Apply for a Canadian study permit

A step-by-step walkthrough of applying for a study permit to study at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada. It covers the letter of acceptance, the provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL), proof of funds, where you can apply from, the online application with the IMM 1294 form, biometrics, and what happens after approval, including the port of entry letter of introduction.

Who it is for: Foreign nationals who have been, or expect to be, accepted by a DLI and want a study permit for the first time.

15 steps in order, a checklist of 19 documents, what to write in each form field and the mistakes IRCC warns about, each linked to the official page it comes from. Last checked against IRCC’s pages on November 3, 2026. General information, not legal advice.

The complete walkthrough is also published as a page that opens without JavaScript.

Start with a free Canadian citizenship practice test or practice test 2: twenty questions each, answers explained, no account needed.

All 52 practice exams, every Discover Canada study chapter, the calculators, the travel log and official updates are free. There is no account: your plan stays in your browser.

Explore our preparation guides, including CLB 9 in CELPIP and your CRS score and NCLC 7 in TEF Canada and your CRS score. Guides open without an account or JavaScript.

Study for the citizenship test with notes on every Discover Canada chapter, or read the Express Entry draw history: every recorded round, category and CRS cut-off.

Applying? Follow a step-by-step walkthrough of your IRCC application, from Express Entry and work or study permits to citizenship, with every point linked to the official page.