--- title: "Study permit and student visa for Canada" url: "https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/study-permit" description: "Get a study permit in Canada: handled by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The study permit fee is $150. Official link checked 12 October 2026." site: "Canada Service Map" author: "Mahmoud Halat" publisher: "Space & Story" lastReviewed: "2026-10-13" licence: "Built entirely from public data: open data and official government pages. Each record keeps the licence of its source, listed at https://canadaservicemap.ca/data." --- # Study permit and student visa for Canada Federal service ยท Immigration, citizenship and travel Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, checked 13 October 2026. Not a government website. The official page always has the final word. ## Short answer Most international students need a study permit to study in Canada, unless their program lasts 6 months or less. You need a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution, usually a provincial or territorial attestation letter, and proof of funds. Apply online before you travel. The fee is $150 and processing times vary by country. Who handles it: [Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/immigration-refugees-and-citizenship-canada). Handles it everywhere in Canada. ## Official links - [Study permit](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit.html), checked 12 October 2026 ## Who can apply - A study permit lets foreign nationals study at a designated learning institution (DLI). Most foreign nationals need one, and you should apply before you travel to Canada. Source: [canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit.html), checked 13 October 2026. - You must be enrolled at a DLI, prove you can pay tuition, living costs and return travel, have no criminal record, be in good health, and convince an officer you will leave when the permit expires. Source: [canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/eligibility.html), checked 13 October 2026. - The living-cost amounts are updated each year. The current ones apply if you apply on or after September 1, 2026. Source: [canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents/financial-support.html), checked 13 October 2026. - Under the current amounts, a single student outside Quebec must show $23,448 a year for living costs, on top of tuition and travel. Source: [canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents/financial-support.html), checked 13 October 2026. ## Steps 1. If your permit will expire before you finish your courses, apply to extend your stay as a student. Source: [canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/while-you-study.html), checked 13 October 2026. ## What you need - You always need a letter of acceptance from your school, uploaded with your online application. Post-secondary schools are asked to confirm the letter is valid. Source: [canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents.html), checked 13 October 2026. - Most applicants also need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL or TAL) from their school, usually after accepting the offer and paying some tuition. Students going to Quebec need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ). Source: [canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents.html), checked 13 October 2026. - You also need a copy of a valid passport, 2 recent passport-size photos and proof of funds. A letter of explanation is recommended, and a medical exam or police certificate may be needed. Source: [canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents.html), checked 13 October 2026. ## Cost - The study permit fee is $150. Source: [canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit.html), checked 13 October 2026. ## Good to know - You can work off campus up to 24 hours a week during your studies if your permit allows it. Working more can cost you your student status. Source: [canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/work-off-campus.html), checked 13 October 2026. ## Questions people ask ### Do I need a study permit for a short course in Canada? No, not if your program lasts 6 months or less. Longer programs need a study permit. Source: [canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/eligibility/study-without-permit.html), checked 13 October 2026. ### How much money do I need for a Canadian study permit? You must show you can pay your first year of tuition and travel, plus living costs. Under the current amounts, a single applicant outside Quebec needs $23,448 a year for living costs. Amounts rise with each family member. Source: [canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents/financial-support.html), checked 13 October 2026. ### How much does a study permit cost? The fee for a study permit is $150 in Canadian dollars. Source: [canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit.html), checked 13 October 2026. ### Can I work while studying in Canada? If your permit allows it, you can work off campus up to 24 hours a week during your studies. Working more than that breaks your permit conditions and can lead to losing your status. Source: [canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/work-off-campus.html), checked 13 October 2026. ### Do I need a PAL to apply for a study permit? In most cases, yes. Get a provincial or territorial attestation letter from your school, usually after you accept your offer and pay some tuition. Quebec students need a CAQ instead. Source: [canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents.html), checked 13 October 2026. ## More - [Apply for Canadian citizenship](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/citizenship) - [Renew or replace a permanent resident card](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/pr-card) - [Immigrate to Canada (permanent residence)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/immigrate) - [Sponsor a family member to immigrate](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/sponsor-family) - [Visit Canada: visitor visa or eTA](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/visit-canada) - [Get a work permit](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/work-permit) ## Cite this page Canada Service Map, "Study permit and student visa for Canada", checked 13 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/study-permit