Canada study permits · International students
Study in Canada.Start with a plan.
A practical guide to choosing your program, preparing your evidence, planning family arrangements and understanding your responsibilities as an international student.
Find the information you need
Plan your studies with confidence.
A Canadian study permit allows an eligible foreign national to study under specified conditions. Your school admission, immigration application and future work plans each need attention.
Admission and authorization
An acceptance letter is the starting point. It does not guarantee a study permit. IRCC assesses your eligibility, finances, purpose of study and admissibility.
Study permit and travel document
A study permit is not a visa. Depending on nationality, travel may also require a temporary resident visa or eTA. Check your travel documents before departure.
Swodeshi Immigration supports students applying from Bangladesh and other countries, as well as eligible applicants already in Canada.
Official guidance: Study permit application guide ↗
Choose a program that fits your goals.
Use this checklist before paying a deposit. Ask the institution for written answers, especially where your decision depends on a work permit after graduation or a spouse joining you.
| Check | Questions to ask |
|---|---|
| Credential and campus | What exact credential will I receive? Which institution and campus deliver the classes? What is the official program length? |
| Admission requirements | Are there language, academic or prerequisite conditions? Must I complete a pathway program first? |
| Program fit | Which specific courses address a skill gap? How does this credential build on my previous education or experience? |
| Costs and refunds | What is the total tuition and compulsory fee estimate? What happens to the deposit if my permit is refused or delayed? |
| Learning format | How much is in person, online or outside Canada? Are placements required? |
| Immigration planning | Is this exact program PGWP-eligible? Do field-of-study rules apply? Does the credential support my spouse’s proposed work-permit category? |
What does a strong application need?
A suitable school and program
Obtain a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI). Check the exact program and campus, and verify PGWP eligibility separately if work after graduation is part of your plan.
A credible funding plan
Demonstrate access to sufficient funds for tuition, living expenses and transportation, without relying on employment in Canada.
A clear purpose of study
Explain why the program makes sense for your education, experience and career plans. Address gaps or a change of field with evidence.
Immigration compliance
Meet medical, security and other admissibility requirements, and satisfy the officer that you will leave when your authorized stay ends.
Official guidance: Study permit eligibility ↗
Write a study plan that answers the real questions.
A useful study plan is specific to you. It connects your past experience, your chosen education and a realistic future. It should help a reader understand the evidence, rather than repeat your CV.
| Part of your explanation | What to address |
|---|---|
| Your background | Summarize relevant education and employment. Account for important gaps or changes in direction. |
| Why this program | Identify courses, training, research or practical skills that you need. Explain why the proposed study level makes sense. |
| Why this school and Canada | Explain the features you actually compared. Avoid generic claims that could describe any institution. |
| Career value | Describe realistic roles or professional development after the program. Support significant claims where possible. |
| Funding and family arrangements | Explain who pays, how funds are accessible, where family members will live and how the plan is affordable. |
| Immigration history and intentions | Disclose previous decisions accurately. Explain your temporary study purpose and how you will comply with status conditions. |
Example: explaining a change of field
A commerce graduate moving into business analytics could connect previous finance work to a need for data-analysis skills, name relevant courses and identify the work those skills would support. Simply saying that Canada offers a “better future” leaves the educational reason unclear.
Use examples as a structure, not a script. Do not invent employment, future job offers, family responsibilities or return plans. Every material claim should be consistent with your documents.
Official guidance: IRCC’s letter-of-explanation guidance ↗
Confirm which provincial documents you need.
Most study permit applicants need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL), unless an exemption applies. Contact your school about obtaining it and include it when you submit.
| Situation | PAL/TAL consideration |
|---|---|
| Most post-secondary applications | Generally required unless a specific exemption applies. |
| Degree-granting master’s or doctoral program at a public DLI | Exempt from January 1, 2026. This does not cover every graduate certificate or private-school program. |
| Preschool, primary or secondary education | Exempt, including secondary school through Grade 12. |
| In-Canada extension at the same DLI and study level | Generally exempt. Changes in school or level need a fresh assessment. |
Official guidance: PAL/TAL requirements and exceptions ↗
Budget for tuition, living costs and travel.
For applications submitted on or after September 1, 2026, the annual living-expense amounts below apply outside Quebec. Add tuition and transportation costs; Quebec uses its own financial requirements.
| People, including the student | Annual living expenses (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $23,448 |
| 2 | $29,192 |
| 3 | $35,888 |
| 4 | $43,572 |
| 5 | $49,419 |
| 6 | $55,736 |
| 7 | $62,054 |
| Each additional person above 7 | $6,318 |
Evidence may include bank statements, education loans, scholarships and documented financial support. Explain who owns the funds and how they are available to you. For a longer program, show first-year resources and a credible plan for later years.
Official guidance: Current financial requirements ↗
Worked example: a student travelling alone
Assume first-year tuition of $20,000, living expenses of $23,448 and an illustrative travel budget of $2,000. The planning total is $45,448. The tuition and travel figures are examples, not government-set amounts.
If $8,000 of tuition has already been paid, show the payment receipt and explain the remaining funding. Do not count the same money both as paid tuition and as available cash.
Build an evidence trail
- Explain significant transfers or deposits with relevant records.
- Distinguish accessible savings from assets that would need to be sold.
- Show the amount a financial supporter has committed and their capacity to provide it.
- Account for currency conversion, bank charges and changing living costs in your personal budget.
Prepare evidence that tells a consistent story.
Identity and history
Passport, photographs, immigration status, previous refusals and other required personal records. Keep names and dates consistent across documents.
Academic documents
Acceptance letter, transcripts, certificates and relevant employment history. Include PAL/TAL or exemption evidence and provincial documents as applicable.
Finances and study plan
Funding records, sponsor evidence, tuition receipts if available, and a focused explanation of the program choice and career objectives.
Additional requirements
Required biometrics, medical examinations, police certificates when requested, family documents and translations that meet IRCC instructions.
The personalized checklist and country-specific instructions control the final document list. For Bangla documents, prepare compliant English or French translations and retain the original-language records.
Official guidance: Documents and application instructions ↗
A practical file organization system
| Folder | Suggested contents |
|---|---|
| 01 — Identity and status | Passport, current immigration documents, marriage or birth records where relevant. |
| 02 — Admission and provincial documents | Acceptance letter, conditions of admission, PAL/TAL or exemption evidence, and CAQ if required. |
| 03 — Education and employment | Certificates, transcripts, relevant language results and employment records. |
| 04 — Funding | Account records, income or loan evidence, scholarship terms, support letters and payment receipts. |
| 05 — Explanations | Study plan, gap explanations, refusal history and evidence addressing material concerns. |
| 06 — Application and correspondence | Submitted forms, receipts, biometrics instructions and later IRCC correspondence. |
These folders are for preparation. Upload each item to the correct application field and follow the portal’s file-size and format limits. Keep a complete copy of what was submitted.
Official guidance: Document requirements and LOA validation ↗
Review the details that are easy to overlook.
- Names and dates: compare passports, transcripts, employment letters and civil records.
- Program details: match the institution, intake, level and duration across the forms and supporting letters.
- Personal history: explain missing periods rather than leaving unexplained gaps.
- Finances: check that statements, support letters and tuition receipts tell the same story.
- Past refusals: answer the actual questions fully and retain previous decision letters.
- Translations: check readability and the applicable certification requirements.
- Family applications: keep shared information consistent while addressing each person’s own eligibility.
- Portal uploads: open every final file and confirm that all pages are legible and in the right field.
These are preparation checks, not a scoring system. A complete-looking application can still be refused if the eligibility requirements are not met.
From program choice to arrival.
- Assess your study planReview your academic background, finances, immigration history and family plans before committing to a program.
- Confirm the school and supporting documentsObtain admission and the required provincial documentation. Check program eligibility against your objectives.
- Prepare and submitComplete the forms, upload evidence and pay the applicable government fees using the correct application route.
- Complete IRCC requestsProvide biometrics or examinations where required and respond to document requests by the stated deadlines.
- Review approval and travel documentsAn approval letter from an overseas application is not the study permit itself. Carry the required documents and follow the border officer’s instructions on arrival.
Application location matters. Being physically in Canada does not automatically make you eligible to apply from within Canada. Processing times vary; avoid assuming a guaranteed decision before the school start date.
Official guidance: Application routes and next steps ↗
Manage delays, deferrals and requests.
Keep checking the application account and the email address used in the file. Save all notices, and give yourself time to gather documents before a response deadline.
If the intake is approaching
Ask the school about its last arrival date and deferral process. Do not assume you can arrive late or begin a different intake without updated documents.
If your circumstances change
Assess whether updated school, funding, family or contact information must be provided. Keep the application consistent with your actual plan.
After approval, a deferral at the same DLI calls for the school’s approval, an updated acceptance letter and a valid introduction letter for arrival. Changing DLIs after approval while outside Canada requires a new study permit application and fees.
Official guidance: Deferring enrolment and changing the DLI before arrival ↗
Keep your essential documents in your hand luggage.
- Your passport and required valid travel document, such as a TRV or eTA.
- Your port-of-entry introduction letter.
- A valid acceptance letter and any approved deferral documents.
- Current funding evidence and documents the visa office instructed you to carry.
- Required medical information and any accompanying child’s travel or consent documents.
Be ready to explain where and what you will study. Before leaving the immigration area, check the issued permit’s personal details, expiry and conditions and raise any apparent error.
Your first practical tasks
Confirm enrolment with the school, arrange health coverage and housing, keep emergency contacts, and ask about student support services. Check your work eligibility before accepting employment.
Official guidance: Preparing for arrival in Canada ↗
Understand your work authorization.
Off-campus employment
Eligible students may work up to 24 hours per week during regular academic sessions, across all off-campus jobs combined. During a break scheduled by your school you may work unlimited hours if you meet the conditions; if your program has no scheduled breaks, the 24-hour limit applies throughout. A permit still printed with an older 20-hour condition does not reduce the 24-hour limit when you are otherwise eligible.
When you must not work
Do not start before your studies begin. Language-only, general-interest and preparatory programs do not qualify for ordinary off-campus work authorization. Stop when you no longer meet the conditions.
Required co-op placements and internships
From April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary students do not need a separate co-op work permit for required student placements. You must be a full-time student at a DLI in a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program, hold a valid study permit (or have applied to extend before it expired) whose initial permit carries the printed condition allowing you to work on campus, have a DLI letter confirming the placement is required by your program, and have placement hours totalling no more than 50% of the program. Secondary students still need a co-op work permit.
Required placements have their own rules; the ordinary off-campus limit should not be treated as the rule for all placement hours.
Official guidance: Off-campus work eligibility ↗
Official guidance: Current student placement rules ↗
Plan for your spouse and children.
A spouse or common-law partner may qualify for an open work permit if the student has a valid study permit and is studying in a master’s degree program lasting at least 16 months, a doctoral program, or one of IRCC’s listed eligible or professional programs.
Children require their own assessment for entry, status and schooling. Where a child travels without a parent, custody, consent and custodianship documents may be important.
Official guidance: Spousal open work permit eligibility ↗
Official guidance: Minor children and accompanying family ↗
Planning for children
A child coming from abroad to study generally needs their own study permit, including when accompanying a parent applying for a work or study permit. Different exemptions can apply to children already in Canada. School enrolment, immigration status and tuition treatment are separate questions.
Children under 17 must generally travel with a parent or legal guardian or have a Canadian custodian. A custodian can also be requested for an older minor. Confirm consent, custody and care arrangements before travel.
Practical planning: ask the school board about enrolment documents and fees, and budget for childcare, housing and health coverage. Do not assume the parent’s permit settles every issue for a child.
Official guidance: Study permits and care arrangements for minors ↗
Check PGWP eligibility before enrolling.
A post-graduation work permit is a separate application. A DLI’s designation does not mean every program it offers is PGWP-eligible.
Program and study history
Confirm the eligible institution and program, study duration, full-time study requirements, any exceptions, and the rules for online study or time outside Canada.
Language and field of study
Language evidence and, for certain programs, an eligible field of study may be required. The rules depend on the credential and relevant application dates.
Eligible graduates generally apply within 180 days of confirmation of completion, and the study permit must have been valid at some point during those 180 days. Other eligibility and status requirements also apply. Completion does not automatically authorize work while an application is pending.
Official guidance: PGWP eligibility and application timing ↗
Protect your status throughout your studies.
Monitor your passport, permit expiry, course progress and school correspondence. Apply for an extension before expiry when eligible; a qualifying timely application may allow continued study under the existing conditions while you remain in Canada.
Changing a post-secondary school
Changing DLIs generally requires a new study permit through an extension application. Check approval requirements and any narrow exception before starting at the new institution.
Expired status or interrupted studies
Do not assume you can continue studying or working after status expires. Restoration and study interruptions require individual assessment; keep records of any authorized leave.
If your permit is refused, review the stated concerns and supporting record before deciding whether to reapply or pursue another available option. Repeating the same application may leave the concerns unresolved.
Official guidance: Extensions and restoration ↗
Official guidance: Changing schools and programs ↗
Set reminders for these milestones
- Passport and permit expiry.
- School enrolment deadlines and planned term breaks.
- Any authorized leave and the expected return date.
- Completion confirmation and the deadline for your next immigration application.
- Travel-document and medical validity before returning to Canada.
A study permit can become invalid 90 days after completion, even if the printed expiry is later. Your studies are complete on the date your school first notifies you — by completion letter, transcript, or degree or diploma — or when you receive your degree, diploma or certificate, not when the graduation ceremony takes place. Review your status as soon as results or a completion letter are issued.
Official guidance: Permit validity and finishing your studies ↗
Understand the concerns before choosing the next step.
A refusal is a reason to reassess the file, not simply to add more pages. Start with the decision letter and any officer notes available to you.
| Review area | Useful question |
|---|---|
| Study purpose | Did the submission explain the value of this exact program in light of the applicant’s history? |
| Financial capacity | Were the source, availability and sustainability of funds clear? |
| Consistency | Did statements in forms, letters and supporting records contradict each other? |
| Immigration history | Were previous refusals and status issues disclosed and addressed accurately? |
| Missing evidence | Was a material requirement or requested document overlooked? |
Depending on the facts, options may include a better-supported new application, a reconsideration request, or advice from a lawyer about judicial review. These are different processes; some involve short deadlines. A reconsideration request does not itself preserve a court deadline.
Study permit guidance from Mehrul Islam Rajib.
Swodeshi Immigration helps you turn your education plans into an organized application. We explain the requirements, identify gaps and help you understand your next steps.
Before you apply
Review program choice, application route, funding evidence, PAL/TAL requirements and family implications.
During preparation
Organize the checklist, review forms and supporting documents, and help present a clear, accurate study plan.
After submission
Assist with IRCC requests and explain approval, refusal or further-document instructions within the agreed scope.
While you study
Assess extensions, school changes and potential post-graduation work options as your circumstances evolve.
Mehrul Islam Rajib, RCIC · R708721
Edmonton and Dhaka · English, Bangla, Hindi and Urdu.
Professional fees and services are set out in a written agreement. Government fees and third-party costs are separate where applicable. Approval and processing times cannot be guaranteed.
Answers before you begin.
Is a study permit the same as a student visa?
No. The permit governs your study authorization; a visa or eTA, where required, is a travel document. Check both before travelling.
Does an acceptance letter guarantee approval?
No. Admission and immigration approval are separate decisions. The full application must meet IRCC requirements.
Can I apply from Bangladesh?
Yes, through the applicable outside-Canada process. Follow the current country-specific document instructions and complete any required biometrics and medical examination.
Do all master’s students need a PAL?
No. Degree-granting master’s and doctoral programs at public DLIs are exempt from January 1, 2026. Confirm that your exact institution and credential qualify.
Can I rely on a Canadian part-time job to pay for my studies?
Your funding evidence must demonstrate sufficient resources without relying on work in Canada. Employment is also subject to immigration conditions.
Can I work before classes begin?
No, not under ordinary student work authorization. Your study program must have started and you must meet the applicable work conditions.
Can my spouse automatically get a work permit?
No. Eligibility depends on your program and permit, relationship evidence and the applicable category. Some programs qualify; many do not.
Do I still need a co-op permit?
Eligible post-secondary students no longer need a separate permit for required student placements from April 1, 2026. Secondary students still do. Placement eligibility conditions continue to apply.
Can I change schools using the same permit?
Do not assume so. Post-secondary DLI changes generally require a new study permit through an extension application. Review the rules before transferring.
Does every Canadian college program lead to a PGWP?
No. Verify the exact program, institution, study history and applicable language or field-of-study rules before relying on this pathway.
What if I have an earlier refusal or a study gap?
Provide the full history. We review the refusal concerns or gap and identify what evidence or explanation is needed for your circumstances.
What should I bring to the consultation?
Bring your offer letter if available, academic records, work history, funding details, passport and status information, previous refusal letters and any family plans.
How do I choose between two schools?
Compare the exact credential, courses, campus, learning format, total costs, refund terms and immigration implications. Ask for written confirmation of important details.
Is there a standard study-plan template that guarantees approval?
No. A template can organize your explanation, but it must reflect your own education, finances and objectives. Generic claims do not replace relevant evidence.
Will paying all my tuition guarantee a permit?
No. A payment receipt supports the financial record but does not settle the other eligibility requirements.
Can a parent or another person fund my studies?
Financial support may form part of your funding plan. Explain the relationship, the committed support and the evidence showing that the resources are available.
Are property documents the same as money available for tuition?
No. Property may help explain financial circumstances, but an asset valuation does not by itself show cash available for payment. Explain access to funds clearly.
Should I explain a large recent bank deposit?
Yes. Provide relevant records identifying its source and why the money is available to you. Avoid unexplained transfers between accounts that make the financial picture harder to follow.
What if my school delays or changes my intake?
Get written instructions and updated school documents. Assess whether your pending application or approved travel plans need an update before taking the next step.
Can I switch schools after approval but before travelling?
If you change your DLI outside Canada after approval, IRCC requires a new study permit application with the new acceptance letter and applicable fees.
Can my child automatically attend school free of charge?
Do not assume so. Immigration authorization and school-fee eligibility are separate. Confirm the child’s situation with the relevant school board or institution.
When should I start planning my permit extension?
Start well before expiry so there is time to obtain school records and supporting documents. The application must meet the applicable requirements; waiting until the last day leaves little room for problems.
Does the graduation ceremony determine when I finish studying?
Not necessarily. The school’s first notification that you completed the program can trigger immigration timelines. Check completion dates promptly.
Can I leave out a previous refusal if it was for another country?
Answer the wording of every immigration-history question accurately and completely. Do not omit a refusal merely because it involved another country or an older passport.
What if I cannot get a requested document by the deadline?
Act before the deadline. Explain the situation, provide available evidence and follow IRCC’s instructions for seeking more time. An extension is not automatic.
Can Swodeshi review an application I prepared myself?
Discuss the scope of a document or application review during your consultation. Bring your draft forms, evidence and any previous IRCC decisions.
What happens at the first consultation?
We review your background, proposed studies, funding, immigration history and family plans, identify issues and outline the next steps and available services.
Give your study plans a clear next step.
Discuss your program, finances and immigration options with Mehrul Islam Rajib, RCIC.