How to Get a Canada Study Permit in 2026: Steps, Documents, Fees and the Cap

To get a Canada study permit in 2026, you need an acceptance letter from a designated learning institution (DLI), usually a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL), proof that you can pay tuition plus $23,448 a year in living costs (single applicant, outside Quebec), and an online application with a $150 fee and biometrics. Fewer permits are available than in past years because of the national cap, so timing and a complete file matter more than ever.

Key points

• Canada plans to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026 (155,000 new arrivals and 253,000 extensions), down from 437,000 in 2025.
• Master’s and PhD students at public DLIs no longer need a PAL/TAL as of January 1, 2026.
• The living-cost requirement rose to $23,448 for a single applicant on applications submitted from September 1, 2026.
• Fees as of October 2026: $150 study permit, $85 biometrics.
• The Student Direct Stream closed on November 8, 2024. Everyone applies through the regular stream.

Who can get a Canada study permit

IRCC’s eligibility page sets out five core conditions. You must:

1. Be enrolled at a designated learning institution (DLI).
2. Prove you can pay tuition, living expenses for yourself and any family members who come with you, and return transportation.
3. Have no criminal record and provide a police certificate if asked.
4. Be in good health and complete a medical exam if required.
5. Satisfy an officer that you will leave Canada when your permit expires.

Point 5 is where many refusals happen. Officers look at your study plan, your ties to your home country, and whether the program makes sense for your background. A clear letter of explanation helps.

Step-by-step: applying from outside Canada

Step	What you do	Notes
1	Get accepted by a DLI	Only DLIs can host international students. Check that your school is on IRCC’s DLI list.
2	Get a PAL/TAL (unless exempt)	Your school tells you how. Quebec students get a CAQ instead.
3	Gather proof of funds	Tuition + living costs + travel. See the table below.
4	Apply online	Through your IRCC secure account. Paper is only allowed in limited cases.
5	Pay fees and give biometrics	You have 30 days from the date on your biometrics letter.
6	Medical exam and police certificate, if required	Depends on your country and situation.
7	Wait for a decision	Processing starts once IRCC has your biometrics.
8	Travel and get your permit at the border	You receive a port of entry letter if approved, and the officer issues the permit on arrival.

The IRCC application page says to submit as many documents as you can up front, because incomplete applications slow things down. If you need a visitor visa or eTA to travel, IRCC issues it automatically with an approved study permit.

Documents most applicants need

• Passport
• Letter of acceptance from your DLI
• PAL/TAL, or proof that you are exempt
• Proof of financial support
• Letter of explanation (your study plan and why you will return home)
• Any documents your local visa office requires, such as a medical exam or police certificate

Check the instructions for your country on the IRCC site, because visa offices can ask for extra documents.

The PAL/TAL requirement

A provincial or territorial attestation letter confirms that your school has a spot for you inside the province’s share of the national cap. You must include it with your application, not later, and each applicant in a family needs their own. A PAL is tied to one school and is generally valid only for the cap year it was issued in.

Groups that do not need one include K-12 students, master’s and doctoral students at public DLIs (from January 1, 2026), exchange students who pay no tuition to the Canadian school, and people extending a permit at the same school and level. See IRCC’s PAL page for the full list.

For a deeper look at who issues PALs and what happens when a college runs out, read our Provincial Attestation Letter guide.

Proof of funds: how much you need

IRCC updates the living-cost amount every year. For applications received on or after September 1, 2026, the amounts for study outside Quebec are below (CAD per year, not including tuition or travel). Source: IRCC financial support page, checked October 2026.

People in your family (including you)	Living costs required
1	$23,448
2	$29,192
3	$35,888
4	$43,572
5	$49,419
6	$55,736
7	$62,054
Each extra person	$6,318

On top of this, you need your first year of tuition and return travel. Acceptable proof includes a Canadian bank account in your name, a Canadian guaranteed investment certificate (GIC), a student loan from a bank, six months of bank statements, proof of paid tuition and housing, or a letter from the person or institution funding you. Our study permit proof of funds guide covers documents in more detail.

If you are going to Quebec, the province sets its own amounts as part of the Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) process.

Fees

As of October 2026, from the IRCC fee list (page modified September 21, 2026):

Item	Fee (CAD)
Study permit (including extensions)	$150
Biometrics, one person	$85
Biometrics, family applying together	$170 maximum
Restoration of status as a student	$396.25 ($246.25 + new permit $150)

Third-party costs are extra: medical exams, police certificates, language tests (if your school or program needs one), translation, and visa application centre service fees.

The 2026 study permit cap in brief

Canada’s cap limits how many PAL/TAL-required applications IRCC will accept. For 2026:

• 180,000 permits are planned for PAL/TAL-required students, with an application cap of 309,670.
• Ontario has the largest share (70,074 permits), followed by Quebec (39,474) and British Columbia (24,786).
• Master’s and doctoral students at public DLIs (49,000 permits) and K-12 students (115,000) are counted separately and do not need a PAL.

Source: IRCC notice, November 25, 2025. Our 2026 study permit cap explainer breaks the numbers down by province.

Processing times

IRCC publishes live processing times by country on its processing times tool. They change weekly and vary a lot by country, so check the tool rather than relying on a number from a blog or forum. Processing only starts once IRCC receives your biometrics, so book your appointment as soon as the letter arrives.

The Student Direct Stream, which used to offer faster processing for some countries, ended on November 8, 2024.

Working while you study

If your permit allows it and you are a full-time student at a DLI, you can work:

• Up to 24 hours per week off campus during regular academic sessions.
• Unlimited hours during scheduled breaks like summer or winter holidays.

Your program must be at least 6 months long and lead to a degree, diploma or certificate. Source: IRCC, work off campus.

Since April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for placements their program requires, as long as the employer is approved by the school (IRCC notice).

After graduation

Many students plan to stay and work after their studies through the post-graduation work permit. Eligibility now depends on your program type, a language test result (CLB 7 for university degrees, CLB 5 for college programs), and, for non-degree programs, your field of study. Choose your program with this in mind. Read our PGWP guide before you accept an offer.

Common reasons for refusal

IRCC does not publish a single list, but refusal letters commonly cite:

• Not enough proof of funds, or funds with an unclear source.
• Doubt that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay.
• A study plan that does not fit your education or career history.
• Missing documents, including a missing or invalid PAL.

If you were refused, read the letter carefully before reapplying. A PAL can be reused only if the earlier application was not accepted for processing or was withdrawn before a decision, not after a refusal.

When to get professional help

If you have a previous refusal, a gap in your studies, complex finances, or a past immigration issue, consider speaking with a regulated Canadian immigration consultant (RCIC) or a Canadian immigration lawyer. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

What to do next

1. Confirm your school is a DLI and ask how it handles PAL requests.
2. Work out your total funding: tuition + the living-cost amount for your family size + travel.
3. Create your IRCC secure account and check your country’s visa office instructions.
4. Apply as early as your acceptance allows, and book biometrics right away.
5. Follow rule changes on our Canada hub and the updates page.