🇨🇦 Canada · Student Visa
Student visa categories, eligibility, required documents, work rights, and application steps.
Most international students in Canada need a study permit (not technically a visa, though a temporary resident visa or eTA may also be issued for travel). You apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) with a Letter of Acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution, proof of funds, and — for most applicants — a Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter, subject to the annual study-permit cap.
- Apply for the study permit online from outside Canada with your Letter of Acceptance from a DLI and proof of sufficient funds.
- Most applicants need a Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL); from 1 Jan 2026 master's/doctoral students at public DLIs are exempt — check current IRCC rules.
- A study-permit application cap applies for the year; apply early and confirm whether your level/institution is in scope.
- Eligible study permits allow limited work during study and a Post-Graduation Work Permit pathway — confirm eligibility on IRCC.
Official authorities
- Study permit (IRCC)
Official study-permit requirements and online application.
- Application to study in Canada — Study permits
IRCC application forms and guides.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- Government of Canada — Canada's federal service portal — immigration, taxes, benefits, and travel info
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program, work/study permits, and PR card applications
- Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) — T1 personal tax returns, corporate taxes, GST/HST, and benefit applications (CCB)