Study permit

Conditions you must meet

• Be enrolled at a designated learning institution (DLI)
• Prove you have enough money for tuition, living expenses and return transportationIRCC names three things the money must cover: tuition fees, living expenses for you and any family members who come with you, and return transportation for you and any family members who come with you. The eligibility page states no fixed threshold.
• Obey the law and have no criminal recordIRCC pairs this with a police certificate, which it marks '(if required)'. See the separate police certificate step.
• Be in good healthIRCC pairs this with a medical exam, which it marks '(if required)'. See the separate medical exam step.
• Prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your study permit expires

Official forms

• Application for a Study Permit Made Outside of Canada (IMM 1294)IRCC states each person requiring a study permit to come to Canada must complete this form, and that you download and complete it whether you apply in the IRCC secure account or on paper. The form is titled for applications made outside Canada; applicants applying from inside Canada or at a port of entry follow a different route, which was not extracted.Official form
• Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409)Required by the IMM 1294 instructions where the applicant is in a common-law union.
• Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)

Documents you must provide

• Letter of acceptance from your designated learning institutionIRCC marks this 'always required'. Your school gives it to you and you upload it to your online application. Post-secondary schools are asked to confirm the letter is valid; if the school does not respond by the deadline IRCC returns the application and refunds the processing fee. IRCC states one exception: family members of someone whose study or work permit application was approved in writing before they come to Canada do not need a letter of acceptance.
• Provincial attestation letter (PAL) or territorial attestation letter (TAL)IRCC marks this 'needed in most cases'. In most cases you must accept your offer and pay your tuition fees, in part or in full, to get one. If you are studying in Quebec you need a Quebec acceptance certificate (certificat d’acceptation du Québec, CAQ) instead. IRCC states that exceptions to the PAL/TAL requirement exist; they are published on a separate page.
• Copy of a valid passport or travel documentIRCC marks proof of identity 'always required', and requires it from you and from each family member who comes with you. Upload a copy of the information page when you apply online. If you are approved you must send IRCC your original passport.
• Two recent passport-size photosThe name and date of birth of the person must be written on the back of each photo. IRCC lists this under proof of identity, which it marks 'always required'.
• Proof of fundsIRCC marks this 'always required'. The money must support you and any family members coming with you. The documents page publishes no amount and links out to a separate proof-of-funds page.
• Proof of care for a minor child (appointed custodian)IRCC marks this 'check if needed'. It applies to children under 17 who are not coming to Canada with a parent or legal guardian. IRCC publishes what to submit on a separate page.
• Photocopy of your marriage licence or certificateRequired by the IMM 1294 instructions where the applicant is married.

Steps in the process

• Apply onlineIRCC states study permit applications must be submitted online whether you are outside Canada or already in Canada. It names two exceptions: a disability that prevents applying online, or holding an identity or travel document for non-national residents, refugees or stateless persons.
• Create an IRCC secure accountIRCC states an account is needed to pay fees, submit the application and check its status.
• Give your biometrics (fingerprints and photograph)IRCC states applicants between 14 and 79 probably need to give biometrics, and that they are only given once every 10 years. Once IRCC sends the letter telling you to give biometrics you have 30 days to do so. Whether you need to give them also depends on your citizenship; IRCC publishes a separate tool to check, and that country list has not been extracted.
• Immigration medical examIRCC marks this 'check if needed' and names three triggers: planning to stay in Canada for more than 6 months, recently spending time in certain countries, or planning to work in certain jobs where public health must be protected. Only the first is expressible from the facts VisaAI collects, and gating on it alone would hide the requirement from applicants caught by the other two, so no rule is attached.
• Police certificateIRCC marks this 'check if needed' and states only that it may ask for one in some cases. It advises applying as early as possible if you think you might need one.

Government fees

• Study permit processing feeCAD 150.00 per person. IRCC lists the same amount for study permit extensions.
• Biometrics feeCAD 85.00 per individual, with a maximum of CAD 170.00 for a family of 2 or more eligible people applying at the same time. Payable only if you must give biometrics — see the biometrics step above.

VisaAI suggestions

Not required by the authority. These are VisaAI’s suggestions for presenting a clearer application.

• Letter of explanationIRCC marks this 'recommended' rather than required, though the sentence itself reads 'you must explain'. It should explain why you want to study in Canada and that you understand your responsibilities as an international student.