This information is for orientation only. IRCC can update requirements, proof-of-funds rules, work limits, and programs without a predictable schedule. Always check the official page and the instructions in your IRCC account before applying.
Bureaucracy roadmap
DLI admission → IRCC documents → Québec pathway if relevant → study permit approval → arrival in Canada → SIN → renewals / PGWP
A DLI is a Designated Learning Institution allowed to host international students. Admission does not replace the study permit: it is a key document in the IRCC application.
Student checklist before applying
- Letter of acceptance: check name, program, campus, dates, and DLI number.
- Passport: aim for validity covering the full study plan where possible.
- Proof of funds: use IRCC amounts and accepted formats on the date you apply.
- Study plan explanation: explain why this program fits and how you will fund it.
- Biometrics / medical exam: only when required by IRCC instructions for your profile.
- Québec: if the campus is in Québec, verify the provincial pathway and dedicated timing.
Main documents and decisions
| Item | Purpose | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Letter of acceptance | Base document for the study permit | Must come from a DLI and match your chosen program |
| Study permit | Authorizes study in Canada | Read the printed conditions when you arrive |
| TRV / eTA | Travel document, if required | Does not replace a study permit |
| SIN | Needed for work and many tax processes | Apply through Service Canada only if you are allowed to work |
| CAQ / Québec pathway | Provincial step for study in Québec | Check Québec and IRCC instructions because they are distinct |
Verified: July 2026 — IRCC — Study permit
Arrival in Canada: check before leaving the airport
- Show documents: passport, IRCC letter, university letter, and proof of funds if requested.
- Receive the study permit: check name, expiry date, institution, and work conditions.
- Photograph and save copies: upload them securely and keep an offline copy.
- Report to the university: many international offices must verify status and insurance.
- Plan SIN and banking: once you have a temporary address and sufficient documents.
Social Insurance Number (SIN)
The SIN is a personal number to protect. It is used to be paid, file taxes, and access some financial processes. It is not a general ID document.
| Step | Prepare | Mistake to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Online or Service Canada application | Passport, study permit with work authorization, address | Using unreadable scans or expired documents |
| Sharing | Only employer, bank, CRA, or authorized bodies | Sending it by insecure chat or to unknown landlords |
| Expiry | Aligned with temporary status | Forgetting to update it after permit renewal |
Renewal, program changes, and PGWP
- Study permit renewal: start with a buffer, especially if passport or proof of funds must be updated.
- Changing institution or program: do not assume it is neutral; check current IRCC instructions.
- PGWP: the Post-Graduation Work Permit has requirements on institution, program, duration, and timing. Rules have changed more than once: verify before choosing a course or taking a break.
Québec: distinct pathway
| Scenario | What changes | Source to check |
|---|---|---|
| Campus in Québec | Dedicated provincial steps and documents | Government of Québec + IRCC |
| French / integration | Services, forms, and programs may use different terminology | Official Québec portals |
| After studies | Some immigration pathways are separate from federal programs | Québec immigration and IRCC |
Complete 2026 study-permit file
Before paying non-refundable tuition, check four separate points: the institution is a DLI, the campus matches the letter of acceptance, the programme actually requires a study permit, and the programme may qualify for a PGWP. Admission to a DLI does not make every programme PGWP-eligible. Keep dated evidence from the official register and the refund policy.
The application may require the letter of acceptance, passport, photographs, financial evidence, an explanation letter, biometrics, a medical examination or police certificates. Check whether a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter applies. From 1 January 2026, applicants to degree-granting master’s or doctoral programmes at public institutions are exempt from PAL/TAL, but that exemption must not be extended to other programmes. Quebec retains its separate CAQ process.
Financial evidence must cover tuition, living costs and travel without relying on future unauthorised work. Use the IRCC amount in force on the application date and document the source and genuine availability of the money.
Submission, entry and maintained status
An approval letter is not the study permit. For an overseas application, the permit is normally printed at the port of entry. Immediately check identity details, expiry and work conditions. A TRV or eTA is a travel document and does not replace student status.
If you apply to extend before expiry and remain in Canada, maintained status may apply under its conditions. Keep the complete application and timestamped receipt. Leaving Canada while the application is pending can change what you may do after returning; the receipt is not a new permit.
Changing DLI, interruptions and PGWP
Changing post-secondary institutions is no longer merely a portal update: check whether a new study permit is required before attending the new DLI. During an authorised leave, deferral, suspension or period without study, work rights may stop even when the permit contains general wording.
For the PGWP, verify the institution and programme, duration and mode of study, full-time record, leave periods, completion date, application deadline, language requirement and, where applicable, field of study. After completion, do not automatically continue under the 24-hour rule. Full-time work while a PGWP is pending requires a timely application made while the study permit was valid and prior compliance with off-campus work rules.
Minors, family and authorised advice
For minors, check custodianship, provincial age of majority and notarised documents. A spouse or common-law partner does not automatically qualify for an open work permit; eligibility depends on the principal student’s programme and the rules in force. If you pay for immigration help, verify the representative in the applicable Canadian regulator’s register.
Official links
Sources
If someone promises guaranteed visas, shortcuts or secured work, verify credentials and the process through IRCC before paying.
Study and work conditions can change. Follow your IRCC document and official pages, not rules remembered by other students.
Quick reference
Canadian administration is split between federal and provincial systems. IRCC manages visas and study permits, Service Canada issues the SIN, while provinces and campuses handle health cards, driving, schools and local services.
Universities and pathways
Choosing the program
Confirm that the school and program are eligible for international students and that the offer aligns with current IRCC requirements. Keep the admission letter, receipts and official registrar communications.
- IRCC
- DLI
- campus
Academic documents
Translations, transcripts and credential assessment depend on the university, professional body or province. Academic admission does not automatically mean licensing for a regulated profession.
First documents
Arrival file
SIN and identity
Apply for the SIN only through Service Canada channels. Use it for work and tax purposes, not as a generic ID to send to third parties.
Registration and permit
After entry
Check immediately that your name, dates and conditions on the IRCC document are correct. If something is wrong, use the official correction process rather than waiting for the next deadline.
Province and city
Health cards, driver licences, school boards, transit cards and municipal services vary locally. Start with the province website and the campus or city newcomer desk.