Studying in Canada: 4 steps to obtaining a study permit
Studying in Canada is the first step towards the dream of settling in the land of the maple leaf. Canada has one of the world’s leading education systems and ranks among the best countries in the world.
You may also wish to explore the option ofstudying in Canada without a study permit.
Contents
How do you study in Canada?
Below are the steps to take if you wish to study in Canada and transition to permanent residence:
- Step 1: Choose a programme. Do your research and find the programme of study you wish to pursue in Canada.
- Step 2: Apply to a Designated Learning Institution in Canada (DLI). Once you have identified a programme to apply for, submit your application to the chosenDesignated Learning Institutions in Canada (DLIs)in Canada.
- Step 3: Apply for a study permit. After receiving aletter of acceptanceand a letter of attestation from the province or territory where your institution is located, you may apply to the Government of Canada for astudy permit. A study permit is the document most people need in order to reside lawfully in Canada as an international student.
- Step 4 (optional): Explore your immigration options. After completing your studies, you may remain in Canada to gain further professional work experience and pursue permanent residence.
Considering a residency programme? The Prosperous Living Investment team assesses your profile free of charge and advises on the pathway that fits your goals.
The benefits of studying in Canada
Canada is currently one of the world’s leading destinations for international students, with more than 800,000 students from around the globe. Research shows that international students are drawn to Canada for the following reasons:
- The high quality of education provided by Canadian institutions.
- Canada offers international students the opportunity to work during and after their studies, as well as to transition to permanent residence.
- The opportunity to study in English and in French.
- Safety and security.
- A multicultural society.
- Canada welcomes immigrants and international students from close to 200 countries every year.
- Canada is affordable compared with other popular destinations for international students.
Universities and colleges in Canada
There are more than 1,500 universities, colleges and other educational institutions authorised byImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)to welcome international students. These institutions are known as Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) and are designated to support international students in Canada and to help them remain in the country after graduation.
The list of DLIs authorised by IRCC continues to grow. Please verify that the university, college or other institution you wish to enrol in is authorised by IRCC by visiting the official Government of Canada website athere.
Ontario and Quebec are Canada’s most populous provinces and, accordingly, host the largest number of DLIs in the country (close to 1,000 in total).
With so many DLIs across Canada, you are very likely to find a programme of study that suits your needs.
Broadly speaking, universities across Canada offer education of comparable quality. Canada promotes equity within its education system because the government has worked to ensure that every international student receives the best possible education, whichever institution they attend.
Canada also has around 150 community colleges, which likewise offer good-quality education. Whereas universities specialise in theoretical knowledge and professional training for certain highly specialised fields (medicine, engineering and law, for example), community colleges offer more applied training to help international students enter the labour market quickly. College programmes are more practical, giving international students the knowledge they need to find work in their field of study.
As with universities, colleges across Canada tend to offer education of comparable quality. International students can study at a Canadian college with confidence, as the credential they earn will support their career and immigration goals after graduation.
Recent changes to the Canadian study permit
In 2024, IRCC announced that it would begin capping the number of study permits issued that year at 360,000. The figure was allocated to individual provinces and territories on the basis of their student numbers. At present, this cap does not affect master’s or doctoral studies, nor those at primary or secondary level. Study permit extensions are also unaffected by the policy.
In 2025, this study permit cap is being adjusted upwards to 437,000 applications, master’s and doctoral students included.
IRCC has made these changes to promote sustainable growth in Canada’s international education programme, to protect stakeholders from abuse of the international student programme, and to ensure sufficient housing for approved students in Canada. Under these changes, IRCC allocates a share of the overall study permit cap to provincial and territorial governments, which then distribute their allocation among the DLIs in their region.
To give effect to this cap, all study permit applications submitted after 22 January 2024 must now include a letter of attestation from the province or territory supporting the applicant’s approval to study in Canada.
Permanent residence pathways for international students in Canada
International students who complete post-secondary education in Canada have many opportunities to extend their stay and ultimately transition to permanent residence.
Studying in Canada can give you an advantage when pursuing Canadian permanent residence programmes. Many federal and provincial immigration programmes place a high value on candidates with Canadian study and work experience.
After completing your studies in Canada, you can accumulate Canadian work experience by obtaining aPost-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which, depending on your Canadian programme of study, may allow you to work in Canada for up to 3 years.
With a PGWP in hand, you can go on to pursue a range of federal and provincial permanent residence pathways, such as:
Express Entry
Detailed article onExpress Entry
One of the most prominent routes to permanent residence is to submit an Express Entry profile. Express Entry is the system through which Canada manages economic immigration applications.
Express Entry candidates are assessed through theComprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The CRS rewards candidates who are young, who have Canadian study and work experience, and who have strong English and French. These are qualities many international students in Canada possess.
Through Express Entry, former international students in Canada may be well placed to qualify for the popularThe Canadian Experience Class (CEC), which enables tens of thousands of former international students and temporary foreign workers to become permanent residents each year.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Detailed article onProvincial Nominee Program (PNP).
The Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP) allows provinces and territories across Canada to identify immigration candidates who meet their local economic needs. Many PNP streams are aimed at candidates who are former international students in Canada, or are reserved for international students outright.
Quebec
Quebec is Canada’s second-largest province, and Montreal is a very popular destination for international students. The province runs its own immigration system, with programmes distinct from those offered by the federal government and under the PNP.
Quebec also encourages former international students to transition to permanent residence. One of the principal ways it does so is through thethe Quebec Experience Programme (PEQ).
Other federal programmes
Beyond the 3 programmes managed under Express Entry, the federal government operates additional economic immigration programmes. These offer dedicated streams for international students in Canada and waive the Canadian work experience requirement. They include:
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about studying in Canada
Canada offers high-quality education at a relatively affordable cost within a safe, stable and multicultural society. Canada allows you to work while you study and to obtain a work permit after graduation if you meet the Canadian government’s criteria.
Building Canadian work experience after your studies opens up further opportunities to settle in Canada as a permanent resident. Because of its appeal, the country welcomes international students from around 200 different nations.
There are more than 800,000 international students in Canada. Owing to the country’s popularity as an outstanding destination in which to study, work and immigrate, the number of international students in Canada has tripled over the past decade.
From 2024, IRCC is applying a cap on study permit applications, limiting the total number of study permits approved annually to around 360,000. The quota is to be reassessed for 2025.
Canada welcomes international students from close to 200 different countries each year.
Countries commonly sending students to Canada include India, China, South Korea, France, Vietnam, the United States, Iran, Brazil, Nigeria and Mexico.
Many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and Asia also send large numbers of international students to Canada each year.
- Step one:Choose an academic programme.
- Step two:Apply to aDesignated Learning Institutions in Canada (DLIs)in Canada and obtain aLetter of Acceptance (LOA) from a DLI.
- Step three:Obtain a letter of attestation from the province or territory where your chosen institution is located.
- Step four:Apply for astudy permit.
Yes. You can bring your spouse, common-law partner and dependent children to Canada.
The Government of Canada, like the university or college you attend, wants you to be happy while studying in Canada. You may therefore bring your partner to Canada with you, along with any dependent children.
Your common-law partner or spouse may apply for anopen work permit, allowing them to come to Canada and work for any employer, while your children may also accompany you to Canada.
Canadian cities generally offer many of the same advantages, including good-quality education, openness to all manner of cultures, safety and security.
Choosing a city in which to study comes down to your own preferences. Factors worth considering include:
- The programme of study you wish to pursue.
- Employment prospects in your preferred career field in that Canadian city.
- The existing immigrant and international student community in that Canadian city.
- Whether you want an English-speaking or French-speaking environment in Canada.
- Cultural life.
- Whether you prefer a large city or a smaller one.
- Your budget.
You can learn more about the advantages of Canada’s provinces and cities athere.
If you have completed your studies and wish to remain in Canada to work, you may be eligible for aPost-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). This temporary status replaces your study permit.
There may be other temporary and permanent pathways you can pursue in order to remain in Canada. For example, once you hold a PGWP and are interested in becoming a permanent resident, you may be eligible to submit an Express Entry profile or to apply to other federal and provincial immigration programmes.
Your options depend on your goals.
For example, if you are interested in obtaining permanent residence within the province, you may be eligible for thePost-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
Alternatively, you may apply to one of the Quebec immigration programmes, such as thethe Quebec Experience Programme (PEQ)orthe Quebec Skilled Worker Programme (SWSP).
Yes. Tens of thousands of the more than 400,000 people who become Canadian permanent residents each year are former international students.
Many programmes can lead to permanent residence, including the three managed underExpress Entry including:
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP).
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
There are many other options through programmes such as theProvincial Nominee Program (PNP), the Quebec Skilled Worker Programme (SWSP), The Atlantic Immigration Programme (AIP)orThe Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP).
Some of these programmes require Canadian work experience. If you wish to work in Canada after completing your studies, you can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
Yes.
This is the ultimate goal of many, if not most, international students and graduates in Canada. Permanent resident status brings a range of rights, including the right to live and work anywhere in Canada without first having to secure a work permit. It is also a step on the road to Canadian citizenship.
Canada looks to its pool of international students and graduates for its finest immigrants. You have learned the language, gained work and study experience, and shown that you deserve a place in the Canadian family.
To qualify for a PGWP, you must have held full-time student status at an eligibleDesignated Learning Institutions in Canada (DLIs)in Canada and must have met all the requirements of your programme of study, which must have lasted at least 8 months.
You may work on campus or off campus, provided your study permit states that condition. You may only begin working in Canada once you have started your Canadian programme of study.
You may be permitted to work on campus if you:
- Are a full-time post-secondary student.
- HaveThe study permit in Canadathat is valid.
- HaveSocial Insurance Number (SIN).
If you need a co-op placement or an internship, you must apply for a co-op or internship work permit. You may be eligible if:
- The work is a requirement for completing your programme.
- You hold a valid study permit.
- You have a letter from your institution confirming that all students must work in order to earn the credential.
- Your co-op placement or internship accounts for 50% or less of your programme.
If you are studying English or French as a second language, taking general-interest courses, or taking courses preparing you for another programme, you may not be eligible for a co-op work permit.
If you wish to work off campus, your study permit must state that you may do so. You must also:
- Be a full-time student.
- Be enrolled in a post-secondary programme.
- Be enrolled in a programme of study lasting at least 6 months that leads to a degree, certificate or diploma.
- Have started your studies.
- Hold a Social Insurance Number (SIN).
If you are a part-time student, you may only work off campus:
- If you meet all of the criteria above.
- You are studying part-time only because:
- You are in your final term and do not need full-time study to complete your programme.
- You were a full-time student in Canada up until your most recent term.
Assuming your study permit allows you to work in Canada, you are permitted to work off campus for 20 hours per week during the academic year. You may also work full-time during scheduled breaks.
There is no limit on the number of hours you may work on campus.
Yes. You may apply for scholarships, bursaries or merit-based grants through your institution or through third-party organisations.
Tuition fees in Canada are considered reasonable compared with other popular destinations such as the United States, the UK, Australia and European Union countries.
Many Canadian institutions offer programmes with tuition fees below $15,000 CAD per year.
In addition to tuition, you must demonstrate the financial capacity to support yourself and any family members.
Tuition and living costs vary from province to province and territory to territory. Generally speaking, studying in a large Canadian city costs more than in a smaller one.
If you plan to study outside Quebec, the following table sets out the minimum funds you need in order to support yourself while studying in Canada (also known as proof of financial support):
| Number of people | All provinces except Quebec |
|---|---|
| Single student | Tuition plus $20,635 CAD for a 12-month period |
| With one accompanying family member | Tuition plus $25,690 CAD |
| With two accompanying family members | Tuition plus $31,583 CAD |
| With three accompanying family members | Tuition plus $38,346 CAD |
| With four accompanying family members | Tuition plus $43,492 CAD |
| With five accompanying family members | Tuition plus $49,051 CAD |
| With six accompanying family members | Tuition plus $54,611 CAD |
| With more than six accompanying family members | Tuition plus $5,559 CAD per additional person |
If you plan to study in Quebec, the following table sets out the minimum funds you need to have available for financial support while studying in the province:
| Amount required per year (excluding tuition) | Amount |
|---|---|
| First family member (under 18) | $7.541 CAD |
| First family member (over 18) | $15.078 CAD |
| Two family members aged 18 or over | $22.115 CAD |
| Two family members aged 18 or over and one member under 18 | $24.773 CAD |
| Two family members aged 18 or over and two members under 18 | $26.737 CAD |
The Student Direct Stream (SDS), known in English as the Student Direct Stream, is a programme that expedites study permit processing for applicants who meet the eligibility requirements. One of those requirements is that you must be a legal resident of one of the following countries:
- Vietnam
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Brazil
- China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- India
- Morocco
- Pakistan
- Peru
- Philippines
- Senegal
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
To qualify for the SDS, you must:
- Be a legal resident of Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Senegal, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago or Vietnam.
- Have completed a valid language test within the past 2 years with an IELTS score of 6.0 or above, or an equivalent TEF score ofCanadian Language Benchmark (CLB)7 or above.
- Hold a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of at least $20,635 CAD insured by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC). The GIC must meet the specific criteria set out athere.
- Show proof of payment in full of your first year’s tuition fees.
- Show proof of payment of your travel costs.
- Provide a letter of acceptance (LOA) from your institution.
- Provide a letter of attestation from the province or territory where your institution is located.
- Provide your most recent secondary or post-secondary transcript.
- Undergo a medical examination before applying if required (you may need to complete this step if you have lived in or travelled to one of the designated countries before coming to Canada, or if your field of study requires it).
- Obtain a police certificate/criminal record certificate before applying if your case requires one (the instructions from the visa office will tell you whether a police certificate/criminal record certificate is needed).
There is no age limit for studying in Canada.
You do not need a language test to apply for a study permit, but the institution you apply to may require one. For details, please review the policies of the academic institutions you are interested in applying to.
Once your study permit is approved, you must comply with the following conditions set by the Government of Canada:
- Remain enrolled at your Designated Learning Institution.
- Work towards completing your programme.
- Comply with all conditions listed on your study permit.
- Stop studying if you no longer meet the requirements of your study permit.
- Leave Canada when your study permit expires (unless you have obtained other temporary status or permanent residence).
Your study permit automatically becomes invalid if you breach any of the conditions listed on it.
Processing times depend on the individual visa office.
- Universities:Offer bachelor’s, professional and postgraduate degrees, along with certificates and diplomas.
- Community colleges:Offer certificates, diplomas, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees and postgraduate diplomas.
- Vocational and technical colleges:Offer certificates and diplomas in technical training designed to help candidates advance in their careers.
| Credential | Average duration | Overview |
|---|---|---|
| Certificates and diplomas | 1–2 years | Career-oriented programmes that help candidates find work related to their credential. |
| Associate degree | 2 years | Equivalent to the first 2 levels of a 4-year bachelor’s programme. |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3–4 years | Usually 4 years, but as short as 3 years in provinces such as Quebec. Offered at universities and more theoretical than college programmes. |
| Postgraduate diploma | 1–2 years | A specialised credential taken after completing a bachelor’s degree. |
| Master’s degree | 1–2 years | May include a research thesis or may require no thesis at all. |
| Doctorate | 4–8 years | Usually involves initial coursework followed by a thesis successfully defended before an academic panel. |
| Post-doctoral programme | No fixed duration | Advanced research programmes undertaken after completing a doctorate. |
Every DLI in Canada sets its own deadlines, which may differ depending on the programme, faculty or department you apply to. You will find the most up-to-date information on the website of the institution you intend to apply to.
Every year, many international students go on to become Canadian immigrants, because a number of Canada’s federal and provincial immigration programmes award extra points or offer application streams reserved for international students.
According to the most recent federal government figures, more than 80,000 international students become permanent residents each year.
Parents’ questions and concerns vary from country to country and region to region, but you may wish to share the following with them:
- According to international surveys, parents rate Canada’s study permit requirements more favourably than those of countries such as the United States and the UK. Obtaining a Canadian study permit can also be very quick through programmes such as the Student Direct Stream (SDS) and for international students from certain countries.
- Canada is a very safe, stable and open country that welcomes people from all over the world. Whatever your nationality, ethnicity or religion, you will find people from your own background in Canada.
- Canada is home to some of the world’s most highly regarded institutions, many of them in the global top 100.
- Canada is more affordable than countries such as the United States, the UK and Australia, and it allows you to work during and after your studies to support yourself financially while in Canada. Scholarships are also available to international students in Canada.
- International students in Canada enjoy promising career prospects. Canada is always looking for motivated, ambitious, educated, multilingual talent that brings a diverse, global perspective.
- Canada is keen to help international students remain in the country as permanent residents.
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