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 Letter of Acceptance is required to state a date of expiry. If 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.
Certain potential students may be exempt from the requirement for a Letter of Acceptance.
If an applicant is applying for a study permit for a study program offered by more than one institution, the Letter of Acceptance should state this clearly. Both institutions must be DLIs. The Letter of Acceptance should be issued by the DLI issuing the degree, diploma, or certificate. If the degree, diploma, or certificate is issued by more than one DLI jointly, the Letter of Acceptance should be issued by the DLI where the student intends to begin his or her study program. In this situation, the Letter of Acceptance should clearly state:
When the study permit is issued, the DLI may be specified as the institution that issued the Letter of Acceptance. However, other institutions may be listed in the Remarks section of the study permit.
A Letter of Acceptance may be issued to a potential student stating that the offer of a place in a study program is conditional on the student first completing a prerequisite course or study program. For example, a potential student may be required to complete an English as a Second Language (ESL) or French as a Second Language (FRSL) course before pursuing the more advanced study program. In these situations, a study permit is issued for the duration of the prerequisite program only. After successfully completing the prerequisite, a student may apply for another study permit for the next study program.
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.