Immigration Stream

Study Permit Case Management

Streamline your study permit practice with purpose-built case management. Track LOAs, DLI verification, GIC deposits, SDS eligibility, and every IRCC milestone from application to arrival for your international student clients.

Book a Demo See Pricing

Understanding the Study Permit Process

Canada's study permit allows international students to attend designated learning institutions (DLIs) across the country. The process begins with a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a DLI and involves demonstrating financial capacity, language ability, and ties to the home country. With IRCC's evolving policies around attestation letters, program caps, and post-graduation work permit eligibility, managing study permit files has become significantly more complex.

The Student Direct Stream (SDS) offers faster processing for applicants from certain countries who meet upfront requirements -- including a GIC deposit, upfront medical exam, and qualifying language scores. Non-SDS applications follow the regular study permit stream with longer processing times but fewer upfront requirements.

Student Direct Stream (SDS)

Available to legal residents of select countries including India, China, Philippines, Pakistan, Vietnam, and others. Requires a GIC of $20,635 (2024 figure), an upfront medical exam, IELTS 6.0+ in all bands (or equivalent), and a valid LOA from a DLI. Processing target is 20 calendar days.

Regular Study Permit Stream

For applicants who do not qualify for SDS or prefer not to meet the upfront requirements. Processing times vary widely by country of residence -- from 4 weeks to 16+ weeks. Financial proof can include bank statements, scholarship letters, or education loans rather than a GIC.

IRCC Process & Milestones

Study permit processing involves multiple stages and stakeholders -- the institution, the student, financial institutions, and IRCC. Here is the typical lifecycle:

1. Letter of Acceptance (LOA)
Student receives a valid LOA from a DLI listed on IRCC's designated learning institutions list. The LOA must contain the DLI number, program details, and start date. As of 2024, a provincial attestation letter (PAL) is also required for most new study permit applications.
2. Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)
Most provinces now require a provincial attestation letter confirming the student's spot counts against the province's allocation cap. The DLI typically initiates this process. Processing times for PALs vary by province.
3. Financial Proof & GIC
For SDS: purchase a GIC from an approved Canadian financial institution. For regular stream: prepare bank statements showing sufficient funds to cover tuition plus $20,635/year for living expenses (plus $4,555 per dependent). Evidence must be recent and clearly sourced.
4. Language Test
SDS requires IELTS Academic with 6.0+ in all bands, or equivalent scores on TEF/TCF for French-language programs. Regular stream does not have a strict language requirement, but providing scores strengthens the application.
5. Medical Examination
SDS applicants must complete an upfront medical exam with a panel physician before applying. Regular stream applicants may be asked to complete medicals after submission. Panel physician results are sent directly to IRCC via eMedical.
6. Application Submission
Submit the study permit application online through the IRCC portal. Pay the $150 study permit fee and $85 biometrics fee. Ensure all forms (IMM 1294, IMM 5645, IMM 5709) are complete and all supporting documents are uploaded.
7. Biometrics Collection
After submission, the applicant receives a Biometrics Instruction Letter. They must provide fingerprints and a photo at a designated VAC or IRCC office. Biometrics are valid for 10 years.
8. Processing & Decision
IRCC reviews the application for admissibility, financial capacity, and genuine intent to study. They may request additional documents. SDS targets 20-day processing; regular stream varies by country.
9. Port of Entry / Study Permit Issuance
If approved, the applicant receives a letter of introduction (and a TRV if required). At the Canadian port of entry, CBSA issues the physical study permit with conditions including the DLI, program, and permit validity.

Required Documents for Study Permit Applications

The document requirements differ between SDS and regular stream applications. Immicase pre-populates the correct checklist based on the stream you select for each case.

Core Documents (Both Streams)

Valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity
Letter of Acceptance from a DLI
Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from the province
Completed application forms (IMM 1294, IMM 5645, IMM 5709)
Digital photographs meeting IRCC specifications
Proof of payment for tuition (receipt or deposit confirmation)
Statement of purpose / study plan
Custodianship declaration (if minor)

SDS-Specific Documents

GIC certificate from an approved financial institution
IELTS Academic with 6.0+ in all bands (or TEF/TCF equivalent)
Upfront medical examination results (IMM 1017B)
First year tuition payment receipt (paid in full)

Financial Documents (Regular Stream)

Bank statements covering the last 4-6 months
Fixed deposit certificates
Education loan approval letter
Scholarship award letter (if applicable)
Sponsor's employment and income verification
Affidavit of support from financial sponsor

Additional Supporting Documents

Previous study records / transcripts
Proof of ties to home country (property, employment, family)
Travel history documentation
Police clearance certificate (if requested)
Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) for Quebec DLIs

Common Challenges in Study Permit Case Management

Intake Volume & Seasonal Peaks

Study permit applications are heavily seasonal. September and January intakes create massive surges where consultants may be handling 50-100+ student files simultaneously. Each file has unique DLI requirements, financial thresholds, and country-specific processing considerations. Without systematic tracking, files get lost in the volume.

PAL and Cap Compliance

The 2024 introduction of provincial attestation letters added a new layer of complexity. Each province manages its own allocation system, and caps can fill quickly. Consultants need to track PAL applications separately, monitor cap availability, and ensure students apply before allocations run out -- all while managing the main study permit application.

SDS vs. Regular Stream Decision-Making

Determining whether a client qualifies for SDS -- and whether SDS is the best strategy -- requires evaluating language scores, financial capacity for the GIC, and willingness to complete upfront medicals. Some clients are better served by the regular stream despite longer processing. Making this assessment across dozens of clients requires organized data.

Post-Graduation Pathway Planning

Many student clients ultimately want permanent residence. Their program choice, DLI selection, and co-op/internship decisions today affect PGWP eligibility and Express Entry competitiveness years from now. Managing the long-term relationship alongside the immediate study permit requires case notes and future milestone tracking.

How Immicase Helps Manage Study Permit Cases

Immicase provides study permit-specific workflows that handle the unique requirements of student immigration files:

SDS & Regular Stream Templates

Select the stream when creating a case, and Immicase loads the correct document checklist, milestone sequence, and processing timeline. Switch streams mid-file if a client's eligibility changes.

DLI Verification Tracking

Record the DLI number, verify it against IRCC's active DLI list, and track LOA status. Get flagged if a DLI's status changes or if the LOA is approaching expiry before the application is submitted.

GIC & Financial Milestone Tracking

Track GIC purchase status, deposit confirmation, and bank statement collection as distinct milestones. For regular stream, monitor the accumulation of financial evidence over the required period.

Batch Processing for Intake Surges

During peak intake seasons, use batch views to see all pending study permit cases, filter by DLI, stream, or status, and identify which cases need attention first. Process efficiently at scale.

PAL Application Tracking

Track provincial attestation letter applications as a linked milestone within the study permit case. Monitor PAL processing separately and flag cases where the PAL is blocking the main application.

Client Communication Portal

Student clients often need frequent updates and reminders. Use Immicase's client portal to share document checklists, send reminders for outstanding items, and let students upload documents directly.

Pathway Planning Notes

Add long-term notes about PGWP eligibility, Express Entry pathway plans, and future milestones. When the student graduates, their file already contains the context needed for the next application.

Country-Specific Processing Alerts

Different countries of residence have vastly different processing times. Immicase factors in the applicant's country when setting timeline expectations, so you can give clients accurate estimates.

Related Resources

All Features

Explore the full Immicase platform

Pricing

Plans for solo practitioners to large firms

Express Entry Tracking

For students transitioning to PR via EE

Work Permit Management

PGWP and post-study work permit tracking

PNP Case Management

Provincial pathways for international graduates

Family Sponsorship

Sponsorship options after obtaining PR

Manage study permit cases at scale

From SDS to regular stream, Immicase helps you track LOAs, PALs, GICs, and every document across hundreds of student files. Built for peak intake season.

Book a Demo