Bringing your family to Canada

Your spouse or common-law partner and/or your dependent children might be able to live with you in Canada during your studies. In most cases, they should apply at the same time as you for their own temporary resident visa or electronic travel authorization.

Your spouse might also be eligible to apply for an open work permit while you’re studying. Learn more about open work permits for spouses.

You must apply for your study permit before coming to Canada, and it must be approved while you are outside the country. Submit your application as soon as you receive both your Letter of Admission and Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) (if required).

Note: As of January 1, 2026, master’s and PhD students will be exempt from the provincial attestation letter (PAL) requirement.

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or a resident of Greenland or St. Pierre and Miquelon, you may apply for your study permit upon entry into Canada, either at a Canada–U.S. border crossing or at a Canadian airport upon arrival. 

In order to generate this list of additional documents:

• Visit the IRCC webpage for paper applications and select your country/territory from the drop-down menu.
• Then select Get documents. This will give you access to the application package for applicants from your country.
• Click Visa office instructions. This will launch a document checklist in pdf format, specifying the requirements from your visa office.

Any additional country-specific documents must be uploaded into the “Client Information” section of the document checklist for your study permit application.

Provincial attestation letter (PAL)

Unless you are exempt, you must include a provincial attestation letter (PAL) when applying to IRCC for a study permit.

A provincial attestation letter is an official document issued by the government of a Canadian province to confirm that an international student has been accepted for admission to a post-secondary institution in that province.

Note: Study permit applications for master’s and PhD programs submitted on or after January 1, 2026, will not require a PAL.

Proof of funds

When you apply for a study permit, you must demonstrate that you can financially support yourself and any accompanying family members during your stay in Canada. You must show proof of financial support, which includes a minimum amount of funds per year, along with funding for your tuition fees for your first year of studies and travel expenses.

Generally, you should show that you have liquid assets or readily accessible funds. While you are only required to prove you have sufficient funds for your first year of studies (including your tuition fees and living costs), the visa officer will also assess whether you are likely to have adequate financial resources for the remaining years of your studies.

Study plan

We recommend including a study plan in your application. This helps the visa officer understand why you want to pursue post-secondary studies in Canada and how these studies align with your personal and professional goals.

Your study permit is the document that authorizes you to study and work in Canada. You will also require a temporary resident visa (TRV) or an electronic travel authorization (eTA), depending on your country of nationality, which will allow you to travel to Canada.

Note: U.S. citizens are visa exempt and will not require an entry visa or an eTA to travel to Canada.

When you apply for a study permit from outside Canada, you won’t need to apply separately for a TRV or an eTA. If your study permit application is approved, IRCC will automatically issue you an entry visa or an eTA. 

There is no guarantee that IRCC will approve your study permit application. If your application is refused, you will receive a letter from IRCC explaining the reasons for the refusal. Here are your options:

Reapply for a study permit

• Carefully read the reasons for refusal provided by IRCC. If you believe you can address these, you may submit a new application.
• Prepare a new Letter of Explanation and a Study Plan that addresses the refusal reasons and explains your academic goals, ties to your home country, and future plans.
• Request a new Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL), if applicable, by emailing [email protected] and include proof of your refusal. Please note that the requirement to provide a PAL does not apply to master’s and PhD applicants.

Drop courses before the reimbursement deadline
If you receive a refusal before the deadline to withdraw from courses and receive a financial credit (minus administrative fees), you can drop your courses and request a refund.

Important: Your admission deposit is non-refundable except if your study permit application is rejected by IRCC. To qualify for a refund, you must provide proof of refusal and request the refund by the last day to enrol for the term in which you were scheduled to start. 

The immigration information on this page has been reviewed and endorsed by Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) or Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs). While we aim to keep it accurate, it could change without notice. Always refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the most up-to-date information.