 6 months long and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate
If you drop below full-time enrollment — except in your final semester or for documented medical reasons — you lose the right to work off-campus immediately.
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
The PGWP is an open work permit issued after graduating from an eligible Canadian institution. It lets you work for any employer in Canada and is one of the primary pathways toward permanent residence through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry.
PGWP duration by program length:
| Program Length | PGWP Duration |
|---|---|
| Less than 8 months | Not eligible |
| 8 months to less than 2 years | Equal to program length |
| 2 years or more | 3 years |
Language requirements for PGWP (effective November 1, 2024):
| Graduate Type | Minimum Language Level | IELTS Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| University degree graduates | CLB 7 | 6.0 in each band |
| College or polytechnic graduates | CLB 5 | 5.0 in each band |
Accepted tests: IELTS General Training, CELPIP General, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada. Results must be less than 2 years old at the time of the PGWP application.
Spousal open work permit: As of 2024, only spouses of students enrolled in master's or doctoral programs qualify for an open work permit. Spouses of undergraduate and college students no longer qualify — a significant policy reversal from the rules that applied before 2024.
Major Reforms to Canada's International Student Program
Canada's international student system underwent substantial changes between 2024 and 2026. These are not minor procedural updates — they fundamentally changed who gets a study permit and on what terms.
| Change | Effective Date | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Financial proof increased to $20,635/year | January 1, 2024 | Higher financial bar; more refusals for underfunded applications |
| Attestation letters required | January 22, 2024 | Most applicants need provincial confirmation before IRCC will process |
| Cap on study permits introduced | 2024 | Approximately 360,000 permits issued in 2024, down from 900,000+ in 2023 |
| Student Direct Stream (SDS) discontinued | November 8, 2024 | No more fast-track processing for students from India, China, Philippines, and other SDS countries |
| PGWP language requirements introduced | November 1, 2024 | CLB 5–7 required depending on program type |
| Spousal open work permit restricted | 2024 | Only master's and doctoral spouses qualify |
The cap on study permits is allocated by province. Each province receives a share of the national allocation, which is why the attestation letter process exists — provinces control who gets a spot within their allocation before IRCC processes the federal application.
Extending or Restoring a Study Permit
Extending: Apply before your current permit expires. If you apply before the expiry date, you can continue studying under maintained status (also called implied status) while IRCC processes your application. Your work conditions remain the same during this period.
Restoration: If your permit expired and you did not apply to extend in time, you have 90 days from the date you lost status to apply for restoration. Restoration costs $229 CAD (restoration fee) plus the $150 study permit application fee. You cannot study or work while your restoration application is pending.
Changing schools: You must notify IRCC when you transfer to a different DLI. Since September 2024, IRCC has increased compliance monitoring — students who are not enrolled or not studying full-time risk having their permits cancelled and being found inadmissible.