This Canada study permit documents checklist covers what IRCC asks for in 2027. Applying from outside Canada for a 2027 intake? Start with your school’s letter of acceptance, your passport, evidence of first-year funding, and a valid provincial or territorial attestation letter if required.
For Quebec, check the separate Quebec Acceptance Certificate rules. Your IRCC account and the visa office instructions for your country determine the forms and additional evidence to upload. IRCC document checklist
What does Canada’s 2027 immigration plan mean for study permit applicants?
Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan targets 150,000 new international student arrivals in 2027, compared with 155,000 planned for 2026. The earlier plan already projected 150,000 for 2027. The new plan carries that figure through 2029. It counts new arrivals.
Students are about 40 percent of the 370,000 new temporary resident arrivals planned for each year, and IRCC lists the 2028 and 2029 figures as notional, to be confirmed or adjusted by November 1 next year.
Provincial application allocations, permit extensions and the documents required for your own application are separate questions. 2027–2029 levels plan · Previous levels plan
For a January 2027 course, the date you submit matters. If you apply in December, check that your attestation is valid that day and matches your school. If your filing slips into January, check the new cap-year instructions before using the same letter.
A 2027 start date alone does not determine which letter or financial threshold applies. IRCC attestation rules and exemptions
Which documents should I prepare for a Canadian study permit?
IRCC asks for seven groups of documents when you apply from outside Canada:
- Letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution.
- Provincial or territorial attestation letter, or a Quebec Acceptance Certificate if you will study in Quebec.
- Proof of identity: the passport information page and two passport-size photos.
- Proof of funds for the first year, covering you and anyone coming with you.
- Application forms and the payment receipt.
- Letter of explanation, also called a study plan.
- Conditional documents: medical exam, police certificate, custody or consent evidence, and certified translations where your visa office asks for them.
| Document | Who needs it and what to check |
|---|---|
| Letter of acceptance (LOA) | Normally required. Confirm the designated learning institution (DLI), campus, tuition, start date and registration deadline. Check IRCC’s limited exceptions if accompanying a family member. |
| PAL, TAL or Quebec documents | Most applicants need a provincial or territorial attestation letter. If exempt, supply evidence of the exemption. For Quebec, check whether you also need a CAQ. |
| Identity and photos | Supply the passport information page for each accompanying applicant. Follow the photo specifications in your personal checklist. A permit generally cannot extend beyond passport expiry. |
| Financial support | Show available first-year tuition, living and travel funds for the student and accompanying family. Explain how later years will be financed. |
| Application forms and fees | Use the outside-Canada application and the family information, representative or relationship forms requested for your circumstances. Keep the payment receipt. |
| Study plan | IRCC recommends a letter explaining why you chose the program and how you will meet your responsibilities. Connect the plan to your education, work history and funding. |
| Conditional documents | Check local instructions for medical, police, custody, consent and translation requirements. Biometrics are generally provided after IRCC issues instructions. |
IRCC document checklist · IRCC application guide
Will my school have to verify my acceptance letter?
If you are still choosing a school, our school matching page and the PGWP eligible fields finder are worth checking before you accept an offer.
For postsecondary applications, check the institution on IRCC’s designated learning institution list and upload the LOA in its own field. IRCC asks the school to verify it. If the school misses the verification deadline, IRCC can return the application and refund the processing fee.
If your start date has changed, ask admissions for updated documents before you submit. IRCC document checklist
Do I need a PAL, TAL or CAQ for 2027?
Ask your school how it issues the provincial or territorial attestation and check the deadline printed on it. Under current instructions, exemptions include primary and secondary students, students in qualifying master’s or doctoral degree programs at public DLIs, and certain extensions at the same school and level of study.
A graduate certificate and a master’s degree are different credentials. Verify your exact program and the rules in force on your filing date. IRCC attestation rules and exemptions
For Quebec, most students need the provincial attestation of issuance of a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ). Where a federal attestation is required, the Quebec document must contain the required wording. A federal PAL exemption alone does not establish a Quebec CAQ exemption.
Follow the upload instructions for both requirements. Degree-granting master’s and doctoral programs at public institutions are exempt from the attestation requirement.
A new letter is usually needed if you change schools or level of study, while a same-school, same-level study permit extension does not need one. As of November 2026, IRCC has not published attestation instructions for a 2027 cap year. IRCC attestation rules and exemptions · Quebec requirements
How much proof of funds do I need?
Add first-year tuition, one year of living expenses and transportation to and from Canada. These funds must be available without relying on work in Canada. For a longer program, also explain how you will finance the remaining years. Our guide to what IRCC officers check on proof of funds covers how the source and history of the money are assessed.
The following living-expense figures apply outside Quebec to applications received on or after September 1, 2026. Check the effective date again before filing in 2027. IRCC proof-of-funds table
| People coming, including the student | One year of living expenses outside Quebec (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $23,448 |
| 2 | $29,192 |
| 3 | $35,888 |
| 4 | $43,572 |
| 5 | $49,419 |
| 6 | $55,736 |
| 7 | $62,054 |
| Each additional person | $6,318 |
Example. A student applying alone to an Ontario program with CAD 15,000 in first-year tuition needs to account for CAD 38,448 plus travel. If CAD 5,000 of tuition is already paid, attach the school receipt and show how you will cover the remaining CAD 33,448 plus travel.
A student coming with a spouse and one child uses the three-person living amount before adding tuition and family transportation. IRCC proof-of-funds table
Quebec publishes a separate basic-needs schedule. Its figure for one person is CAD 24,617 for applications under the schedule effective January 1, 2026. For a 2027 Quebec filing, consult the provincial table for the applicable date and add tuition and other required costs. Quebec study costs
Make the source of each amount easy to trace. For a parent-funded application, provide the support letter, proof of relationship, evidence of the parent’s income and records showing access to the funds. Match tuition receipts to transfers.
A scholarship letter should show the amount and period covered. A guaranteed investment certificate is one acceptable form of evidence. IRCC also lists bank statements and education loans. IRCC proof-of-funds table
Which additional documents depend on my circumstances?
Medical exam and police certificate. Medical requirements depend on residence or travel history, length of stay and planned work, including certain health-care placements. Use an IRCC panel physician if an immigration medical exam is required. Provide a police certificate when required by the local visa office or requested by IRCC. IRCC application guide
Minors. IRCC’s guidance for minor students says a child under 17 coming without a parent or legal guardian must have a custodian in Canada. From age 17 to the provincial age of majority, an officer can require one. Where needed, submit both notarized parts of IMM 5646. IRCC guidance for minor students
Translations and family forms. Follow the guide for English or French translations, translator affidavits where applicable and certified copies. Have each accompanying family member complete the forms appropriate to their own status. Use the form numbers in your personalized checklist and local instructions. IRCC application guide
Fees and biometrics. The study permit application fee is CAD 150. When biometrics are required, the standard fee is CAD 85 per person or up to CAD 170 for an eligible family applying together. Check existing biometrics validity and follow the deadline in your biometric instruction letter. IRCC fee schedule · IRCC application guide
What should I check before submitting?
Compare the passport spelling, program title, tuition, campus and dates across the forms, acceptance letter, attestation and study plan. Reconcile each tuition payment with your remaining balance. Read the local checklist once more, open every uploaded file to confirm it is legible, and save the submitted package and receipt.
A missing required attestation can lead to a returned application and a processing-fee refund. A complete application can still be refused if the officer is unsatisfied about available funds or whether you will leave at the end of your authorized stay.
A return for missing documents and a refusal after assessment call for different responses. IRCC attestation rules and exemptions · IRCC application guide
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a 2026 PAL for a January 2027 course?
Check when you will submit. A valid 2026 letter may support a 2026 filing for a later course start. A letter for the 2026 cap year expires no later than December 31, 2026. For a 2027 filing, verify the applicable instructions and obtain a current letter if required.
Is CAD 23,448 enough for a Canadian study permit?
CAD 23,448 covers one year of living expenses for one person outside Quebec under the schedule effective September 1, 2026. Add first-year tuition and transportation. Quebec uses its own amounts.
Does the 150,000 student target tell me my chance of approval?
No. It is a national target for new international student arrivals in 2027. IRCC assesses your eligibility and evidence individually.
Do I need to buy a GIC before applying?
IRCC lists a guaranteed investment certificate among several ways to document funds. Check your visa office instructions and choose evidence that shows the money is available to you.
Do all students in Quebec need both a CAQ and a PAL?
Most students need a CAQ. When a federal attestation is also required, the Quebec attestation of CAQ issuance can serve that purpose if it contains the required wording. Check the provincial and federal exemptions separately.
For help reviewing the documents for your intake, see our Canadian study permit service or read how a permit can lead to permanent residence. To have your own package checked before you file, Book Your Strategy Consultation.
