Study permits: Students destined to Quebec
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
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Study in Quebec [R216(3)]
As per section 216(3) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR):
An officer shall not issue a study permit to a foreign national who intends to study in the Province of Quebec—other than under a federal assistance program for developing countries—and does not hold a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec, if the laws of that Province require that the foreign national hold a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec.
With few exemptions, all Quebec-bound study permit applicants must submit an attestation of issuance of a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (Certificat d’acceptation du Québec [CAQ]) from the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) when applying for a study permit.
The attestation of issuance of a CAQ may be issued for a maximum validity of 49 months in accordance with the length of the program of study.
Attestation of issuance of a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (Certificat d’acceptation du Québec [CAQ])
To obtain a CAQ, applicants must submit an application to the MIFI. If the application is approved, they will electronically receive an attestation of issuance of their CAQ, which they must use to submit a study permit application.
The MIFI transmits lists of attestation of issuance of CAQ letters to IRCC’s headquarters for redistribution to different points of service in Canada and overseas processing offices. The CAQ list can be used for the purposes of verification, when necessary.
Overseas or in-Canada officers must enter the document number and expiry date located on the attestation of issuance of a CAQ letter in the appropriate field in the Global Case Management System (GCMS).
Provincial attestation letter (PAL)
The requirement to obtain a CAQ differs from the requirement to obtain a provincial attestation letter (PAL). For more information on PAL requirements for applicants destined for Quebec, consult Study permits: Provincial or territorial attestation letters.
Exemptions to the CAQ requirement
The exemptions to the requirement to obtain a CAQ are found in section 20 of the Québec Immigration Regulation. The following people are exempt:
- a foreign national who comes to study under a federal assistance program for developing countries
- a foreign national who is authorized to study without a study permit
- for a period of not more than 6 weeks upon entry to Canada, a foreign national who is eligible to apply on entry [R214], who is waiting to obtain a CAQ
- a foreign national who comes to study in a program of 6 months or less
- minor children who are
- of preschool age (ages 4 to 5)
- at the primary or secondary level in Quebec, accompanied by a parent who
- holds a work or study permit, or
- is authorized for temporary stay for medical treatment
- asylum seekers, recognized refugees or protected persons in Canada, or
- the children of an asylum seeker, recognized refugee or protected person in Canada
- a recognized refugee or protected person in Canada
- a foreign national in Quebec whose spouse or common-law partner has applied to sponsor them
- a foreign national who holds a temporary residence permit (TRP) issued with a view to obtain permanent residence
Additionally, foreign nationals holding a valid work permit (or a work authorization while awaiting extension of their work permit), where the application associated with that permit was received by IRCC on or before June 7, 2023, are exempt.
Note: A minor child accompanied by a parent who has a visitor record and is not authorized to work or study requires a CAQ and a study permit to study in Canada. A minor child who does not have a study permit must have a valid visitor record for the entire duration of their stay in Canada.
Consult MIFI’s website for more information on required authorizations.
Minors submitting an application from outside Canada
In Quebec, the age of majority is 18. Anyone who has not reached the age of majority upon arrival in Canada is considered a minor child.
Minors who intend to study in Quebec must obtain a CAQ and a study permit before entering Canada, unless they meet one of the CAQ exemptions.
Minor children of a foreign national whose application for a work permit or a study permit is approved in writing do not have to provide a letter of acceptance, or a PAL or territorial acceptance letter (TAL), but may require a CAQ.
Renewing a CAQ
The MIFI requires students to apply for a new CAQ if they
- need to extend their studies beyond the validity of their current CAQ
- change their level of study
- change educational institutions, except if they
- hold a valid CAQ (that is, the expiry date has not elapsed), issued before December 6, 2025, and are changing institutions at the same level of study.
- are a minor child at the primary or secondary level, unless their CAQ is linked to a specific educational institution.
This applies to students both outside and within Canada. Consult MIFI’s website for more information on renewing authorizations to study in Quebec.
Assessing available resources
Students destined to Quebec are required to submit supporting documents showing that they have sufficient funds to cover all costs related to their studies while in Canada. Examples include:
- tuition fees and other education-related expenses
- living expenses
- travel costs (for example, a round-trip ticket)
- medical and hospitalization insurance
- settlement expenses for the first year
If a third party is paying the student’s expenses (for example, a parent), they must submit a sworn statement respecting the assumption of the student’s expenses.
Recommended length of a study permit
The duration of a study permit for students destined to Quebec should coincide with the duration of the attestation of issuance of the CAQ letter, which can be issued up to a 49-month maximum duration and according to the validity of their passports. If the study permit’s duration is shorter than the attestation of issuance of the CAQ letter, officers should provide reasons for this in the “Remarks” section of the permit.