WHAT IS STUDY PERMIT?
A Study Permit is a visa issued by the Government of Canada that allows a foreign national to legally study in Canada. Interested individuals can apply for a study permit based on their eligibility and educational goals. As regulations are subject to change, it is highly recommended to consult with a reliable third-party representative, such as a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or an immigration lawyer, before proceeding.
As of 2024, most applicants seeking to study at a post-secondary designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada must obtain a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from the province or territory in which their institution is located. This PAL is a mandatory document for most college-level study permit applications. However, applicants to primary and secondary schools, master’s and doctoral programs, or institutions in the province of Quebec are currently exempt from the PAL requirement. Due to newly implemented intake limits, PALs are issued in limited numbers, and prospective students are encouraged to confirm program eligibility and provincial quotas before applying.
International students are legally permitted to work in Canada while studying full-time at a DLI. They may work on or off campus on a part-time basis (up to 24 hours per week) during regular academic sessions, depending on the conditions of their study permit. In addition, students are allowed to work full-time during scheduled academic breaks such as reading week or summer vacation. Please refer to the “Working While Studying” chapter of this book for more detailed information.
Upon graduation, eligible students may apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which provides an open work permit valid for up to three years. Graduates of a one-year certificate program are generally eligible for a one-year PGWP, while those who complete a two-year diploma or four-year bachelor’s degree may qualify for a three-year permit. For applications submitted on or after November 1, 2024, graduates of certificate and diploma programs may need to have completed their program in an eligible field of study to qualify for a PGWP. However, as of March 2025, this restriction does not apply to graduates of college-level bachelor’s degree programs, who remain PGWP-eligible regardless of their field of study.
Applicants must apply for a study permit if the program they are pursuing is longer than six months, or if it includes a mandatory internship or co-op component. Dependent minor children accompanying parents who are in Canada as visitors must also apply for a study permit if they intend to attend school in Canada.
The duration of a study permit varies based on the level of study. For primary school students (grades 1 to 9), the study permit is typically issued for one year, with the option to extend. For secondary school students (grades 10 to 12) and post-secondary students, the study permit may cover the full length of the academic program, up to a maximum of four years, with an additional 90 calendar days beyond the end of the program. Students who need additional time to complete their studies, or who are transitioning to another immigration status (such as PGWP), may apply to extend their study permit before it expires.