Study Permit Lawyer: Study in Canada

Who needs a study permit

Most foreign nationals need a study permit to study in Canada. Under section 188(1)(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, a person may study without a permit if the course or program is six months or less and will be completed within the period of stay authorized on entry. IRCC also lists other groups who do not need a permit, so check before you decide.

The legal test for a study permit

Section 216(1) of the Regulations says an officer shall issue a study permit if, after examination, it is established that the person applied for it in accordance with the Regulations; will leave Canada by the end of the period authorized for their stay; meets the requirements of the Part; meets the medical examination requirements where applicable; and has been accepted to undertake a course or program of study at a designated learning institution, with the confirmation from a post-secondary institution that the Regulations require.

IRCC lists the practical requirements: you must be enrolled at a DLI; prove you have enough money for tuition, living expenses and return transportation; obey the law, have no criminal record and obtain a police certificate if required; be in good health and get a medical exam if required; and prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your permit expires.

Fees and timing

IRCC lists the study permit fee as $150 (page updated April 2026). Processing times vary by country, and you should apply before you travel. Requirements, fees and processing times change, so check IRCC for the current information.

Working while you study

IRCC says you can only start working when your study program starts. To work off campus without a work permit, you must generally be a full-time student at a DLI, have started your program, be enrolled in a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional program that is at least six months long and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate, hold a study permit with work conditions, and have a social insurance number.

During regular school terms you may work up to 24 hours per week off campus, and during scheduled breaks, such as summer and winter holidays, you may work unlimited hours off campus. IRCC says you must not work before your program starts or while you are on an authorized leave. Working without authorization has serious consequences, including loss of status and inadmissibility. Check IRCC's current rules, because limits have changed in recent years.

Conditions of a study permit

• You must make progress toward completing your program.
• You must respect all conditions on your permit, such as where you may study and whether you may work.
• You must stop studying if you no longer meet the requirements.
• If you change schools at the post-secondary level, you need to follow IRCC's instructions.
• You must leave Canada by the date on your permit unless you extend or change status.

Post-graduation work permit (PGWP)

IRCC says you may be able to stay and work after you graduate with a post-graduation work permit. Eligibility depends on three sets of requirements: general eligibility, requirements based on your study program (which may include language or field of study requirements), and requirements based on your location. Check the PGWP requirements before you choose a program, and confirm that the DLI and program are PGWP-eligible. A PGWP can later support an application for permanent residence, but it does not guarantee one.

Extending your permit and keeping status

Apply to extend your study permit before it expires. IRCC says you can continue to work off campus if you applied to extend your permit before it expired, if you meet the other conditions. If you lose status, section 182 of the Regulations allows an officer to restore the status of a student who applies within 90 days after losing it, if the initial requirements are met and other conditions were not breached. Restoration is not automatic, and a student who is not in compliance with certain conditions in section 220.1(1) cannot be restored.

If your study permit is refused

Refusals often say the officer was not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your studies, that your funds are sufficient, or that your plan makes sense. Options include reapplying with stronger evidence or asking the Federal Court for leave to commence judicial review within 15 days for a matter arising in Canada or 60 days for a matter arising outside Canada. Study permit refusals are not appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division. See what to do after a visa or permit refusal.

Charged with a crime while on a study permit

A criminal charge can affect a study permit, a PGWP or a future application, even if the sentence is small. See our page for international students charged with a crime and our page on criminal charges and immigration status. Do not plead guilty before the immigration consequences have been reviewed.

How we can help

We review your plan and documents, prepare a complete study permit or extension application, advise on working rights and the PGWP, respond to IRCC requests, and act where a refusal needs a legal challenge. We meet students and families in English, Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. We cannot promise that IRCC will approve an application.