Study Visa

Study permit

As of January 22, 2024, most students must include a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from the province or territory where they plan to study with their study permit application. In most cases, if you apply without a PAL, your application will be returned with fees.

This attestation will serve as proof that the student has been accounted for under a provincial or territorial allocation within the national cap. Provinces and territories have been asked to have a plan in place for issuing PALs by March 31, 2024. The Government of Canada is working with the Government of Quebec to determine how the certificat d’acceptation du Québec pour études could serve as a PAL.

Who needs a provincial attestation letter

  • most post-secondary study permit applicants
  • most non-degree granting graduate programs (for example, certificate programs and graduate diplomas)
  • anyone else not included in the exception list below

Who doesn’t need a provincial attestation letter

  • primary and secondary school students
  • master’s or doctoral degree students
  • in-Canada visiting or exchange students studying at a designated learning institution Corrected on February 27, 2024
  • in-Canada study permit and work permit holders (includes study permit holders applying for an extension)
  • in-Canada family members of study permit or work permit holders
  • students whose application we received before 8:30 a.m. EST on January 22, 2024

LINK:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit.html

Qualifying international students, who wish to pursue further studies in Canada, must apply for a Study Permit. Prospective students will need to choose a designated institution in Canada to apply to and ensure that they fulfil the requirements of both the institution as well as the federal government in order to receive an endorsement as a student in Canada.

Financial Requirement for Students

The financial requirement for students who wish to pursue studies in Canada has changed on the 1st of January 2024. It clearly indicates an increased financial requirement. This new requirement applies to all provinces except Quebec. 

Before the 1st of January 2024 the financial requirement was CAN$10 000 for the student, CAN$4 000 for the first family member and CAN$3 000 for each additional family member.

Please see below the current amended financial requirement for a study visa to Canada:

 Minimum funds needed to support yourself as a student (and family members who come with you)

Applicant + family members
Amount required per year (not including tuition)
1CAN$20,635
2CAN$25,690
3CAN$31,583
4CAN$38,346
5CAN$43,492
6CAN$49,051
7CAN$54,611
If more than 7 people, each additional family memberCAN$5,559
Example:

If you and 2 family members want to come to a province (other than Quebec) for a year, you will need $31,583 for living expenses.

LINK:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents.html#attestation

Each application for a study visa to Canada is unique and has a specific checklist tailored to the applicant who is applying. Each applicant is different and therefore will have a slightly different set of documents that will be required from them. The basic documents to apply for a study visa remain the same for most applications. These include documents like: 

  • Acceptance Letter from the Institution, 
  • Provincial Attestation Letter from the respective province
  • Proof of Financial Means from the student