Who needs a study permit? 

You need a study permit if: 

• You plan to study in Canada for more than 6 months and you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident 

• You are a refugee or protected person in Canada and want to study a program that is longer than six months 

Note: 

• A visitor visa or eTA allows you to enter Canada (this is issued automatically with your study permit approval) 

• If your program is 6 months or less, you may study as a visitor (with a valid visa or eTA)  

Fees 

You may also need to pay for: 

• Medical exam 

• Police certificate 

• Education credentials assessment 

• Document translation 

• Language tests 

Application and processing times 

You must apply online. Paper applications are only accepted if you have a disability that prevents you from applying online or if you hold an identity or travel document issued to non-national residents, refugees or stateless persons. Study permit applications can be processed outside Canada, within Canada or, in certain cases, at a port of entry. To find out which process applies to you, visit IRCC website and answer the eligibility questions. Most study permit applications must be submitted from outside Canada. 

Please plan ahead, as the process can take several months. Make sure you review all the requirements carefully and submit a complete application. Processing times are published on IRCC website and updated regularly, but they are only estimates, so you should allow plenty of time for processing before your studies start. 

Required Documents

Tuition payment receipt

This document confirms your seat at Seneca and requires you to pay your first semester fees by the deadline indicated in your offer letter. Seneca offers multiple payment methods, and support is available through theservicehub@senecapolytechnic.ca if needed. Once your payment is processed, you can download your tuition payment receipt from Student Home. 

Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) 

This letter is required for most new study permit applications and confirms that you have been allocated a study space in Ontario. Seneca will request the PAL on your behalf and send it to you by email after you have accepted your offer and paid your first semester fees. Some applicants may be exempt — refer to IRCC for a full list of exemptions. As with all public institutions in Ontario, Seneca has been allocated a limited number of PALs and therefore cannot guarantee a PAL for all applicants. 

Proof of financial support

You must demonstrate that you have enough funds to cover your tuition, living expenses, supplies and travel for your first year in Canada. Single applicants must demonstrate at least $22,895 CAD for living expenses, with higher amounts required for families (see IRCC guidelines). While you only need to prove funding for the first year, visa officers must be confident that you can support yourself throughout your program. It is recommended to show more funds than the minimum. You can refer to your Seneca program page and review the “Costs” tab to estimate your total expenses.

• • • Documents you can use to prove your funds:

      • • proof of a student or education loan from a bank

        • your bank statements for the past 4 months

        • a bank draft that can be converted to Canadian dollars

        • proof you paid tuition and housing fees

        • a letter from the person or school giving you money

        • proof of funding paid from within Canada, if you have a scholarship or are in a Canadian-funded educational program

        • proof of a Canadian bank account in your name, if you’ve transferred money to Canada

        • a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution 

If your country uses foreign exchange controls, you must prove that you’ll be allowed to export funds for all of your expenses.

Expenses estimate example: A single applicant from Brazil studying the two-year Early Childhood Education Diploma program at Newnham campus starting in September 2026 should demonstrate the below funds for a study permit application. 

Note: This calculation is intended as an estimate only and relates specifically to the indicated scenario. Tuition fees vary by program, intake and year.  Travel costs also vary by location, season and various other external factors.  This is the absolute minimum amount required for the illustrated case.