To meet market needs and support student mobility, educational institutions worldwide are modernizing. International education is highly sought after by students who want to relocate to countries with outstanding universities and distinctive educational programs. For students planning to study in Canada, getting a Canadian study permit is usually the priority after receiving admission to an eligible program.
Canada remains a major destination for international students, although the government now manages study permit volumes through annual caps. Official IRCC figures show 115,270 new study permit holder arrivals in 2025, and 453,505 people in Canada holding only a study permit as of February 28, 2026. Canada is also known for its Rocky Mountain ranges, breathtaking scenery, and diverse population.
Canada has a large economy and a research-active university sector, with many institutions offering research-led degree programs. The country is also associated with several Nobel Prize laureates, including Willard Boyle and Bertram Brockhouse, who were born in Canada and awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.
Getting permission to study in Canada is a major goal for many students, but the approval process can be strict. A Canadian study permit is not the same as a visa. Depending on your citizenship, you may also need a visitor visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA), which is usually issued automatically with your first approved study permit application if required. For foreign students seeking information on how to get a Canadian student visa or study permit, refer to our guide below. It highlights the steps, documents, and fees you may need for this process.
Steps on Applying for a Canadian Student Visa
Getting a study permit approved for Canada can be a detailed process. However, with the right preparation, students can complete the application more smoothly. To fully understand the steps you need to follow, we have explained them below.
Step 1. Conduct a Pre-Application Eligibility Check
Make sure that the school you are applying to is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) approved to host international students. You can check the official DLI list on the IRCC website. If you need a study permit, your acceptance letter must be from a DLI. In general, you must get a study permit if you want to study in Canada for more than six months.
You should also check whether you need a provincial attestation letter or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL). In most cases, students need a PAL/TAL from the province or territory where they plan to study. If you are studying in Quebec, you generally need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ). As of January 1, 2026, students entering degree-granting master’s or doctoral programs at public DLIs do not need a PAL/TAL, but they still need a letter of acceptance and other required documents.
Step 2. Make a Checklist of Necessary Documents
The next step is to review the list of documents required for your application. Gather all documents before applying and make sure that they meet IRCC’s format and translation requirements. Common documents include a letter of acceptance, proof of identity, proof of funds, a PAL/TAL or CAQ if required, a letter of explanation, and any medical exam, police certificate, or country-specific documents requested for your situation.
Step 3. Create an Account on the IRCC Portal
Most applicants must apply online through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website, whether they are applying from outside Canada or from within Canada. Paper applications are allowed only in limited cases, such as when a disability prevents a student from applying online or when the applicant holds certain identity or travel documents for non-national residents, refugees, or stateless persons.
After signing in with your account, complete the application form and upload scanned copies of the required documents. Re-check your application before submitting it. If you already have a Unique Client Identifier (UCI), you may be asked to enter it. If you are applying to IRCC for the first time and do not yet have a UCI, follow the application instructions and leave the field blank or write “N/A” where allowed.
If you are eligible to apply on paper, follow the official IRCC instructions for your country or territory. For study permit applications made outside Canada, the main application form is currently IMM 1294, along with the applicable document checklist and supporting forms.
Step 4. Pay the Visa Application Fee and Get Biometrics Done
After completing the application form, pay the study permit processing fee. The current study permit fee is CA$150 per person. If biometrics are required, the biometric fee is CA$85 for an individual applicant, or up to CA$170 for a family applying at the same time.
If you need biometrics, IRCC will send you a biometric instruction letter telling you where to go. Applicants who need biometrics must give fingerprints and a photo in person at an official collection location, such as a visa application center (VAC), designated Service Canada office, or U.S. Application Support Center, depending on where they are applying from.
Step 5. Submit Application
After completing all requirements, review the application form one last time before submitting it. Study permit processing times vary by country, so applicants should check the current IRCC processing time tool rather than relying on a fixed timeline.
If your application is approved from outside Canada, IRCC will send you a port of entry letter of introduction. This letter is not your study permit. You must bring it with you and show it to a border services officer when you arrive in Canada. If you still meet the entry requirements, the officer will issue your study permit at the port of entry. If you need a visitor visa or eTA, it will normally be issued with your approved first study permit application.
Documents Needed for Canadian Student Visa Applications
Canada grants study permits to applicants who meet IRCC’s requirements. The first step is to get accepted by a Canadian DLI. Then, the student can apply through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Processing times vary by country and can change, so students should check the current IRCC processing time tool before applying. The following are common documents that may be required for a Canadian study permit application.
- Proof of acceptance from a DLI in Canada.
- A PAL/TAL, if required. If studying in Quebec, students generally need a CAQ. As of January 1, 2026, students entering degree-granting master’s or doctoral programs at public DLIs do not need a PAL/TAL.
- Proof of identity, including a valid passport or travel document and recent passport-size photos.
- A passport valid for the period requested. IRCC cannot issue a study permit beyond the expiry date of the passport or travel document.
- Proof of funds showing that you can pay tuition fees, living expenses for yourself and any family members coming with you, and transportation to and from Canada.
- For applications submitted on or after September 1, 2025, applicants studying outside Quebec must show living expenses of at least CA$22,895 per year for one person, excluding tuition and transportation costs. Higher amounts apply if family members accompany the student. Quebec has separate financial requirements.
- Common proof-of-funds documents may include bank statements, proof of a Canadian bank account, a guaranteed investment certificate (GIC), proof of a student or education loan, a bank draft, a scholarship or funding letter, or proof that tuition and housing fees have already been paid. A GIC is one possible proof-of-funds document, but IRCC no longer uses a universal CA$10,000 GIC rule for all applicants.
- A letter of explanation describing why you want to study in Canada and confirming that you understand your responsibilities as an international student.
- Academic transcripts, certificates, or diplomas requested by the school, IRCC, or the local visa office.
- Language test results, such as IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL, if requested by the school, program, or local visa office.
- An immigration medical exam, if required for your country of residence, length of stay, or intended work/study situation.
- A police certificate, if requested by IRCC.
- Country-specific documents requested in the visa office instructions for the country or territory from which you are applying.
- Proof of care or custodianship documents for minor children, if applicable.
FAQs: Student Visa Applications for Canada
Where to Apply for a Canadian Student Visa?
For a faster and more convenient approach, international students should generally apply for a Canadian study permit online through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. IRCC states that study permit applicants must apply online unless they qualify for a paper-application exemption.
Applicants may see a field for a Unique Client Identifier (UCI). A UCI is an IRCC client identification number found on official documents issued by IRCC. If this is your first IRCC application and you do not yet have a UCI, follow the application instructions and leave the field blank or write “N/A” where permitted. The UCI is issued by IRCC, not by the DLI.
How Much is the Visa Issuance Fee for a Canada Student Visa?
The study permit processing fee is CA$150 per person. This fee applies to study permit applications and extensions. If biometrics are required, the biometric fee is CA$85 for an individual applicant, or up to CA$170 for a family applying at the same time.
Study permit processing fees are generally not refunded if the application is refused. If the applicant reapplies, they must pay the study permit processing fee again and, if applicable, the biometric fee. If a visitor visa or eTA is needed with a first approved study permit application, IRCC normally issues it automatically without a separate application or extra fee.
Applicants may also need to pay third-party fees for services such as medical exams, police certificates, language testing, or visa application center services. These fees vary by provider and country and are paid directly to the third party.
We hope that this article on how to get a Canada student visa was helpful. Make sure to check out the Available Programs for International Students to explore your study options.
