Student Visas in Canada
Studying there, and whether study leads to residency
A Canadian study permit is now harder to get than it was: numbers are capped, a provincial attestation letter is required, and the proof-of-funds threshold was more than doubled. It remains the single most reliable pathway to permanent residence for people under 30.
| Permit name | Study permit source |
| Application fee | CAD 150 |
| Proof of funds | Roughly CAD 20,600 per year beyond tuition, outside Quebec |
| Post-study work | Up to 3 years, if the programme is eligible source |
What you need before you apply
- A letter of acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution — not every school qualifies, and studying at a non-designated one voids the whole plan.
- A Provincial Attestation Letter from the province, introduced in 2024 as part of the cap. Most applicants now need one and the province issues a limited number.
- Proof of funds covering tuition plus living costs for the first year.
- A study plan explaining why this programme, in this country, given your background — the most common refusal reason is failing to convince the officer of this.
- Proof you will leave if the permit is not extended. This coexists awkwardly with wanting to immigrate, and phrasing matters.
The post-graduation work permit trap
The post-graduation work permit is the point of the whole exercise: it is an open permit that lets you accumulate the Canadian work experience that the points system rewards most.
Eligibility narrowed sharply in 2024–25. Programmes at many private colleges no longer qualify, and for several categories the field of study must appear on a published eligible list. Some students discovered this after enrolling, and the permit is not discretionary — if the programme does not qualify, there is no appeal.
Confirm eligibility of the specific programme, at the specific institution, in writing, before paying any deposit.
Working while you study
Study permit holders may work off-campus during term, with the weekly cap having moved between 20 and 24 hours in recent policy changes, and full-time during scheduled breaks. Exceeding the cap is a status violation and has been used as grounds for refusing later applications.
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Official sources
Checked against these pages in September 2026. Fees and processing times change without notice — confirm before you act.