Letter of Acceptance to a Canadian Designated Learning Institution
Obtaining a Letter of Acceptance from a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI) is the first essential step in applying for a Canadian study permit.
On this page, you’ll find key information about the Letter of Acceptance required for your study permit application.
Table of Contents
- How to Obtain a Letter of Acceptance
- Exemptions from the Requirement for a Letter of Acceptance
- Study Permits for More than One DLI
- Conditional Letter of Acceptance
- Renewal of a Study Permit
- Contact the Cohen Immigration Law Firm for Assistance
How to Obtain a Letter of Acceptance
The Letter of Acceptance is mandatory in the application for a Canada study permit. To obtain a Letter of Acceptance, a potential student may first submit an application to a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). If he or she is successful, the institution may issue a Letter of Acceptance. For the purposes of a study permit application, all the following elements are required in the Letter of Acceptance:
- The student’s full name, date of birth, and mailing address;
- The student’s ID number, if applicable;
- The name of the institution, and the name of the official contact person;
- The contact information of the institution;
- If the DLI is a private institution, the licensing information for the institution should be clearly stated (usually in the institution’s letterhead);
- The DLI number;
- The type of school or institution (e.g. private, public, post-secondary college, community college, or technical college — this list is not exhaustive);
- The study program, level, and year of study into which the student is accepted;
- The estimated duration of the study program, or estimated date of completion of the study program;
- The start date of the study program;
- The latest date by which a student may register for the study program;
- Whether the study program is full-time or part-time;
- The estimated tuition fees for the first year of study, and scholarships or other financial aid (if applicable);
- The details of a required internship or work placement, if applicable;
- The expiry date of the Letter of Acceptance*;
- Conditions of acceptance to the DLI (if applicable) — this may include prerequisite courses, previous qualifications, or proof of language knowledge;
- If the DLI is in Quebec, the requirement of a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) should be clearly stated;
*The Letter of Acceptance is required to state a date of expiry. If the processing of the study permit application has not been completed before the expiry date of the Letter of Acceptance, an extension letter may be requested from the institution and submitted to IRCC to support the study permit application.
Immigration, Citizenship, and Refugees Canada (IRCC, formerly known as CIC) provides a template for the Letter of Acceptance, and instructions for completing the required information.
It is important to note that a Letter of Acceptance from a DLI is not a guarantee that the study permit application will be approved. It is at the discretion of IRCC to approve an application for a study permit.
Exemptions from the Requirement for a Letter of Acceptance
Certain potential students may be exempt from needing a Letter of Acceptance:
Family members of a foreign national who receive written approval for a temporary work or study permit before entering Canada can apply for a study permit without a Letter of Acceptance.
Students intending to pursue a study program lasting six months or less do not need a Letter of Acceptance, as they do not require a study permit.
Study Permits for More than One DLI
If an applicant is applying for a study permit for a program offered by multiple institutions, the Letter of Acceptance must clearly indicate this. Both institutions must be Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs), and the letter should be issued by the DLI granting the degree, diploma, or certificate. If the qualification is awarded jointly by multiple DLIs, the letter should come from the DLI where the student will start their studies.
The Letter of Acceptance should include:
The name, type, and location of the other institution(s).
The courses the student plans to take at the other institution(s).
The semesters the student intends to spend at the other institution(s).
Once the study permit is issued, the primary DLI will be listed as the institution that issued the Letter of Acceptance, while the other institutions may be noted in the Remarks section of the permit.
Conditional Letter of Acceptance
A Letter of Acceptance may indicate that a student’s offer to a study program is conditional upon completing a prerequisite course or program. For example, a student might need to finish an English as a Second Language (ESL) or French as a Second Language (FRSL) course before enrolling in their main study program. In such cases, a study permit is issued only for the duration of the prerequisite program. After successfully completing the prerequisite, the student can apply for a new study permit for the subsequent program.
Renewal of a Study Permit
A second Letter of Acceptance is not generally required for the renewal of a study permit. However, the immigration officer examining an application for a study permit renewal has the right to request proof that the applicant has met the requirements of the original study permit. This may manifest as a letter from the institution clarifying that the student has been actively pursuing his or her studies.