Study in Canada
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Foreign nationals are required to obtain a study permit for engaging in academic, professional, vocational or other education or training that is more than 6 months in duration at a Designated Learning Institute (DLI) in Canada.
The following activities are not considered studies for the purposes of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and do not require a study permit:
Foreign nationals are not required to obtain student visa if they are want to enroll in;
Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot Program
The Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) is a temporary-residence-to-permanent-residence pathway for certain French-speaking international students who are seeking to study in French at select post-secondary designated learning institutions (DLI) located outside Quebec. FMCSP participants and accompanying family members will have access to IRCC-funded settlement services during their studies.
Nationals of following countries are eligible to participate in this program.
Africa
Bénin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, ,Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tomé et Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Togo, Tunisia
Middle East
Egypt, Lebanon
Americas
Dominica, Haiti, Saint Lucia
Designated Learning Institute (DLI)
The issuance of study permits is limited to applicants who have been accepted to undertake a program of study at an educational institution that is designated to host international students (a designated learning institution (DLI), and, in the case of post-secondary DLIs, whose acceptance has been confirmed by the DLI.
Subject to certain exceptions, study permit applications, including renewals, must include a letter of acceptance (LOA) issued by a DLI.
Study Permit for a Minor Child
Minor children already in Canada are authorized to study without a study permit at the pre-school, primary or secondary level if,
Minor children intending to study are required to apply for a study permit before entering Canada. It should be noted that minor children of a temporary resident (visitor) who is not authorized to work or study require a study permit to study in Canada.
Letter of Acceptance
Foreign nationals are required to submit an Letter of Acceptance (LOA) in order to establish acceptance to a DLI.
The following list of items should be included in the LOA from the DLI submitted by the applicant at the time of their study permit application:
Provincial Attestation Letter
Provinces and territories (PTs) are allocated a portion of the total study permit cap which they can distribute to designated learning institutions in their jurisdiction. PAL is a letter provided by the PT where the applicant plans to study confirming that the applicant has been assigned 1 of the spaces allocated to the PT.
Spouses and Common Law Partners of Study Permit Holders in Canada
As of January 21, 2025, only spouses of principal foreign nationals in doctorate programs, certain eligible programs or professional programs, and master’s programs of 16 months or longer are eligible for an open work permit.

