Canada Student visa
Canadian study permits sit at the heart of the temporary-resident framework for international students and run on a 30–42 day published target with a 150 CAD application fee. 2024 brought a national approval cap, mandatory Provincial Attestation Letters for most college and undergraduate cases, and an updated cost-of-living threshold of around 20,635 CAD per year. The application centres on a Letter of Acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution, financial substance covering tuition and living costs, and a Statement of Purpose that ties the chosen course to a credible future. Biometrics at a Visa Application Centre, panel-physician medicals where required, and the Open Work Permit holder fee for accompanying spouses sit on top of the 150 CAD figure. Regional offices vary sharply in their queue length, with New Delhi and Manila routinely running beyond the published window during the August intake.
| Visa required | Varies — verify on the official source |
|---|---|
| e-Visa available | No |
| Processing time | 30–42 days (source) |
| Visa fee | 150 CAD (source) |
Official resources
Requirements
Study Permit eligibility
- Hold a Letter of Acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution; verify the DLI number before paying tuition.
- Hold a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from the destination province where required for the program type.
- Demonstrate financial capacity covering first-year tuition, the cost-of-living threshold (around 20,635 CAD per year for a single applicant), and return travel.
- For Student Direct Stream applicants: hold a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) for the full amount at a participating bank.
- Submit a Statement of Purpose addressing course choice, ties to the home country, and post-study plans.
- Meet language-test requirements (IELTS, TOEFL, TEF, TCF) where the program or stream calls for them.
- Hold a passport with sufficient validity to cover the program where possible.
- Meet IRCC's admissibility — declare prior refusals from any country, criminal history, and immigration violations honestly.
- Provide biometrics at a Visa Application Centre and complete a panel-physician medical where triggered.
- Comply with study-permit conditions on the grant — including maintained enrolment, the off-campus work-hour cap, and reporting of changes to IRCC.
Documents checklist
The study-permit checklist now includes a Provincial Attestation Letter for most college and undergraduate cases — without it the application is returned without a decision, regardless of how complete the rest of the file is.
- Letter of Acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution, with the DLI number visible.
- Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) issued by the destination province where required.
- Passport bio page valid for the full course duration where possible.
- Proof of funds covering first-year tuition, the cost-of-living threshold (around 20,635 CAD per year), and return travel.
- Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) for Student Direct Stream applicants — full amount in a participating bank.
- Statement of Purpose addressing course choice, ties to home, and post-study plans.
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates from prior studies, translated where applicable.
- English- or French-language test result (IELTS, TOEFL, TEF, TCF) where required.
- Family Information form (IMM 5645) and Schedule 1 background details.
- Medical examination from an IRCC panel physician where the candidate's profile triggers it.
- Biometrics from a Visa Application Centre.
- Police certificates if requested.
- Custodianship declarations for minor applicants.
Application steps
- Obtain a Letter of Acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution and a Provincial Attestation Letter from the destination province where required for the program type.
- Create an IRCC Secure Account on canada.ca to manage the study-permit application.
- Complete the online application form, including Schedule 1 background information, the Family Information form (IMM 5645), and a Statement of Purpose.
- Pay the 150 CAD application fee through the IRCC portal — Open Work Permit holder fees for accompanying spouses are billed separately, as are biometric charges at a Visa Application Centre.
- Upload supporting documents: passport bio page, LOA, PAL, financial evidence covering tuition and the cost-of-living threshold, GIC certificate (for Student Direct Stream applicants), language test result, and academic transcripts.
- Attend a Visa Application Centre for biometrics (fingerprints and photo); the 30–42 day clock effectively starts from biometric receipt.
- Complete a panel-physician medical examination if triggered by the country of residence or planned stay.
- Wait for the decision in the IRCC Secure Account — routine cases decide in 30–42 days, while high-volume offices like New Delhi and Manila run longer during the August intake.
- Receive the Port of Entry Letter of Introduction, travel to Canada, and collect the printed study permit from the CBSA officer at the port — that is the operative permit, not the email letter.
Processing time
30–42 days (source) (typical). Processing times may vary.
Visa cost
Fee (from our data): 150 CAD (source) . Fees are subject to change; check the official source before applying.
The 150 CAD government fee for a Canadian study permit covers IRCC's assessment of the application — including the check of the Designated Learning Institution, the Provincial Attestation Letter, financial evidence, and personal history.
Biometric collection at a VAC, the Open Work Permit holder fee for accompanying spouses, panel-physician medicals where required, and courier returns each carry their own charges. Payment is taken in IRCC's online portal by credit card; GIC banks, language-test centres, and any agent fees are paid separately.
The 150 CAD figure is reviewed on IRCC's standard fee cycle, so the current rate on canada.ca should be confirmed immediately before submitting.
Common mistakes to avoid
Canadian study permit decisions sit in the 30–42 day band, with a 150 CAD government fee — but the queue lengthens sharply during August and September intakes, so apply at least three to four months ahead of the program start.
- Lodging without a Provincial Attestation Letter. Most undergraduate and college applications now need a PAL from the destination province; without it the file is returned unprocessed.
- Submitting a Letter of Acceptance from an institution that is not a Designated Learning Institution. Only DLIs can host study-permit holders; verify the DLI number before paying tuition.
- Showing tuition payment but not living costs. The cost-of-living threshold doubled for recent intakes; older guidance circulating online still quotes outdated figures and leads to refusals for insufficient funds.
- Treating the GIC requirement under the Student Direct Stream as optional. SDS applicants must hold the full GIC at a participating bank and provide the certificate; SDS without it is downgraded to regular processing and the 30–42 day estimate no longer applies.
- Writing a generic Statement of Purpose. IRCC weighs the program-fit and ties-to-home narrative heavily; recycled SOPs that ignore the specific course, school, or labour-market gap are a common refusal reason.
- Skipping the medical exam when it is required. Applicants who have lived in certain countries within the past year must complete an upfront IRCC-approved panel-physician exam; doing it after the request adds two to four weeks.
- Working beyond the off-campus cap. Off-campus eligibility is bounded by hour-per-week limits during studies; exceeding the cap can void the permit and bar future PR applications.
Country context & recent trends
The 30–42 day window for a Canadian study permit hides large swings between regional visa offices: New Delhi and Manila routinely run beyond 60 days during the August intake, while Riyadh and London often clear inside three weeks.
Recent rule changes
2024 brought a national cap on study-permit approvals, mandatory Provincial Attestation Letters for most college and undergraduate cases, an updated cost-of-living threshold of roughly 20,635 CAD per year, and tighter post-graduation work-permit eligibility for shorter college diploma programmes. The 150 CAD application fee was unchanged but several add-on charges (RPRF, OWP holder fee) shifted.
Peak load
Lodgements concentrate around the September intake and, to a lesser extent, January. Files received between May and July face the heaviest queue; aim to lodge by early May for September starts. Biometrics slots in major South-Asian VACs are the most constrained resource in that window.
How it compares to nearby destinations
Among major North American study destinations, Canada and the US are the dominant choices — both run study permits, but the cost, timeline, and eligibility tests differ.
| Destination | Visa required | Typical processing | Indicative fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada (Study Permit) | Yes | 30–42 days | 150 CAD |
| United States (F-1) | Yes | ~ 3–8 weeks (post-interview) | ~ 185 USD + 350 USD SEVIS fee |
| Mexico (Resident Visa for Studies) | Yes | ~ 2–4 weeks | ~ 51 USD |
Canada's 150 CAD government fee is the lowest of the three, although the GIC, biometrics, and PAL requirements add to the practical cost beyond the headline figure.
Frequently asked questions
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How long does a Canadian study permit take?
The published window is 30–42 days for outside-Canada applications, but New Delhi, Manila, and other high-volume offices routinely run beyond 60 days during the August intake. Apply at least three to four months before the program start date.
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What is included in the 150 CAD fee?
The 150 CAD government fee covers IRCC's assessment of the study permit, including the DLI, financial, and personal-history checks. Biometrics, the Open Work Permit holder fee for accompanying spouses, panel-physician medicals where required, and any agent or GIC bank fees are billed separately.
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Can my spouse and children come with me?
Spouses can apply for an Open Work Permit alongside the study permit, and dependent children under 18 can apply for their own study permits or visitor records. Each application carries its own fee, biometrics step, and documentation, and the OWP holder fee adds to the spouse's costs.
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What is the Provincial Attestation Letter and is it always required?
The PAL is a letter from the destination province confirming that the applicant falls within the province's allocation under the 2024 cap. Most undergraduate and college applicants now need one; some categories (existing permit holders, in-country renewals, certain master's and doctoral programmes) are exempt — confirm with the institution before lodging.
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How much money do I need to show for living expenses?
The 2024 cost-of-living threshold rose to roughly 20,635 CAD per year for a single applicant, with additional amounts for accompanying family members. The funds must be in the applicant's name and must look stable rather than freshly deposited just before lodgement.
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Can I work while studying?
Eligible study-permit holders can work off-campus during academic sessions within the hour-per-week cap currently set by IRCC, and full-time during scheduled breaks. On-campus work has separate rules; co-op and internship work usually requires a co-op work permit alongside the study permit.
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What if my study permit is refused?
Refusals can be addressed by re-applying with stronger evidence on the specific refusal ground, often financial substance, ties to home, or the Statement of Purpose. GCMS notes provide the case officer's actual reasoning; misrepresentation findings, however, trigger a five-year inadmissibility bar.