Studying in Canada
- pre_application Blocks your application
Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL)
A letter from the province or territory confirming there is space for you, provided by the designated learning institution. Usually required to apply for a study permit.
- When
- before_application
www.canada.ca · 2026-08-17 · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
The provincial attestation letter or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) is a letter from the province or territory where you plan to study that confirms there's space for you, provided by the designated learning institution (DLI) you plan to attend, usually required to apply for a study permit
- pre_application Blocks your application
Letter of acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution
The permit requires an acceptance letter from a school on IRCC's DLI list. An offer from an institution that is not a designated learning institution cannot support a study permit at all.
- When
- after_offer
www.canada.ca · 2026-08-17 · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Your school will give you a letter of acceptance. Upload this to your online application.
- financial_proof Blocks your application
Proof of financial support
You must show CAD 22,895 for living expenses for the first year outside Quebec, excluding tuition and transportation, plus more for each accompanying family member.
- Costs
- CAD 22,895
- When
- with_application
www.canada.ca · 2026-08-17 · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
You must prove that you have enough money, without working in Canada, to pay for all the following: tuition fees for the course or program of studies, living expenses for yourself and the family members who come with you while you're in Canada, transportation to and from Canada. If you apply on or a
- quota Blocks your application
PAL/TAL expires 31 December of its cap year
A PAL is tied to a specific study permit cap year and cannot be carried into the next one. A PAL issued in the 2026 cap year is valid only until 31 December 2026, and a previous year's PAL cannot be used at all. A student who defers an intake generally needs a brand-new PAL, subject to that year's fresh allocation — which may have run out.
- When
- with_application
www.canada.ca · 2026-08-17 · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Unless it has an earlier expiry date on it, it's valid until December 31, 2025 , for the 2025 study permit cap year ... until December 31, 2026 , for the 2026 study permit cap year
- quota Blocks your application
PAL/TAL under the national study permit cap — BACHELOR'S ONLY
⚠ A REAL COUNTRY-LEVEL CAP, and a sequencing trap. Most study permit applications need a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter confirming the province has space within its allocation under the national cap. A university offer alone is NOT enough — the province must also have capacity. To GET the PAL you must first accept your offer and pay tuition, in part or in full, so money leaves the student's account before any permit exists. ⚠ MASTER'S AND DOCTORAL PROGRAMMES AT PUBLIC DLIs ARE EXEMPT, which is the opposite of what most coverage says. Quebec uses a CAQ instead.
- When
- with_application
www.canada.ca · 2026-08-17 · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) with provinces and territories
master's degree-granting program at a public DLI doctoral degree-granting program at a public DLI — these appear in IRCC's list of situations where a PAL/TAL is NOT required. On the sequencing: 'In most cases, you need to accept your offer and pay your tuition fees, either in part or in full, to get
- visaMandatory
Study permit fee CAD 150 and biometrics CAD 85
The study permit application costs CAD 150 per person. Biometrics, required from nationals of certain countries, cost a further CAD 85.
- Costs
- CAD 150
- When
- with_application
ircc.canada.ca · 2026-08-17 · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Study permit (including extensions) – per person 150.00 — Biometrics – per individual 85.00
- financial_proofMandatory
Funds must be provable WITHOUT working in Canada
The test is explicitly that the student can pay for tuition, living costs and return travel without working in Canada. Planning to fund studies through part-time campus work does not satisfy it.
- When
- with_application
www.canada.ca · 2026-08-17 · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
You must prove that you have enough money, without working in Canada, to pay for all the following: tuition fees for the course or program of studies living expenses for yourself and the family members who come with you while you're in Canada transportation to and from Canada for yourself and your a
- financial_proofMandatory
Funds must cover tuition, living AND return transport, without working
The test is explicitly that the student can pay for everything WITHOUT working in Canada. Planning to fund studies through part-time work does not satisfy it, which catches students who assume campus jobs will cover living costs.
- When
- with_application
www.canada.ca · 2026-08-17 · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
You must prove that you have enough money, without working in Canada, to pay for all the following: tuition fees for the course or program of studies living expenses for yourself and the family members who come with you while you're in Canada transportation to and from Canada for yourself and your a
- financial_proofMandatory
Proof of funds — CAD 22,895 per year, EXCLUDING tuition
For applications on or after 1 September 2025, a single applicant outside Quebec must show CAD 22,895 per year. ⚠ The figure EXCLUDES tuition and transportation — a student budgeting 22,895 as their total is short by the entire cost of their course and their flights. It rose from CAD 20,635, and IRCC states the amounts are updated ANNUALLY, so it must be re-checked every year or it will refuse students.
- Costs
- CAD 22,895
- When
- with_application
www.canada.ca · 2026-08-17 · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
If you apply on or after September 1, 2025 All provinces and territories except Quebec Number of family members (including the applicant) Amount required per year (excluding tuition and transportation costs) (in CAN$) 1 $22,895 2 $28,502 3 $35,040 4 $42,543 5 $48,252 6 $54,420 7 $60,589 If more than
- health
Immigration medical exam — conditional, and required for medical students
Not universal. For stays over six months it is required if the applicant lived in or travelled to a designated country for six months or more in a row in the year before coming, or will be in a job where public health must be protected — which explicitly includes medical students.
- When
- with_application
www.canada.ca · 2026-08-17 · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
You have lived in or travelled to one or more of these countries or territories for 6 months or more in a row in the year before you come to Canada.
- post_study
PGWP needs CLB 7 language — but degree holders face NO field-of-study rule
⚠ MOST COVERAGE GETS THIS BACKWARDS. Since 1 November 2024 PGWP applicants must prove English or French at Canadian Language Benchmark 7 in all four skills. But bachelor's, master's and doctoral graduates face NO field-of-study restriction — that restriction applies to other programmes. Apply within 180 days of completion.
- Takes
- 180d
- When
- ongoing
www.canada.ca · 2026-08-17 · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
There are no field of study requirements for graduates with a bachelor's degree, master's degree or doctoral degree.
- post_study
Study choices that PERMANENTLY void PGWP eligibility
Decisions made before enrolling can disqualify a graduate from the post-study work permit for good: completing more than 50% of the programme by distance learning, studying at a DLI that is not PGWP-eligible, or a programme delivered under a curriculum licensing agreement (public-private partnership). No university can waive this.
- When
- before_application
www.canada.ca · 2026-08-17 · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
completed over 50% of your study program through distance learning (online courses, e-learning or correspondence)