Study in Canada from Nepal: Study Permit Guide (PAL, Funds, Work, PGWP)

If you are planning to study in Canada from Nepal, the key document is the Canadian study permit. This guide explains what you need before you apply, how much money you must show, how many hours you can work, and what the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) requires.

Checked against official sources in September 2026. Fees, fund amounts and work rules change often, so confirm every number on the official pages linked below before you apply. This is educational information, not legal or immigration advice.

Step 1: Get accepted by a designated learning institution (DLI)

You need a letter of acceptance from a school on IRCC’s designated learning institutions list. If you want to work in Canada after graduating, check that your school and program are PGWP-eligible on the same list before you accept an offer.

Step 2: Get a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL)

Most study permit applicants must include a PAL or TAL from the province or territory where they will study. Your school usually requests it for you. Canada also runs an annual cap on study permits, which is why the letter matters.

• From 1 January 2026, students in master’s or doctoral degree programs at public institutions do not need a PAL/TAL.
• Other exemptions exist (for example, some exchange and scholarship students). Check the official PAL/TAL page for your case.

Step 3: Show proof of funds

You must prove you can pay your first year of tuition and travel plus living costs. For a single student outside Quebec, the living-cost minimum is CAD 23,448 for applications made on or after 1 September 2026. The amount goes up for each family member who comes with you. Quebec has its own requirement.

• Bank statements for the past 6 months
• Proof of an education loan
• A Canadian guaranteed investment certificate (GIC)
• Scholarship letters or letters from a sponsor with proof of their income

A step many Nepali students forget: the NOC

Students from Nepal usually need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Nepal’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology before banks will transfer tuition or living funds abroad. Apply for it once you have your offer letter, and check the current process on the ministry’s official website.

Step 4: Apply online and give biometrics

Apply through your IRCC account with your acceptance letter, PAL/TAL, proof of funds, passport and any other documents requested. You will usually need to give biometrics (fingerprints and photo) and may be asked for a medical exam.

Working while you study

• During regular academic sessions: up to 24 hours per week off campus, if your study permit allows work and you stay enrolled.
• During scheduled breaks such as summer or winter holidays: unlimited hours.
• You need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work.
• Working more than 24 hours a week during term breaks your permit conditions and can cost you your student status.

After graduation: the post-graduation work permit (PGWP)

• Your program must be at least 8 months long at a PGWP-eligible school.
• Language test: CLB 7 (English) or NCLC 7 (French) in all four skills for university degree programs; CLB 5 / NCLC 5 for college and other non-university programs.
• Graduates of programs below bachelor’s level must also meet a field-of-study requirement linked to labour shortages. Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates are exempt from it.
• Apply within 180 days of getting confirmation that you completed your program.

What may change

Canada has changed its student rules several times since 2024: the study permit cap, PAL/TAL rules, work hours and PGWP conditions. Check the official pages again just before you apply, not only when you start planning.

Frequently Asked Questions About Studying in Canada

Official resources

• IRCC: Study permit
• IRCC: Proof of financial support
• IRCC: Provincial or territorial attestation letter
• IRCC: Work off campus
• IRCC: PGWP eligibility

Related guides

• USA vs Canada vs UK vs Australia
• How to build a student budget
• Finding housing and avoiding rental scams

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