Canada Study Permit Checklist 2026: PAL, GIC and What Changed

For a decade, Canada was the easy file: a Letter of Acceptance, a GIC, a medical, done. That is no longer the process. Since 2024, most study permit applications need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL), issued through a system of provincial and institutional caps — and a consultancy that treats a Canadian file the old way will lose the intake.

This is the current checklist, with the changes called out.

What changed, in plain terms

• A cap on new study permits. The federal government sets a national ceiling, divided among provinces, divided again among institutions.
• The PAL. Most applicants must include a Provincial Attestation Letter confirming their application falls within the province's allocation. Without it, the application is returned.
• Higher cost-of-living proof. The financial requirement was roughly doubled. Check the current figure.
• Post-graduation work permit eligibility narrowed, particularly for some private-college partnerships. Families choosing Canada for the work pathway need current advice, not last year's.

The practical consequence: the institution's allocation is the bottleneck. A student can be admitted and still be unable to apply because the institution has no PALs left for the intake.

The checklist

1. Admission

| Document | Notes | |---|---| | Letter of Acceptance (LOA) | From a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Verify the DLI number. | | Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) | Requested through the institution after acceptance. Ask the institution about PAL availability before the student pays a deposit. |

2. Identity and academics

| Document | Notes | |---|---| | Passport | Valid for the intended stay. | | Academic transcripts and certificates | All completed qualifications. | | English test report | IELTS or accepted equivalent; check the institution's and IRCC's current thresholds. | | Passport photographs | IRCC specification. |

3. Financial

| Document | Notes | |---|---| | Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) | Purchased from a participating Canadian bank; the current required amount covers first-year living costs. The GIC certificate is the primary living-cost proof. | | Tuition payment receipt | First-year tuition paid to the institution. | | Education loan sanction letter | If applicable. | | Bank statements and sponsor documents | Supporting evidence for remaining costs and travel. |

4. Health and character

| Document | Notes | |---|---| | Upfront medical examination | With an IRCC panel physician, before applying. Reduces processing time. | | Police clearance certificate | Where requested. |

5. The application itself

| Document | Notes | |---|---| | Study plan | A Canada-specific statement explaining why this programme, why Canada, and the plan afterwards. This is read closely. | | Biometrics | Booked after submission through the VAC. |

Timeline that actually works

Because the PAL is the constraint, the order changes:

1. Confirm PAL availability with the institution before the student commits.
2. Secure the LOA and pay the deposit.
3. Obtain the PAL.
4. Buy the GIC and pay first-year tuition — these take time to reflect.
5. Complete the upfront medical.
6. Submit, then biometrics.

Start this at least four months before the intake. Canada's September intake means a March start on the paperwork.

Tracking it as a consultancy

Every Canadian application should carry a visible PAL status alongside the LOA. A file with an LOA and no PAL is not ready, no matter how complete the rest is. Treat the PAL as a checklist item with its own deadline.

Qylantis CRM's Canada checklist includes the PAL, GIC, LOA, upfront medical and study plan as separate items, so the missing PAL is visible on the board rather than discovered at submission. See the checklists or read the UK checklist and the 28-day rule.