How to Gather the Right Documents for Your Study Permit Application

To apply for a study permit, you will need the following documents:

• Proof of acceptance
• Provincial or territorial attestation letter
• Proof of identity
• Proof of financial support

Additionally, you might need:

• A letter of explanation
• A medical exam
• A custodian declaration (for minors)
• Other supporting documents

Proof of acceptance

Letter of Acceptance

Your school must provide you with a letter of acceptance (LOA). Include the original or electronic copy of this letter with your study permit application.

Post-secondary Students

Your school will be required to verify the validity of your letter of acceptance. If the school does not respond by the specified deadline, your application will be returned, and the processing fee will be refunded. Confirm with your school that they will validate your letter of acceptance before resubmitting your application.

When uploading documents for your online application, ensure you attach your LOA only in the designated LOA-specific space. Attaching other documents in this space implies your consent to disclose these additional documents to your school. All other required documents should be attached in their corresponding spaces in your online application.

Conditional Acceptance and Prerequisite Courses

If you have been conditionally accepted and need to take prerequisite courses, such as English or French as a second language, you must complete these courses before starting your main study program. In this case, your study permit will be issued only for the duration of these courses plus one year. After being accepted into your main program, you will need to apply for a new study permit to extend your stay as a student.

Exceptions

If you are a family member of someone whose study permit or work permit application has been approved in writing before your arrival in Canada, you do not need a letter of acceptance.

Provincial attestation letter or territorial attestation letter

Most study permit applicants need to provide a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL).

Unless you qualify for an exception, you must submit a PAL/TAL:

• With your application, not afterward.
• Even if you are applying for a prerequisite course or program, including language courses or programs.
• For each study permit applicant, even if you are applying as a family and submitting your applications together.

Validity of PAL/TAL

Your PAL/TAL only needs to be valid when we receive it with your application. Unless it has an expiry date, it remains valid until January 21, 2025. You can resubmit a study permit application with the same PAL/TAL if it is still valid.

Who Doesn’t Need a PAL/TAL

You are exempt from providing a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL) when applying for a study permit if any of the following apply:

• You’re applying to study at:
  • A preschool
  • A primary school (including kindergarten)
  • A secondary school (up to grade 12)
  • A federally designated military college
  • A school in Quebec for a vocational training program that leads to one of the following:
    • Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS)
    • Attestation of Vocational Specialization (AVS)
    • Skills Training Certificate (STC)
• You’re applying to study in:
  • A master’s degree program
  • A doctoral degree program
• You’ve received a scholarship from Global Affairs Canada.
• You’re eligible for an exemption from study permit requirements based on:
  • A public policy as part of a migration response to a crisis or other pressure
• You’ve entered Canada and one of the following applies:
  • You’re applying for a study permit extension or to restore your status
  • You have a work permit, unless obtained through International Experience Canada
  • You’re a temporary resident who is a visiting or exchange student studying at a designated learning institution (DLI)
  • You’re under a removal order but can’t be removed from Canada at this time
  • You have a temporary resident permit valid for at least 6 months
  • You’re a protected person
  • You’re eligible for permanent residence:
    • Based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds
    • Based on a current public policy
    • As a spouse or common-law partner (through the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class)
• You’ve entered Canada and you’re the family member of a foreign national living in Canada who is in one of the following situations:
  • A study permit holder
  • A work permit holder
  • A temporary resident permit holder with a permit valid for at least 6 months
  • A member of armed forces from another country under the Visiting Forces Act
  • An accredited foreign government representative
  • A participant in certain sports activities or events
  • A worker in Canada who is a member of a foreign news company
  • A religious worker
  • A protected person
  • Eligible for permanent residence based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds
  • Eligible for permanent residence based on a current public policy
  • Eligible for permanent residence as a spouse or common-law partner (through the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class)

If you do not provide a PAL/TAL with your study permit application, you must provide proof that you meet one of the above exceptions.

Proof of identity

What to Include in Your Application

When applying for your study permit, you and each family member accompanying you to Canada must include:

• A valid passport or travel document
  • Online applicants: Upload a copy of the information page of your passport when you apply online.
  • If your application is approved, you must send the original passport.
  • Citizens of the United States: You have some options regarding identification documents.
  • Lawful permanent residents of the United States: You must travel with a valid green card (or equivalent proof of status in the U.S.) and a valid passport from your 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 demonstrate that you can support yourself and any accompanying family members while in Canada.

Accepted Proof of Funds

You can provide evidence of your funds with at least one of the following:

• Proof of a Canadian bank account in your name, if you have transferred money to Canada
• A 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 of payment for tuition and housing fees
• A letter from the person or institution providing you with money
• Proof of funding paid from within Canada, such as a scholarship or a Canadian-funded educational program

If your country has foreign exchange controls, you must prove that you will be allowed to export funds to cover all your expenses.

Required Funds

All Provinces/Territories Except Quebec

Example

If you and 2 family members want to come to a province or territory (other than Quebec) for a year, you’ll need $31,583 for living expenses.

Quebec

To study in Quebec, applicants must prove they meet the financial requirements outlined by the ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration.

Other documents you may need

Letter of Explanation

This letter assists the visa officer in understanding your goals and motivations. It explains:

• Why you want to study in Canada
• That you understand your responsibilities as a student

You should include this letter if you decide to apply for a study permit, even if your program does not require one.

Medical Exam

You may need a medical exam if any of the following apply:

• You plan to stay in Canada for more than 6 months
• You recently spent time in certain countries
• You plan to work in certain jobs where public health must be protected

Find out if you need a medical exam.

Custodian Declaration (Minor Children)

If the minor requires a custodian, you must include the Custodianship Declaration form (IMM 5646) with your application. This form has two pages that must be notarized (certified by a notary) and included with your study permit application. The custodian in Canada must sign the first page, and the parents or legal guardians of the minor child in the child’s home country must sign the second page.

Other Supporting Documents

Check the visa office instructions for your country or region for local requirements. If you are not currently in your home country, you may need to prove your immigration status in the country from which you are applying. If the government that issued your passport or travel document requires a re-entry permit, you must obtain one before applying for a Canadian visa. You may also need other documents.