How to Apply for a Canada Study Permit From Pakistan After SDS (2026)

What changed when SDS closed?

The Student Direct Stream was a faster processing route for students from a set of countries, including Pakistan, who could meet stricter upfront conditions such as a Guaranteed Investment Certificate and an upfront tuition payment. On 8 November 2024 Canada closed the Student Direct Stream and the Nigeria Student Express. From that date, all applicants, no matter their country, use the regular study permit stream.

What this means in plain terms: there is no longer a special express lane. You still need strong finances and a genuine study plan, but you show them through the standard process rather than the old GIC-and-prepaid-tuition shortcut. The regular stream gives you more flexibility in how you prove funds, though processing can take longer than the old SDS promise. Apply early and prepare thoroughly.

Who needs a Canada study permit?

You need a study permit to study a programme longer than six months at a Designated Learning Institution in Canada. If your course is six months or shorter, you may not need one, though it is often wise to get it anyway so you can extend or work later. As a Pakistani national you also need a temporary resident visa, which is usually issued together with the permit approval, plus biometrics.

What are the steps to apply after SDS?

The regular stream follows a clear order. Do them in sequence, because each step feeds the next.

1. Get a Letter of Acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution. Only DLIs can host international students, so confirm your college or university is on the DLI list.
2. Request a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or territorial equivalent. Most applicants now need this, and the institution or province issues it.
3. Arrange your proof of funds so you can show tuition plus at least the required living amount.
4. Create an IRCC secure account and complete the study permit application online.
5. Pay the fees, the study permit fee and the biometrics fee.
6. Give your biometrics at the visa application centre after you receive the instruction letter.
7. Submit any additional documents if IRCC asks, and wait for a decision. A medical exam and police certificate may be required.

How much money do you need to show?

This is the part that trips students up, so read it closely. For applications submitted on or after 1 September 2025, you must show living funds of at least CAD 22,895 per year for a single applicant outside Quebec. That figure is on top of your first year of tuition and your travel costs. If family members come with you, the required amount rises for each person.

Under the regular stream you have several accepted ways to prove these funds, which is more flexible than the old SDS. Acceptable proof commonly includes:

• Bank statements from recent months.
• An education loan sanction letter from a bank.
• A Guaranteed Investment Certificate, if you choose to use one.
• Proof of a Canadian bank account if you have transferred funds.
• Scholarship or bursary letters.
• A bank draft that can be converted to Canadian dollars.
• A sponsor letter with the sponsor’s income and relationship proof.

What is a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)?

A Provincial Attestation Letter, or PAL, is a document that confirms your place counts within a province’s allocation of study permit applications. Canada introduced attestation letters to manage the number of international students. Most study permit applicants now need a PAL or a territorial equivalent, and your application can be returned without one.

You do not usually apply for the PAL yourself in isolation. The Designated Learning Institution or the province arranges it once you accept your offer, though the exact process differs by province. Ask your institution early how they issue the PAL, because a delay here holds up everything after it.

What documents does IRCC ask for?

• A valid passport.
• Your Letter of Acceptance from a DLI.
• Your Provincial Attestation Letter, where required.
• Proof of funds covering tuition and living costs.
• Passport-size photographs meeting the specifications.
• A statement of purpose or study plan explaining your choice.
• Academic transcripts and degrees.
• English proof such as IELTS, or an accepted alternative where the institution allows it.
• A medical exam from a panel physician, if required.
• A police certificate, if requested.

What does the whole process cost?

Budget for several separate costs beyond tuition. Exact fees change, so verify current amounts before you pay.

The proof of funds is money you show you have, not a fee you hand over. Tuition depends entirely on the programme and city you pick.

How long does it take?

Regular stream processing times vary and can be longer than the old SDS promise, so start early. A safe habit is to have your acceptance and PAL sorted, then submit your permit application as soon as your funds and documents are ready, ideally several months before your programme start date. Biometrics, medicals and any extra document requests all add days or weeks, so do not leave the application to the last moment.

Can you work and stay after studying?

Yes, within the rules. Eligible students can usually work part-time during studies and full-time during scheduled breaks, subject to current limits set by IRCC, which have changed in recent years, so check the latest cap. After graduating from an eligible programme you may qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, which can lead toward permanent residence through Express Entry or a Provincial Nominee Program. Eligibility for the work permit depends on your programme and institution, so confirm before you enrol if a work-and-stay path matters to you.

Common mistakes that cause refusals

• Showing funds that appeared suddenly, with no history or explanation.
• Applying without a Provincial Attestation Letter when one is required.
• Choosing an institution that is not on the Designated Learning Institution list.
• A weak or copied study plan that does not explain why Canada, why this programme and why now.
• Leaving biometrics, medicals or document requests until the deadline.
• Underestimating living costs and showing barely the minimum, which looks risky to an officer.
• Assuming SDS still exists and preparing GIC-and-prepaid-tuition documents as if it were the only route.

A realistic example

Consider Bilal, a business graduate from Lahore who wanted a two-year diploma in Ontario. He first confirmed his college was a DLI, accepted his offer, and asked the college how they would issue his Provincial Attestation Letter. He held his tuition and living funds in a family account for several months and kept records of where the money came from, including his father’s business income.

He submitted through the regular stream, paid the permit and biometrics fees, gave his biometrics at the visa centre, and completed a medical exam. His study plan explained how the diploma connected to his family business back home. Because his finances had a clear history and his documents were complete, the application moved without extra requests. His approach was not clever. It was early, honest and complete, which is exactly what the regular stream rewards.

Frequently asked questions