Apply for Your Study Permit
There is an outside Canada and an in-Canada process for study permit applications. Most newly-admitted students must follow the outside Canada application process. The in-Canada application process is primarily available for those who are in Canada with a study permit or work permit (including their dependents) as well as exchange and visiting students studying without a study permit.
A study permit is not a travel document and does not authorize entry or re-entry into Canada on its own. You may also require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
Where To Apply
New in 2024
Changes to minimum financial requirements
For study permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2024, the minimum annual amount for living expenses for an individual international student is now $20,635CAD. More details are available in the Standard Required Documents section below.
Provincial Attestation letter (PAL)
Initial study permit applications submitted after January 22, 2024, for undergraduate studies must now include a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL).
Master’s and PhD program students are exempt from this requirement.
The tool below can be used to determine whether you require a PAL or whether you are exempt.
Do I need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) for my study permit application?
Admitted students who require a PAL can find information about how to acquire the attestation letter inside their Join U of T Portal account. More details are available in the Standard Required Documents section below.
If you are in Canada with a study permit or work permit, you are considered a protected person, or you are a dependent of someone in Canada with a study permit or work permit, you can apply within Canada. Exchange and visiting students that extend their studies beyond 6 months may also be eligible, even if they don’t have an initial study permit (full list).
If you don’t fit these categories, your application will need to be processed outside Canada (even if you’re already in Canada).
Important note on applying for SP inside Canada
Unlike with an application made outside Canada, if your citizenship requires you to have a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to be able to enter Canada, you’ll need to make a separate application if you want to request one. This should only be done after the study permit is approved. For more information, consult our pages on Entry visa and eTA.
Register for a live Question and Answer session (Requires logging-in with JOINid/UTORid)
Frequently Asked Questions
Estimated processing times give an idea of how long an application could take to be processed. If something outside of your control makes urgent processing important, you can contact IRCC through their web form to ask if it is possible. It may take up to two weeks to get a response. Note: Use the ‘Update or ask about your application’ option and then the ‘Other’ section, as the ‘Ask for urgent processing for your permanent resident card’ section doesn’t include study/work permits.
If you already have status in Canada, and have applied from within Canada for a new permit, you can remain in Canada under ‘maintained status’ (formerly known as ‘implied status’) while you wait for an answer. While you can remain in Canada, you cannot necessarily begin studying until the permit is issued. Only those already in Canada on a study permit or exchange students transitioning from visitor to student status can begin studying while waiting for a decision to be made on their application. If the application is refused, you must stop studying immediately.
If you applied outside Canada, you generally need to wait until your application is approved to travel to Canada. Even those who may be allowed to travel to Canada as a visitor are encouraged to wait and only travel to Canada after the study permit is approved and the Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is issued (if required).
Only citizens or permanent residents of the United States and residents of Greenland, or St. Pierre and Miquelon are eligible to apply at a port-of-entry.
If you applied through the in-Canada application process, from within Canada you can remain in Canada under maintained status.
Each section will only allow one file to be uploaded. You will need to use software to merge the documents into a single file that is an acceptable format (ie. PDF) and fits within the file size limits.
IRCC provides instructions for doing so in their Help Centre.
Every refusal is accompanied by a letter that gives some information about the reason for the decision. If you need help understanding it, and your next steps, you can book an appointment with an International Student Immigration Advisor.
Check out our Resources page for more support.