Step 3: Applying for a study permit
The study permit is issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It is a document granting legal status in Canada. You must apply for it before coming to Canada.
You can apply for a study permit as soon as you receive letter attesting to the issuance of your Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) for studies. The application for a study permit must be submitted online on the IRCC website.
Items to have on hand when applying:
Valid passport;
Letter of admission from your educational institution in Québec, providing contact information and details about your program of study (scanned copy);
Letter attesting to the issuance of your CAQ;
Proof of financial capacity;
Two (2) recent passport-size photos;
Valid credit card (e.g., Visa, MasterCard or American Express) to pay the $150 fee.
The application for a study permit is most often made from your country of residence, but some people may also apply directly at their Canadian port of entry. See Applying for a study permit at the port of entry.
To find out what constitutes a valid passport, see the Passport section.
To find out how to submit proof of financial capacity, see the Financial capacity section.
For information about how to apply for a study permit, see the Applying for a study permit section.
To find out who is not required to apply for a study permit, see the Study permit exemptions section.
To find out what happens after you apply for a study permit, see the After applying for a study permit section.