Sending your child to university in Canada: a guide for international parents

Admission comes first, then the permit. Your child applies to the university, gets an offer and accepts it. The school then issues a letter of acceptance and, in most provinces, helps the student get a provincial or territorial attestation letter, called a PAL or TAL. Only then can your child apply for a study permit.

IRCC now asks the school to confirm each post-secondary letter of acceptance is valid. If the school doesn't confirm it in time, IRCC returns the application and refunds the fee. Make sure the school knows your child has applied.

A PAL is a letter from the province confirming there's a space for your child under Canada's cap on study permits. The school provides it, and your child includes it with the study permit application, not after.

Timing matters for a Fall 2027 student. A PAL issued in 2026 is valid until December 31, 2026, and IRCC won't accept a PAL from a previous cap year. So a student applying for a permit in 2027 needs a PAL issued in 2027, and IRCC hasn't yet published the 2027 details. Since January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students at public schools don't need a PAL, but undergraduates still do.

IRCC asks for enough money to pay first-year tuition, a year of living costs and travel to and from Canada, without your child working. For a longer program, the application must also explain how the rest will be paid, for example a multi-year scholarship or proof that the parents are employed. IRCC assesses both the amount and where the money came from.

When parents are the sponsor, IRCC's examples include a letter from you that gives your job or occupation, your relationship to the student, how many dependants you have and how much you'll provide. Add proof of the relationship and a copy of your photo ID or business registration. Bank statements should cover the past 6 months, including the month of the application or the month before, and show where deposits came from, such as salary or savings transfers.

Other common proof includes a receipt for first-year tuition and housing, an education loan, a scholarship letter, or a guaranteed investment certificate from a Canadian financial institution. If your country controls foreign exchange, you also have to show the money can leave the country.

Each province sets its own age of majority. It's 18 in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan, and 19 in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and the territories.

Many students start university at 17. IRCC says a minor under 17 must either come with a parent or legal guardian or have a custodian in Canada. The custodian is a responsible adult who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. For minors who are 17 or older a custodian is optional, but an officer can ask for one. To appoint a custodian, send the Custodianship Declaration form with the study permit application.

The study permit fee is $150 per person, and biometrics cost $85 per person, with a family maximum when several people apply together. IRCC's fees are in Canadian dollars and the same around the world.

There's no longer a fast-track stream. Canada ended the Student Direct Stream and Nigeria Student Express on November 8, 2024. Every student now uses the regular study permit stream, which accepts a guaranteed investment certificate as one form of proof. Apply as soon as your child has the letter of acceptance and the PAL.

International students at Ontario universities are covered by UHIP, the University Health Insurance Plan. It's compulsory and provides benefits similar to OHIP, Ontario's plan for residents. The fee usually appears on your child's university account. Other provinces have their own rules, so check the school's international office.

During classes, eligible students can work off campus up to 24 hours a week without a separate work permit, and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. They need a valid permit with work conditions printed on it, full-time enrolment in a program of at least six months and a social insurance number. Build your budget without that income, since IRCC does.

After a bachelor's degree, graduates of an eligible program can apply for a post-graduation work permit. They must show English or French at Canadian Language Benchmark 7 in all four skills, but there's no field-of-study requirement for bachelor's, master's or doctoral graduates.

IRCC says you don't need to hire a representative. Every form is free on its website, and using one won't draw special attention to an application. If you do pay someone, they must be authorized: a lawyer or paralegal in a Canadian law society, a Quebec notary, or a member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants.

Be wary of anyone who promises a permit or suggests false information. You're responsible for everything in the application, even if someone else fills it in. Our adviser guide lists more red flags.

For the admissions side, start with our country guides. They cover how Canadian universities read your child's school results, which English tests they accept and the scholarships open to international students. See the international student guide for the full list.