Study Permits
Canada plans to issue about 408,000 study permits in 2026, roughly 7% fewer than 2025. Applications are capped by province, most need a provincial attestation letter, and the rules on what happens after graduation changed twice in two years. Getting the programme choice right at the start matters more than it used to.
There is one stream now
The Student Direct Stream closed on 8 November 2024 at 2 p.m. ET, and nothing replaced it. Every study permit application from every country is processed through the regular stream. If a website still offers you "SDS eligibility", a $10,000 GIC shortcut or 20-day SDS processing, it is describing something that has not existed for nearly two years.
Canada plans to issue about 408,000 study permits in 2026, roughly 7% fewer than 2025, with application spaces allocated by province — 32,596 of them to British Columbia.
What a current application needs
- ● A letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution.
- ● A provincial or territorial attestation letter unless exempt. In BC the institution requests it from the province and passes it to you.
- ● Proof of funds — $22,895 for a single applicant for twelve months, on top of first-year tuition and travel, in force since 1 September 2025.
- ● $150 study permit fee plus $85 biometrics.
- ● A medical exam if your stay exceeds six months and you have lived in a designated country, or will work in a health-sensitive field.
Who no longer needs an attestation letter
This changed for 2026 and catches people out in both directions.
- ● Primary and secondary students up to grade 12.
- ● Master's and doctoral students at a public institution — newly exempt from 1 January 2026, reversing the 2025 position.
- ● Students extending at the same institution and the same level.
- ● Exchange students under an institutional arrangement, and Global Affairs Canada scholarship holders.
- ● Protected persons, certain permanent residence applicants, and holders of a temporary resident permit valid six months or more.
Working, and changing schools
- ● Off-campus work is 24 hours a week during academic sessions and unlimited during scheduled breaks. A permit printed with "20 hours" is not a bar if you meet the current criteria.
- ● From 1 April 2026, post-secondary students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for a required placement of 50% or less of the programme. Secondary students still do.
- ● Changing to a different post-secondary institution requires a new study permit and a new attestation letter before you move. Switching first invalidates your permit and counts as studying without authorisation, with a possible six-month bar on reapplying.
- ● Your study permit becomes invalid 90 days after you complete your programme.
Does your programme lead anywhere?
This is the question worth answering before you accept an offer. Every study permit issued in 2026 is caught by the PGWP field-of-study rule — except that bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees are exempt regardless of field. College, polytechnic and non-degree university programmes qualify only if the CIP code is on IRCC's list, and non-credit programmes were excluded outright in June 2026. Language thresholds apply at graduation either way: CLB 7 for university programmes, CLB 5 for college.
We would rather tell you a programme is a dead end before you pay tuition than after you graduate. That conversation takes twenty minutes.
Reviewed by a licensed RCIC · Last updated 13 August 2026. Immigration rules change often — confirm anything time-sensitive with us or on canada.ca.
Outside Canada
Choosing to study in Canada is an exciting decision, opening doors to quality education and a vibrant, multicultural environment. If you are applying from outside Canada, securing a Study Permit is a critical step in your journey.
A Study Permit is an official document issued by the Canadian government that authorizes international students to legally live and study in Canada for the duration of their program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
Since SDS closed, there is one stream:
Inside Canada
While the standard procedure for obtaining a Canadian student visa is to apply from outside Canada, there are exceptions. You may be eligible to apply for a student visa while already residing in Canada or if you wish to change your college or program.
The processing time for a student visa application from inside Canada can vary depending on individual circumstances. If you need to extend your stay, you can apply for an extension from inside Canada.
Contact for Inside-Canada ApplicationBenefits of studying in Canada
- ✓ No GIC required (select streams)
- ✓ No IELTS required (select pathways)
- ✓ No PAL Letter required (select streams)
- ✓ Obtain Study Permit without leaving Canada (eligible cases)
- ✓ Eligible to work 24 hours per week off-campus once Study Permit approved (post-Sep 2024)
- ✓ Only pay 1 semester fee to start the process
- ✓ 3-year Post-Graduate Open Work Permit after completing a 2-year study program
- ✓ Gap between employment and education is acceptable
- ✓ Applicants with previous refusals can still apply with a strong case
- ✓ Age no bar: People in their late 50s have been approved
- ✓ Spouses and children can extend their stay
- ✓ Higher chance of approval with experienced RCIC representation
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Personalized Assessment
- Understanding your Canadian immigration needs and goals.
- Assessing eligibility across multiple programs.
- Recommending the best pathway for your situation.
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- Comprehensive checklist after initial payment.
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Frequently asked questions
Does the Student Direct Stream still exist?
No. SDS closed on 8 November 2024 at 2 p.m. ET and nothing replaced it. All study permit applications are now processed through the single regular stream, regardless of country. Any consultant still charging for "SDS processing" is selling something that does not exist.
How much money do I need to show?
$22,895 for a single applicant for twelve months of living costs, plus first-year tuition and travel, for study outside Quebec. That figure took effect on 1 September 2025 and IRCC revises it periodically, so confirm it before you assemble bank documents. Money you expect to earn in Canada does not count.
Can I work while I study?
Yes — 24 hours a week off campus during academic sessions, and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks, provided you are enrolled full-time in a programme of at least six months leading to a credential and your permit authorises work. On-campus work is separate.
Will my programme get me a post-graduation work permit?
If it is a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, the field of study does not matter. If it is a college diploma, certificate or non-degree university programme, it only qualifies if the CIP code is on IRCC's eligible list, and non-credit programmes are excluded. Language requirements apply either way — CLB 7 for university programmes, CLB 5 for college. Check before you enrol.
Can I switch schools after I arrive?
Not freely. Since November 2024 a post-secondary student must apply for and receive a new study permit before changing institutions, and since January 2025 that application needs a new attestation letter. Moving first invalidates your existing permit and can lead to a six-month bar on reapplying.
Still unsure how this applies to your case? Book an appointment with a licensed RCIC.
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