Study Permit Canada: Requirements, Proof of Funds, and How to Apply (2026)

A study permit is the IRCC document that authorizes most international students to study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada for a program longer than six months. If you are researching a study permit Canada application in 2026, you need more than a letter of acceptance. Officers also weigh financial capacity, purpose of study, and whether you will leave when your authorized stay ends (or change status lawfully).

Per IRCC’s notice on 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap, Canada expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026, including 155,000 for newly arriving international students (plus extensions for current and returning students). Treat this as a national planning figure, not a personal quota.

Most post-secondary applicants still need a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) unless they fall under an exemption. As of January 1, 2026, IRCC’s allocations notice states that master’s and doctoral students enrolled at public DLIs do not need a PAL/TAL. Other exempt groups named in that notice include primary and secondary (K–12) students, certain Government of Canada priority and vulnerable cohorts, and existing study permit holders extending at the same DLI and same level of study. Quebec-bound students follow the CAQ process in addition to the federal study permit.

IRCC updates living-expense minimums annually. For applications submitted on or after September 1, 2026, a single applicant studying outside Quebec must show CAD $23,448 in living expenses for the first year, plus tuition and transportation. Applications submitted before that date used the prior table (single applicant outside Quebec: CAD $22,895).

The Student Direct Stream (SDS) ended on November 8, 2024. New study permit applications use the regular stream. A GIC can still appear among acceptable proof-of-funds documents on IRCC’s list, but it does not reopen SDS.

After you graduate from an eligible program, you may qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). PGWP eligibility depends on school, program length and level, and current IRCC field-of-study rules for certain programs. Confirm before you enrol if Canadian work experience after graduation is part of your plan.

Family-size rows and evidence detail: Canada study permit proof of funds 2026.

Already studying in Canada? See where to find your study permit document number, and, if you get a post-graduation work permit, your work permit document number. Planning permanent residence with a degree from outside Canada? Start with our WES credential evaluation (ECA) guide.