Documents Required for Canada Student Visa Checklist
Here is a Canada student visa checklist which includes your letter of acceptance, letter of explanation, proof of sufficient funds, valid passport, medical exam report, police clearance certificate and many more.
Ensure your Canada student permit application succeeds — get expert document guidance
What you'll learn in this article
Think you can successfully receive your Canadian student permit since you have received your Letter of Acceptance and your finances are sorted? Think again! Many such applicants have seen their student permit applications rejected because they did not possess the documents required for Canada student visa.
This Canadian student visa checklist has been designed to help you understand the list of documents you need to submit for your student permit this year. This checklist will allow you to get one step closer to a successful application and subsequently, a much-awaited approval of your student permit and commence your higher studies in Canada.
Let's check out all the documents required for study permit in Canada.
Ensure your Canada student permit application succeeds — get expert document guidance
Documents Required for Canada Student Visa Checklist (General)
Here's a checklist you should consider when applying for the Canadian student permit this year.
| Document | Mandatory | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Letter of Acceptance (LOA) | Yes | From a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) |
| Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) | Yes (in Most Cases) | From DLI after accepting the admission offer and paying tuition fees |
| Valid Passport | Yes | Must cover the full study period |
| Passport-sized Photos | Yes | As per IRCC photo specs |
| Visa Application Form (IMM 1294) | Yes | Completed and signed online |
| Family Info Form (IMM 5645) | Yes | For applicants with dependents |
| Tuition Fee Receipt (1 year) | Yes | Proof of paid fees or bank receipt |
| Proof of Funds (GIC or bank) | Yes | Minimum CAD $22,895 (as of 2025) |
| SOP / Letter of Explanation | Yes | Explain study intent and post-study plans |
| Medical Exam Receipt (IME) | Yes | From an IRCC-approved panel physician |
| Police Clearance Certificate | Yes | From your home country (if required) |
| IELTS Academic / PTE Academic / TOEFL iBT Score Report | Yes | Language proof (min IELTS 6.0) |
| Biometrics Appointment Confirmation | Yes | Required after application submission |
In addition to these documents, applicants from certain countries may need to submit additional documents. This list of documents can be received from your local visa office. Before sending in your Canadian student permit application form, verify if you possess the correct and complete list of documents with the help of AECC counsellors.
How to Prove Financial Support for Canada Visa?
All international applicants are required to submit proof of sufficient funds to cover the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Living expenses (min. CAD $22,895 per year)
- Return travel costs
To prove you possess sufficient funds to cover the above-mentioned expenses for at least the first year of study in Canada, you can submit the following documents:
- Proof that you have paid the first year of your tuition and housing fees. Additional documents will be required to prove you have the funds to cover other living expenses.
- proof of a Canadian bank account in the student's name, if you have transferred money to Canada.
- Bank balance certificate (past 4-6 months)
- GIC receipt
- A bank draft that can be converted to Canadian dollars.
- Education loan letter from a recognised bank
- Income tax returns or property documents (for family sponsors)
Also Read:
Need help collecting and compiling the necessary documents to apply for your Canadian student permit? Connect with AECC Counsellors who will provide you with the exact Canadian student permit checklist you need to successfully apply and receive your student permit.
Funds Required for Canada Student Visa
What to Include in Your SOP (Statement of Purpose)
A statement of purpose (SOP) is the best document to help solidify your candidature for the Canadian student permit. A well-crafted SOP can help the visa official understand your reasons and motive behind choosing a particular Canadian university, programme or even the country for your higher studies. Listed here are a few points that should be mentioned in your SOP to study in Canada.
- Why you chose Canada and the university
- Course details and future plans
- How it relates to your past education/work
- Financial support explanation
- Commitment to return or lawful stay after studies
Final Tips Before You Submit
Creating your own checklist of the documents required for student permit in Canada is the most important tip that you should follow. However, as an expert in helping students achieve their study abroad dreams and aspirations, here are some final tips that you should heed when submitting the Canadian student permit documents, as highlighted below.
- Ensure your finances as per the updated IRCC requirements. Check the IRCC page regularly to ensure you have the right information or connect with us.
- For Master's and PhD applicants, make use of the IRCC's PAL exception and apply for the student permit even before you receive your PAL.
- Ensure that you upload the LOA in the designated slot. Do not add it alongside other documents as your proof of finances and scholarship documents.
- Mandatorily submit your Letter of explanation, even though it is an optional document to submit. Carefully craft your SOP to highlight how your choice to study in Canada is a stepping stone to boost your career back home. Prepare your SOP with expert guidance. It can make a big difference
- If you are required to pass a pre-requisite course, you will receive your student permit for the duration of the pre-requisite course and an additional 90 days. After clearing the course, you will be required to submit a Student Permit extension from within Canada to enter your main programme.
- Ensure all your documents can be verified through official contact information like emails, phone numbers and/or physical address of the institutions.
- You must factor in the increasing student permit backlogs. Once you have received your LOA and PAL/TAL, you must immediately apply for the student permit to maximise the time frame left before you need to enter Canada and start your studies.
- Always double-check expiry dates on your passport and documents
- Make sure your GIC and tuition payments are from recognised institutions
- Get your IELTS/ PTE Academic scores early to avoid delays
This Canada student visa checklist is just one of the few checklists you will need to maintain to ensure a successful student permit application this year. Submitting the documents is just one crucial part of the entire application process. Other parts include filling out the application form correctly and completely, and preparing for the student permit interviews.
You can get a checklist for the documents required for Canada student visa from our expert team of counsellors at AECC. Our team is dedicated to helping students apply for the Canada student permit with complete document support, mock visa interviews, and personalised counselling.
Canada Study Visa Document Checklist FAQs
No, students do not need to pay the full tuition fee before applying for the Canadian student permit. However, to prove that they possess the necessary funds to cover the tuition fees and living expenses, candidates need to submit bank documents or other accepted documents. They can also pay a partial tuition fee and housing fee, and provide proof of the same when applying.
There are several documents required for Canada student visa, which include Letter of Acceptance (LOA), Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL), Valid Passport, Passport-sized Photos, a Visa Application Form (IMM 1294), Family Info Form (IMM 5645), Tuition Fee Receipt (1 year), Proof of Funds (GIC or bank), SOP / Letter of Explanation, Medical Exam Receipt (IME), Police Clearance Certificate, IELTS / PTE / TOEFL Score Report, and Biometrics Appointment Confirmation.
As per the latest update by IRCC, all international students are required to provide proof of sufficient funds that can cover at least one year of tuition fees, living expenses and one round-trip travel to and from Canada. The current minimum funds required are set at CA $22,895 to cover one-year of living expenses, in addition to the other expenses mentioned here.
The minimum IELTS score that non-native English speakers must achieve is a 6.0 overall score, with each band score being 5.5 or above. However, while this is the minimum requirement, it is advisable to score higher than 6.5-7.0 to ensure your student permit application is approved.
Yes, you must submit a letter of explanation when applying for your Canadian student permit this year, as visa officials use this document to ensure that you are not using the student permit as a back-door entry into immigration to Canada, which is a major reason why many student permit applications are being rejected.
Trusted Expertise
About the Author
Published and reviewed by AECC counsellors who guide students through every step of their study-abroad journey.
Published by Ankit Dogra
Canada & UAE Education Specialist | 14 Years Advising International Students
Ankit Dogra has been advising students on higher education in Canada and the UAE for 14 years. He has worked across three of the largest international education organisations in South Asia: AECC, ApplyBoard and IDP Education. That breadth means he understands how the same application looks to different institutions and where students tend to lose ground.
Most education counsellors focus on the admission process. Ankit also covers what comes after. He leads AECC's Student Essential Services team, which means he routinely advises students on setting up a Guaranteed Investment Certificate, securing an education loan, and sorting accommodation before they arrive. Students who have worked with him tend to arrive in Canada or the UAE considerably better prepared than most.
Over 14 years he has worked with students across a wide range of academic profiles. Some are strong students targeting top-ranked Canadian universities. Others are building a two-year diploma pathway with post-graduate work permit eligibility. The articles he writes reflect those real conversations, not the polished versions that appear on university websites. He holds an MBA in Marketing and is based at AECC's Gurgaon office.
