To study in Canada for more than six months you need a study permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Applicants from visa-required countries do not apply for a separate visitor visa: it is issued together with the study permit approval. The core of the application is a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI), a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) — not required for master's and doctoral students at public institutions since January 1, 2026, and replaced by the CAQ in Quebec — and proof of funds: first-year tuition, ≈ $16,540 (CAD 23,448) for living costs for applications from September 1, 2026, plus travel. You apply online only; fees are ≈ $105 (CAD 150) for the permit and ≈ $60 (CAD 85) for biometrics. According to IRCC data of September 22, 2026, applications from Russia take about five weeks, Russian citizens can give biometrics at a visa application centre in Russia, but passports for the visa are accepted only at centres outside the country.
This guide covers the steps, the full document list, who needs a PAL, how Quebec works, what changed in 2026 for applicants from Russia and Central Asia, common refusal reasons and what to do after approval. All rules were checked against IRCC pages on September 24, 2026. For the broader picture, see studying in Canada.
Study permit, visa and eTA: which document does what
Confusing these documents is a common source of mistakes in the application form.
| Document | What it does | Who issues it and when |
|---|---|---|
| Study permit | allows you to study in Canada for more than six months and, if conditions are met, to work | a border services officer at the port of entry, based on IRCC's approval letter |
| Port of entry letter of introduction | approval letter used to issue the permit at the border; not the permit itself | IRCC after approval |
| Temporary resident visa (TRV) | entry for citizens of visa-required countries, including Russia and Central Asian states | placed in your passport by IRCC with the study permit approval |
| eTA | electronic entry authorization for visa-exempt nationals | IRCC, linked to your passport |
A study permit is usually valid for the length of your program plus 90 days. If you finish early, it stops being valid 90 days after completion, whatever date is printed on it.
Who needs a study permit
You need one for any program longer than six months at an institution on the DLI list. Check your institution against the official DLI list before applying: without DLI status, its letter of acceptance will not work for IRCC. Courses shorter than six months usually do not require a study permit; a visitor visa or eTA is enough.
Step-by-step application
| Step | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Receive an offer and letter of acceptance (LOA) from a DLI | winter–spring before the academic year |
| 2 | Accept the offer, pay a deposit or part of tuition, request the PAL through the institution (in Quebec, apply for the CAQ) | right after the offer |
| 3 | Gather proof of funds, translations and a letter of explanation; take the medical exam upfront if needed | in parallel with step 2 |
| 4 | Apply online in your IRCC account and pay ≈ $105 (CAD 150) plus ≈ $60 (CAD 85) | once you have the LOA and PAL |
| 5 | Give biometrics at a visa application centre (Russian centres included) | within 30 days of IRCC's letter |
| 6 | Wait for the decision; send your passport for the visa when requested | per processing time |
| 7 | Enter Canada with the letter of introduction and receive the study permit at the border | before classes start |
Biometrics are valid for ten years: if you gave them for a Canadian application within that period, you are not asked again. They are required from age 14 to 79.
Documents for a study permit application
| Document | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Letter of acceptance (LOA) | always | the institution verifies it for IRCC; if it does not respond in time, the application is returned and the fee refunded |
| PAL/TAL | in most cases | issued by the province via the institution; exemptions below |
| CAQ | for study in Quebec | issued by the Government of Quebec before you apply to IRCC |
| Passport | always | upload the bio page; send the original when IRCC asks |
| Photos | always | to IRCC specifications |
| Proof of funds | always | tuition, ≈ $16,540 (CAD 23,448) living costs, travel; see the funds section |
| Letter of explanation | recommended | why this program, how it connects to your past studies and plans, and that you understand student obligations |
| Medical exam | if required | usually yes for residents of Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan (see below) |
| Police certificate | if requested | order early if you may need one |
| Custodian documents | for minors without a parent | notarized form IMM 5646 |
| Translations | for documents not in English or French | translation plus the translator's affidavit; applicants and their relatives may not translate |
Translations: IRCC accepts a translation by a person fluent in both languages together with an affidavit sworn before a notary, or by a Canadian certified translator who belongs to a provincial or territorial association. Translations by the applicant or family members are not accepted.
Minors: a child aged 17 or under travelling to study without a parent or legal guardian must be in the care of a responsible adult in Canada (a custodian) — a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada and aged 19 or over. Parents and custodian sign a notarized custodianship declaration (IMM 5646). Until the student reaches the age of majority in the province (18 or 19), an officer may still ask for a custodian.
PAL/TAL: who needs one and how to get it
A PAL or TAL is a letter from the province or territory confirming that you have a place within its share of study permits. The cap has been in place since 2024. Under the 2026–2028 levels plan, Canada plans for 155,000 new international student arrivals in 2026 and 150,000 in each of 2027 and 2028.
How to get it: the province issues the letter and your institution requests it. You usually need to accept your offer and pay some or all of your tuition first. Submit the PAL with your study permit application, not later, and one for each applicant in the family.
You do not need a PAL if you:
- are going to a master's or doctoral degree program at a public institution (since January 1, 2026);
- are going to primary or secondary school, up to grade 12;
- hold a Global Affairs Canada scholarship;
- are an exchange student who pays no tuition to the Canadian institution;
- are extending your permit at the same institution and level of study.
Validity: a PAL is valid until December 31 of the year it was issued unless an earlier date is printed. It must be valid when you apply, not when you start studying. After a decision — approval or refusal — you cannot reuse the same PAL. Changing schools before applying also requires a new one.
Quebec: the CAQ comes first
To study in Quebec, including at McGill and Concordia, you first need a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) from the provincial government and only then a study permit from IRCC. The CAQ replaces the PAL and must include a line confirming that you are within Quebec's share of study permits or exempt from it.
Quebec checks its own financial requirements (tuition, travel and basic needs) and requires health and hospital insurance for the entire stay. Apply for the study permit as soon as you receive the letter confirming your CAQ. If you change your level of study, you will need a new CAQ.
How much money to show and which documents work
IRCC needs proof that, without working in Canada, you can pay for tuition, living costs and transportation for yourself and any family members who come with you.
| Who is coming (outside Quebec) | Annual living amount for applications from Sept 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Student alone | ≈ $16,540 (CAD 23,448) |
| Student plus one family member | ≈ $20,590 (CAD 29,192) |
| Family of three | ≈ $25,310 (CAD 35,888) |
For applications submitted between January 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026, the amount for one person was ≈ $16,150 (CAD 22,895).
Acceptable evidence includes:
- a receipt from the institution for first-year tuition and housing, plus funds for the rest;
- bank statements for the past six months, including the month of application or the one before, with the source of funds explained;
- a GIC — a guaranteed investment certificate with a Canadian bank;
- a scholarship or education loan letter;
- a sponsor's letter (usually from parents) stating their employment, income, relationship to you and the amount of support, with supporting documents.
For programs longer than one year, IRCC expects an explanation of how you will pay for later years. If your country uses foreign exchange controls, you must also show that you will be allowed to take the money out. Applicants funding studies from Russia should plan this early and use lawful transfer routes only — see how to pay for studies abroad from Russia. A full budget is in our guide to the cost of studying in Canada.
What changed for Russian citizens in 2026
Visa centres and the embassy: since January 28, 2026, the Embassy of Canada in Moscow no longer provides visa and immigration services. The visa application centres in Moscow, St Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don and Vladivostok remain open and still take biometrics, but they no longer accept passports or documents. When IRCC asks for your passport, submit it at a centre outside Russia that accepts documents; the nearest options on the official list include Yerevan, Tbilisi, Almaty and Astana. Budget for that trip: after approval, the visa can only be placed in your passport through such a centre.
Medical exam: Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are on IRCC's list of countries requiring an immigration medical exam for stays over six months, if you lived there for six months or more in a row during the year before coming. Armenia was removed from the list on November 3, 2025. Only IRCC panel physicians can do the exam; results are valid for 12 months and must still be valid on the day you enter Canada. IRCC recommends taking the exam before you apply (an upfront medical exam) so you do not wait for a separate request.
Language: a language test is not required for the study permit itself, but your institution needs one for admission and IRCC needs one later for the post-graduation work permit. For the PGWP only certain tests count — for example IELTS General Training, not Academic. See working while studying and the PGWP.
Processing times and costs
IRCC publishes processing times by country of application. Data as of September 22, 2026, for study permits submitted from outside Canada:
| Country | Processing time |
|---|---|
| Russia | 5 weeks |
| Kazakhstan | 6 weeks |
| Uzbekistan | 6 weeks |
| Kyrgyzstan | 3 weeks |
| Belarus, Armenia, Georgia | no time published |
IRCC counts processing from the day it receives a complete application until the decision, and the figure already includes the time to give biometrics. Allow extra time for the PAL, the medical exam and the passport transfer. Check the official tool before applying: the figures are updated weekly. The Student Direct Stream closed in November 2024, so all applicants use the regular process.
| Payment | Amount |
|---|---|
| Study permit | ≈ $105 (CAD 150) |
| Biometrics | ≈ $60 (CAD 85) per person, up to ≈ $120 (CAD 170) per family |
| Restoring student status after the permit expires | ≈ $175 (CAD 246.25) plus ≈ $105 (CAD 150) for the new permit |
| Medical exam, translations, visa centre services | set by providers |
Why applications are refused and what to do next
IRCC lists the main refusal reasons: an invalid letter of acceptance, insufficient funds, a failed medical exam, doubt that study is your main purpose, and doubt that you will leave when your permit expires.
What usually weakens an application:
- a program unrelated to your previous studies or work, with no explanation in the letter;
- money that arrived shortly before applying without a clear source;
- showing only the living minimum without proof of tuition funds;
- mismatched dates, names or amounts between the form and documents.
After a refusal, IRCC sends a letter with its reasons. You can reapply, but not with the same PAL: after a decision you need a new one. A valid Quebec CAQ can be reused if you do not change your level of study. Reapplying makes sense only if you have fixed the cause of the refusal, not simply resubmitted the same package.
After approval: entry and first weeks
- At the border, show your passport with the visa, the letter of introduction, a copy of your LOA, proof of funds and medical exam results if required. The officer issues the study permit — check its dates and conditions before leaving the inspection area.
- You can work only once classes start: up to 24 hours a week off campus during terms if you meet the conditions, and without a limit on campus and during scheduled breaks. You need a social insurance number (SIN).
- To defer your start date, get the institution's approval and an updated LOA. If you change institutions before entering Canada, you must submit a new study permit application.
- While in Canada you must actively pursue your studies — be enrolled every term except scheduled breaks — and leave or change status when the permit expires.
Common mistakes
- Treating the study permit as a tourist visa in the application form.
- Applying without a PAL or trying to add it later.
- Choosing an institution that is not on the DLI list.
- Translating documents yourself or through a relative.
- Not planning a trip to a visa centre outside Russia to hand in the passport.
- Skipping the upfront medical exam and losing weeks after IRCC's request.
- Changing institutions after approval and entering on the old letter.
FAQ
According to IRCC data of September 22, 2026, study permit applications from Russia take about five weeks, and from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan about six. Add time for the PAL, the medical exam and the passport transfer, and submit as soon as you hold the LOA and PAL.
Only for the passport. Biometrics can be given at a visa application centre in Russia, but since late January 2026 Russian centres no longer accept passports or documents. For the visa, choose a centre in another country, such as Yerevan, Tbilisi, Almaty or Astana.
Since January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students at public institutions do not need a PAL. Bachelor's students, college students and students at private institutions still do. In Quebec, you need a CAQ instead.
For applications from September 1, 2026, outside Quebec: first-year tuition, ≈ $16,540 (CAD 23,448) for one student's living costs, and travel money. Provide six months of statements with the source of funds explained.
IRCC requires proof that you have the tuition money, not necessarily that you have paid it. In practice, institutions usually ask you to accept the offer and pay a deposit or part of tuition before they request your PAL, and a payment receipt is the clearest evidence for the officer.
Yes, if you lived for six months or more in a row during the past year in a country on IRCC's list and are coming for more than six months. Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are on the list. Only panel physicians can do the exam.
Yes, but you need a new PAL, and you should first fix the reason given in the refusal letter — most often funds, study purpose or how the program fits your background.
Sources
- IRCC: study permit eligibility, documents, how to apply — checked September 24, 2026
- IRCC: PAL/TAL — checked September 24, 2026
- IRCC: proof of financial support — checked September 24, 2026
- IRCC: after you apply, prepare for arrival, study permit conditions — checked September 24, 2026
- IRCC: guide 5269 (translations, custodianship) — checked September 24, 2026
- IRCC: visa application centres and Government of Canada: services in Russia — checked September 28, 2026
- IRCC: medical exam requirements by country — checked September 24, 2026
- IRCC: fees — checked September 24, 2026
- IRCC: processing times — data of September 22, 2026, checked September 24, 2026
- IRCC: 2025 Annual Report to Parliament (2026–2028 levels) — checked September 24, 2026
- IRCC: off-campus work — checked September 24, 2026
- Québec: authorizations for studies — checked September 24, 2026
- USD conversions use the ECB reference rates of September 29, 2026 (1 USD ≈ 1.4180 CAD).
Document review, study permit application preparation and applicant support are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Study permit decisions are made by IRCC and CAQ decisions by the Government of Quebec; StudyU does not guarantee approval.
Next steps
- Cost of Studying in Canada in 2026/27: Tuition, Living Costs and Study Permit Funds
- Working While Studying in Canada and the PGWP: 2026 Rules During and After Your Program
- Studying in Canada for international applicants
- How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026
- Bachelor's Degree in Canada: Entry After School, Costs and 2026–2027 Rules
- Colleges in Canada for International Students: Programmes, Costs and Post-Graduation Work Rights
