Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a DLI

Receiving a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI) is the first step in applying for a Canadian study permit.

How to obtain a Letter of Acceptance (LOA)

A Letter of Acceptance (LOA) is required in an application for aCanadian study permit. To obtain an LOA, a prospective student must first apply to aDesignated Learning Institution (DLI). If successful, the institution can issue a Letter of Acceptance. For the purposes of a study permit application, the Letter of Acceptance must contain all of the following:

• The student’s full name, date of birth and mailing address.
• The student’s ID number (if any)
• The name of the institution and the name of its official contact.
• The institution’s contact details.
• If the DLI is a private institution, its licensing details must be stated (usually in the institution’s letterhead).
• The DLI number.
• The type of school or institution (for example, private, public, post-secondary college, community college or technical college – this list is not exhaustive).
• The programme of study, level and year of study to which the student has been admitted.
• The estimated duration of the programme, or its estimated completion date.
• The start date of the programme.
• The last date on which the student may enrol in the programme.
• Whether the programme is full-time or part-time.
• The estimated tuition fees for the first year of study and any scholarship orother financial support(if any).
• Details of any mandatory internship or work placement, if applicable.
• The expiry date of the Letter of Acceptance.
  • The Letter of Acceptance is required to state an expiry date. If processing of the study permit application is not completed before the expiry date of the Letter of Acceptance, an extension letter may be requested from the educational institution and submitted toImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)in support of the study permit application.
• Conditions of admission to the DLI (if any) – these may include prerequisite courses, prior qualifications, or proof of language proficiency;
• If the DLI is in Quebec, the requirement for aQuebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)must be clearly stated;

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provides a template for the Letter of Acceptance along with guidance on completing the required information.

IRCC is also responsible for verifying the Letter of Acceptance (LOA). Find out more athere.

It is important to note that a Letter of Acceptance from a DLI does not guarantee that the study permit application will be approved. Approval of a study permit application rests on the decision of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Sample Letter of Acceptance (LOA)

Overview

Following consultation with stakeholders, Citizenship and Immigration Canada created a standard Letter of Acceptance template for educational institutions to complete.

Completing the Letter of Acceptance accurately assists with initial processing of the student’s application at missions abroad and at ports of entry, as well as with future study permit extension applications made within Canada.

Completing the template

The Letter of Acceptance from the educational institution must include the institution’s letterhead, full mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, email address and website (if available).

Please note that all information requested on the sample Letter of Acceptance must be supplied by the educational institution. That said, some information may not apply or may be unknown at the time of application. Where the information does not apply, please enter N/A. Where the information is unknown, enter N/K. Students must submit the original Letter of Acceptance from the institution they will be attending.

Guidance on completing the Letter of Acceptance

Below is the table reorganised into 2 columns as requested by the applicant: column 1 is the number (Item), column 2 combines the heading and the content from the previous table:

Item	Contents
1, 2	Full name:The student’s full name as it appears on the student’s identity documents (for example, passport/travel document, birth certificate, foreign resident card or national identity card).
5	CAQ or MIDI:State whether the student holds a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (Certificat d’acceptation du Québec for studies) or a letter from the Ministère de l’Immigration, Diversité et Inclusion (MIDI). State the CAQ number and its expiry date.
6	The student’s full mailing address: PO box, apartment/unit, street, city, country, postal code.
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16	Full name of the educational institution, Designated Learning Institution number, address, telephone and fax numbers, email address, website, contact name and alternate contact name: The Letter of Acceptance from the educational institution must include the institution’s full mailing address, Designated Learning Institution number, telephone and fax numbers, email address and website, and contact name, even where that information already appears on the letterhead. Where a programme of study is delivered jointly by more than one institution, the Letter of Acceptance should be issued by the institution that will award the degree or certificate (or, where the degree or certificate is awarded jointly by several institutions, the Letter of Acceptance should be issued by the institution at which the student begins studying). The letter should note that the programme of study includes courses/terms (specifying which terms/courses) taught at another institution (specifying the institution’s name, type [for example, college, university, technical institute, etc.] and location).
12	Type of school/educational institution:Public or private. If the institution is publicly funded but is not a university, state whether it is a post-secondary college, a post-secondary community college, or a post-secondary technical college.
17	Academic status:Whether the programme is full-time or part-time.
18	Field/Programme of study:The general academic fields the student intends to pursue (for example, general studies, political science, biology, engineering, medicine, pilot training).
19	Level of study:Primary, secondary, residents and interns, post-secondary, bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate, other university studies, other studies, or a non-university certificate or diploma.
20	Type of training programme:Vocational, academic, professional or other.
22	Estimated tuition fees:The total fees required, including tuition and homestay/residence costs where applicable. Please state clearly if fees have been paid in advance.
23	Scholarship/Teaching assistantship/Other financial support:Indicate yes if the student will receive any financial support from the educational institution.
25	Conditions of acceptance:For example: TOEFL, part payment of fees, maintaining the required academic standing.
26	Programme duration:The programme start date and the estimated completion date. The start and completion dates must be accurate. Start and completion dates must be provided for programmes of less than 1 year.
27	Expiry date:The date to which the Letter of Acceptance remains valid; the last date on which the student may register to begin the programme of study.
28	Other relevant information:This section is provided so that institutions may add any relevant information that will help the visa officer reach a decision.

Exemptions from the Letter of Acceptance (LOA)

Some prospective students may be exempt from the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) requirement.

• If a foreign national receives written approval for awork permitorstudy permitbefore entering Canada, their family members may apply for a study permit without a Letter of Acceptance.
• Prospective students wishing to take a programme lasting 6 months or less do not need to obtain a Letter of Acceptance, as they do not require a study permit.

A study permit for more than one DLI

If an applicant applies for a study permit for a programme of study delivered by more than one institution, the Letter of Acceptance must state this clearly. Both institutions must be DLIs. The Letter of Acceptance should be issued by the DLI awarding the degree, diploma or certificate.

Where the degree, diploma or certificate is awarded jointly by several DLIs, the Letter of Acceptance should be issued by the DLI at which the student intends to begin their programme of study. In this case, the Letter of Acceptance must state:

• The name, type and location of the other educational institution.
• The courses the prospective student intends to take at the other educational institution.
• The terms the prospective student intends to study at the other educational institution.

When the study permit is issued, the DLI named may be the institution that issued the Letter of Acceptance. Other institutions may, however, be listed in the Remarks section of the study permit.

Conditional Letters of Acceptance (LOA)

A Letter of Acceptance may be issued to a prospective student stating that the offer of a place on the programme of study is conditional on the student first completing a prerequisite course or programme of study.

For example: a prospective student may be required to complete an English as a Second Language (ESL) or French as a Second Language (FSL) course before taking a more advanced programme.

In such cases, the study permit is issued only for the duration of the prerequisite programme. On successful completion of the prerequisite programme, the student may apply for a further study permit for the subsequent programme of study.

Extending a study permit

A second Letter of Acceptance is not normally required to extend a study permit. However, the immigration officer reviewing a study permit extension application has the authority to request evidence that the applicant has met the conditions of the original study permit. This may be shown through a letter from the educational institution confirming that the student has been actively pursuing their studies.