Study Permit (Regular Stream)
Since SDS closed in November 2024 there has been one study permit stream for everyone. That puts all the weight on the quality of the application itself — the funds trail, the programme logic and the evidence that you intend to comply with your conditions.
What goes into the application
- ● Letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution.
- ● A provincial or territorial attestation letter unless you are exempt. Master's and doctoral students at public institutions became exempt on 1 January 2026.
- ● Proof of funds: first-year tuition plus $22,895 for a single applicant, plus travel. Add $5,607 for a spouse and roughly $6,500 for a first child.
- ● Passport, photographs, and biometrics at $85.
- ● A medical exam if your stay exceeds six months and you have lived in a designated country for six consecutive months in the past year, or will work in a health-sensitive field.
- ● $150 government fee.
- ● A statement of purpose that explains why this programme, in this country, at this point in your life.
Where applications actually fail
Refusal letters are formulaic, but the reasons behind them are consistent. Funds that appear suddenly with no history behind them. A programme that does not follow from the applicant's education or work. Family ties that suggest no intention to leave at the end of studies, without anything to balance them. Or a previous refusal that was never properly addressed in the new application.
None of these is fatal on its own. All of them are far easier to deal with before submission than after.
Think one step ahead of the permit
The study permit is the easy part. What matters is whether the programme you choose leads anywhere. Bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees are exempt from the PGWP field-of-study rule. College and non-degree programmes qualify only if the CIP code is on IRCC's list, non-credit programmes are excluded outright, and the language threshold at graduation is CLB 7 for university programmes and CLB 5 for college.
A programme that is cheap and easy to get into but produces no work permit is the most expensive mistake in this whole area.
After you arrive
- ● 24 hours a week off campus during academic sessions, unlimited during scheduled breaks.
- ● No separate co-op work permit for required post-secondary placements since 1 April 2026.
- ● A new study permit and a new attestation letter before changing to a different post-secondary school — not after.
- ● A maximum of 150 days of authorised leave, with no work permitted during it.
- ● Your permit expires 90 days after you complete your programme; the PGWP window is 180 days from confirmation of completion.
Reviewed by a licensed RCIC · Last updated 13 August 2026. Immigration rules change often — confirm anything time-sensitive with us or on canada.ca.
Looking for related services? See our full Study Permits overview or all services.
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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.
- Answering all questions and addressing concerns.
Tailored Approach
- Custom Canadian immigration plan suited to you.
- Clear proposal outlining services and payment structure: 50% before processing, 50% before submission.
- Comprehensive checklist after initial payment.
Application Fulfillment
- Dedicated case manager assigned to your file.
- Strong application prepared within 7–10 business days.
- Review and final approval before submission.
Trusted Partnership
- Kept informed at every stage from submission to decision.
- Ongoing support and guidance until you reach your goals.
- Available for status updates at any time.
Ready to take the next step?
Book an appointment with our licensed RCIC team. We'll review your case, identify your best pathway, and outline the next steps.
Frequently asked questions
Is the regular stream slower than SDS was?
It can be, and it is less predictable. IRCC publishes processing times by country and updates them weekly — currently ranging from about a week for some offices to several months for others. Apply early for your intake and make sure biometrics and medicals do not become the bottleneck.
How much money do I need to show?
$22,895 for a single applicant for twelve months, plus first-year tuition and travel, for study outside Quebec. Add roughly $5,600 for an accompanying spouse. What matters as much as the amount is the trail: funds that have been in place for a while, from a source you can document, are worth more than a large balance that appeared last week.
Do I need a provincial attestation letter?
Most applicants do. You are exempt if you are studying at primary or secondary level, are in a master's or doctoral programme at a public institution as of 1 January 2026, are extending at the same school and same level, or fall into one of several status-based exemptions. In BC, the institution requests the letter from the province and gives it to you.
I was refused before. Can I reapply?
Yes, and there is no waiting period. But reapplying without addressing what caused the refusal usually produces the same result. Get the officer's notes where possible, work out what actually failed, and rebuild the application around it. That is a proper piece of work, not a resubmission.
Can my spouse come with me?
Only for certain programmes. Since January 2025 a spousal open work permit is available to spouses of students in a master's programme of 16 months or longer, a doctoral programme, an eligible pilot, or specified professional degrees. Spouses of college and shorter master's students are not eligible. Dependent children are not eligible either.
Still unsure how this applies to your case? Book an appointment with a licensed RCIC.
More Study Permit services
Other pathways we handle in this area — or talk to a licensed RCIC about which fits your case.
Waymark runs on the Nova System platform — built in Abbotsford, BC by practising RCICs.