Most foreign nationals need a study permit to study in Canada. A study permit is different from a visitor visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA), and many applicants also need one of those travel documents depending on their citizenship.
If you are planning to study in Canada, your study permit application is more than an admission letter. You may need to show that your program makes sense, that you have financial support, that you understand your responsibilities as a student, and that your application is complete.
This service is for students who want a stronger, better-organized application before submitting to IRCC.
Most foreign nationals need a study permit to study in Canada. A study permit is different from a visitor visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA), and many applicants also need one of those travel documents depending on their citizenship.
As an international student with a valid study permit, you can work up to 24 hours per week off-campus during regular academic sessions and full-time during scheduled breaks (winter, spring/summer). You may also work on-campus without a work permit.
A study permit application should clearly explain why you want to study in Canada, why the program makes sense for your goals, and how you plan to support yourself during your studies. RA Migration helps students prepare organized applications that connect education, finances, background, and future plans in a clear way.
We understand that study permit refusals can happen when the application is incomplete, unclear, or not supported with enough evidence. Our team helps review your documents, identify possible weaknesses, and prepare your file carefully before submission.
If studying in Canada is an important step for your future, RA Migration can help you prepare your application with clarity and attention to detail.
The letter of acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) is the starting point. From there, IRCC needs to see: proof you can pay tuition and support yourself, a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL or TAL) in most cases, a clean medical and background check, and this is the one that trips people up, a convincing statement of purpose that explains why this program, why Canada, and why you’ll leave when your permit ends.
Study permit refusals are often about “dual intent” and ties to your home country. Officers want to see that your study plan makes sense given your background, and that you have genuine reasons to return home after. A strong file addresses that head‑on rather than hoping it won’t come up.
Yes. IRCC has set the 2026 cap at 309,670 study permit applications accepted for processing from PAL/TAL‑required students, running from January 1 to December 31, 2026. This is a further reduction from 2024 and 2025 levels. IRCC expects to issue approximately 408,000 study permits in total in 2026 (155,000 to new arrivals, 253,000 to extensions and returning students).
For most applicants, that means you still need a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) to apply. Without one, your application won’t even be accepted for processing, and your fees will be returned. PAL/TAL spaces are allocated to each province, and provinces distribute them to their designated learning institutions. Once a province’s allocation is used up, no more applications from that province will be accepted for the rest of the year.
The main strategic implication: apply early in the cap year if your program requires a PAL. Late applicants in popular provinces risk being shut out.
No. Effective January 1, 2026, master’s and doctoral students enrolled at public designated learning institutions no longer need a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) with their study permit application. You’re also not counted against the cap. IRCC made this exemption specifically to attract research and graduate talent.
Quick caveats: the exemption is for public DLIs only; private institutions are generally not covered. Quebec still has its own process. You’ll typically need a CAQ, which functions as your attestation. If you’re moving from a bachelor’s to a master’s at the same public institution, you’ll also often qualify for the PAL exemption when you apply for your extension. PhD applicants may also qualify for expedited two‑week processing under a dedicated stream.
IRCC raised the cost‑of‑living requirement significantly starting September 1, 2025. You must now prove you have at least $22,895 CAD for one year of living expenses (in addition to paying for your first year of tuition and for transportation to and from Canada). If you’re bringing family, the required amount is higher, aligned with the Statistics Canada Low‑Income Cut‑Off (LICO) scale.
This is more than double what the threshold was just a few years ago. IRCC updates the amount annually and may continue to raise it, so always confirm the current figure before applying. Showing the right funds, in the right form, from the right source, with a clear paper trail, has become a leading reason study permit applications succeed or fail.
A Post‑Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is an open work permit granted to eligible international graduates of Canadian programs. Open means you can work for almost any employer in Canada, no LMIA, no employer‑specific permit. It’s one of the most valuable tools in Canadian immigration because it lets you build the Canadian work experience you need to apply for PR through Express Entry’s Canadian Experience Class.
Key rules to know: your program must be at a PGWP‑eligible DLI; it generally must be at least 8 months long; PGWP length is tied to program length (up to 3 years); and you only get one PGWP in your lifetime. Importantly, IRCC has tightened PGWP eligibility in recent years. Many private college partnerships, short programs, and certain fields of study no longer qualify, and there are now field‑of‑study requirements tied to labour market needs for college graduates.
