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 and 2025
Provincial Attestation letter (PAL) Tool
As of January 22, 2025, most study permit applications will require a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL).
The tool below can be used to determine whether you require a PAL or whether you are exempt. It is as accurate as possible, but Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) always makes the final decision about who requires a PAL and who is exempt.
The official PAL exemption list is available at the IRCC website here.
“Where Should I Get My PAL?”
Newly-admitted undergraduate students who require a PAL can find information about how to get their attestation letter through the University Registrar’s Office.
Newly-admitted graduate students should accept their offer of admission and monitor their email for important updates and instructions, including next steps for obtaining their Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL).
St. George campus students who have already started studying at U of T should contact the CIE at <isa.cie@utoronto.ca> to request a PAL.
More details are available in the Standard Required Documents and Frequently Asked Questions sections 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’ 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 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 the PAL Tool (available near the top of this page) or the official exemption list is available from IRCC indicate that you require a PAL it will be issued to you through the university.
Newly-admitted undergraduate students who require a PAL can find information about how to get the attestation letter through the University Registrar’s Office.
Newly-admitted graduate students should accept their offer of admission and monitor the email address used in your application to U of T for important updates and instructions, including next steps for obtaining your Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL).
Continuing students at any level of study can request a PAL through our immigration advising team. You can email isa.cie@utoronto.ca from your U of T account with:
- Your name as it appears on your passport; and,
- Your program and level of study (as well as when your program started).
In all cases, the University of Toronto should have the correct information about you, but the address on your PAL does not matter.
IRCC has two separate systems for submitting applications, the:
- IRCC Secure Account; and,
- IRCC Portal. (The Portal is only accepting study permit applications until March 25, 2025)
If submitting a study permit application from outside Canada, you can use either option. However, if you are applying with a family member who needs a work permit, you must use the Secure Account.
In-Canada applications (considered an extension) must use the IRCC Secure Account.
IRCC explains which application can be used with various applications and how to access each one.
The Secure Account application process includes an application form (.pdf), while that information is submitted directly into web pages in the Portal.
It is not currently clear if one pathway is better than the other, so if your application can be submitted in either system, you can choose the one you prefer.
If you applied through the in-Canada application process, from within Canada, and your existing permit expires while you’re waiting for a decision you can remain in Canada under maintained status.
If you have a study permit, and have applied for a new study permit, you can continue to study during the period of 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.