Canada Study Visa for Arab Students: Application Steps and Documents by Country of Residence

A study permit authorizes study; it is not a travel document. Depending on citizenship and travel documents, you may also need a temporary resident visa or an electronic travel authorization. When an overseas study application is approved, IRCC issues the necessary entry document as part of the process, without a separate application or additional fee for that document.

Generally apply before travelling. Certain programs lasting six months or less, completed during your authorized stay, may be exempt from a study permit; entry requirements still apply. If you intend to continue in another program, check your permit requirements before travelling.

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You must demonstrate enrolment at a designated institution, sufficient funds, compliance with the law, health and security requirements, and that you will leave Canada when your authorized stay ends. Admission alone does not guarantee approval.

Check the school and campus on the DLI list and enter the correct DLI number. Listing does not mean every program qualifies for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). Before paying, check your program and campus eligibility and the language and field-of-study requirements relevant to your qualification and application date.

Admission requirements vary. Check the institution's qualifications, grades, prerequisites, teaching language, accepted tests, deadlines, fees and deposit refund policy. Apply through its designated channel and obtain an official letter of acceptance (LOA).

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Check your name, institution, program, start and end dates or duration, fees, registration deadline and conditions. Explain how you will meet any conditions; do not present conditional admission as unconditional.

Upload only your LOA in its dedicated field. IRCC asks post-secondary institutions to validate it; failure to respond by the deadline may lead to return of the application and refund of processing fees. Follow up with the school when needed.

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Most applications require a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL), obtained through the institution under provincial procedures. Acceptance of the offer and partial or full tuition payment may be required; check payment and refund conditions.

Exemptions include preschool, primary and secondary education, degree-granting master's and doctoral programs at public DLIs from January 1, 2026, and eligible FMCSP applications. Other exchange, scholarship and special-case exemptions exist: use the official assessment tool. Upload exemption evidence where applicable. Required letters must be valid when the application is received. Exemption from PAL/TAL does not automatically exempt you from a Quebec CAQ.

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Most students need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) before their federal application. Obtain admission and check the institution's application limit or your exemption. Create an Arrima account, complete the temporary selection application in one session and create the consultation profile for notifications. An unfinished application cannot be saved for later. Pay through Arrima within one hour of submission for the application to count as submitted.

After payment, obtain the personalized document list and file number, available within 48 hours. Submit the required documents through Arrima within 15 days, with names matching your passport. Scan all pages of each document into one legible, complete, non-editable PDF. After approval, download the CAQ issuance attestation and upload it according to the federal application's fields.

The 2026 fee is CAD 135. Decisions are issued within 25 business days for 80% of complete applications, not a guaranteed deadline. An institution's allocation may prevent an application when full unless an exemption applies.

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For residents of the Arab countries covered here, financial evidence is presented to the Canadian visa office with the study permit application, for assessment under Quebec criteria. Financial documents are submitted through Arrima for residents of the specified territories, such as Canada, France and the United States. Follow your individual instructions.

The personalized list may require passport identity pages, photo, signature and validity; applicants aged 18 or over whose passport lacks a signature also need official photo identification bearing their signature. Prepare the detailed admission letter, signed declarations, undertakings and authorizations, and financial evidence.

Depending on the case, evidence includes six months of bank statements, a scholarship letter stating amount, duration and payments, an education loan, GIC, tuition receipts, or authorization to transfer funds where exchange controls apply. A sponsor supplies a signed financial support declaration and detailed financial evidence. Documents outside French or English need a professional translator's signed certified translation under Quebec rules. Handwritten signatures, scanned copies and handwritten signatures made with a device are accepted; a typed name is not. Minors and renewals require additional documents.

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For applications from September 1, 2026, annual living expenses including the applicant and accompanying family are CAD 23,448 for one person; 29,192 for two; 35,888 for three; 43,572 for four; 49,419 for five; 55,736 for six; 62,054 for seven; and 6,318 for each additional person.

Add tuition and return travel costs. Do not rely on future employment in Canada to meet the requirement. Demonstrate first-year resources and explain funding for the remainder if the program exceeds one year.

Show available funds and their origin: six months of statements including the application month or preceding month, income and transfer records, or appropriate scholarship, loan or GIC evidence. These are alternatives, not documents everyone must supply. A sponsor's letter should state occupation and income, relationship, dependants and support amount, with relationship evidence and photo identification or business registration. Demonstrate ability to export the money where currency controls apply.

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From January 1, 2026, annual essential expenses are CAD 24,617 for one person; 34,814 for two; 42,638 for three; 49,234 for four; 55,045 for five; 60,299 for six; plus 5,254 for each person beyond six.

Add tuition and return travel. Essential expenses include food, housing and settlement, clothing, local transportation, health and hospitalization insurance, and other necessities. Do not mix Quebec's figures with those for other provinces. Check annual updates when applying in another year.

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There is no single test imposed on all students in this guide. Separate the institution's admission language requirement from the proof required by your visa office or application stream. One may not satisfy the other.

Read Algeria's and Jordan's sections and the FMCSP French-test requirements. The absence of a named test in a local checklist does not mean the school admits students without language evidence or that IRCC cannot request additional information.

Explain your actual reasons for choosing Canada and the program, its relationship to your education and experience, alternatives researched in your country, career value and ties to your country of citizenship or residence. Explain funding, study gaps and changes of subject, with appropriate evidence.

Cairo, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi require a one-page plan answering their checklist questions. Amman requires a one-page statement in your own words and disclosure of translator, software or AI use. Follow your office's questions rather than copying a generic story.

Select the country from which you apply when obtaining local IRCC instructions, and disclose all citizenships and your lawful residence status. An Egyptian student living legally in Saudi Arabia follows Saudi application instructions and provides residence evidence; citizenship and travel history may affect other requirements.

The following local additions supplement the shared documents. The reviewed checklists are dated February 2026. Open your application country's official package again when starting to obtain current versions and forms.

IMM 0152 requires lawful residence evidence for non-citizens, Schedule 1 for a “yes” background answer, the latest diploma and program transcripts, and highlighting compulsory placement information in the LOA.

Language results must be from the past 24 months: TCF Canada or TEF Canada for French; IELTS General Training, CELPIP–G or PTE Core for English. A letter from the institution where you completed studies in the proposed program's language may also be used. Upload language evidence under Client information.

Funding evidence includes income and available funds, bank certification and six months of transactions, employment/pay evidence and CNAS, CASNOS or CNR documents as applicable. A sponsor supplies a signed undertaking, relationship and reason for support. Scholarship evidence must state amount, duration and conditions; in IMM 1294 select “Other” for responsibility for expenses and enter “Scholarship” with its description, supplementing any shortfall with other funds.

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Rabat's IMM 5846 requires applicants aged 18 or over to provide Morocco's Fiche anthropométrique and criminal records from every country where they lived for more than six months. Verify the exact document instead of substituting another certificate.

Provide employment or internship evidence where applicable, and available diplomas and transcripts from the last two years of secondary school leading to the BAC through subsequent studies. Include the original-language copy and certified translation where needed. Submit a completed signed Schedule 1 for any “yes” background answer. Check FMCSP eligibility if relevant.

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IMM 5852 for residents of Tunisia and Libya requires diplomas and transcripts with English or French translations where needed, a residence permit copy if living in a country of which you are not a citizen, and completed signed Schedule 1 for a “yes” background answer.

Add these to admission, funding, PAL/TAL or exemption evidence and your personal checklist. A Tunisian citizen may qualify for FMCSP; residence in Tunisia alone does not establish eligibility.

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Cairo's IMM 5824 specifies passport validity of at least six months from travel, previous cancelled or expired passports where applicable, and residence status evidence for non-citizens. For paper photographs, provide two taken within six months, signed and dated, with name and date of birth on the reverse.

Provide a one-page plan addressing Canada, the program, educational goal, local alternatives, employment prospects and ties; for a minor, explain study reasons and parents' residence status. Provide a CV if more than two years have passed since leaving full-time education.

Funding evidence includes sponsor undertaking and documents, scholarship, investment or rental income, statements covering several months and tuition payment evidence. Supply signed IMM 5707. Schedule 1 applies to specified citizenships, Palestinian Authority travel document holders, or “yes” answers to background questions 3–7: non-Egyptians should check the full list.

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Riyadh's IMM 5847 specifies a separate passport for every traveller, valid six months on arrival, and payment evidence. Provide diplomas and transcripts from all previous institutions, including language and vocational training; current students provide enrolment confirmation.

Non-Saudis provide their Iqama and exit/re-entry visa. Scholarship letters state name, date of birth, program, level, institution and covered family members. Without a scholarship, recommended evidence includes the student's or parents' employment letters stating position, salary, service period and contract dates, certified by the Saudi Chamber of Commerce, four to six months of statements and tuition/housing receipts or loan evidence. Prepare six months to align with current federal guidance.

For non-parent sponsorship explain relationship, reasons and capacity. The one-page study plan also explains funding and siblings studying in Canada or elsewhere. Returning students supply the expired study permit, academic standing and anticipated return evidence and Canadian transcripts. Provide minor custodianship and parental identification as instructed, and Schedule 1 when applicable.

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Beirut's IMM 5820 requires a passport valid six months from travel and prior passports; two recent signed, dated photographs with reverse-side details; and non-Lebanese applicants' residence status.

Provide a civil registry extract certified by the relevant Mohafazat census registry chief with translation, and a translated police certificate. Supply LOA and evidence of meeting admission conditions, IMM 5707, the latest diploma or latest grades certified by the Ministry of Education if the diploma is unavailable, and employment letters for academic gaps.

The checklist mentions four months of statements, a notarized sponsor undertaking and scholarship or income records; prepare six months to align with current federal guidance. Schedule 1 applies to “yes” background answers. Those with military service provide detailed IMM 5546: dates, ranks, training, duties, units, locations, operations, arrest/interrogation involvement and support roles where applicable, without abbreviations, following the last two pages' instructions.

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Amman's IMM 5817 requires detailed LOA, previous diplomas and transcripts, and language test results within two years: CELPIP, PTE, IELTS, TOEFL, TCF, TEF, DALF or DELF. Do not invent a test variant or minimum score; also check school requirements.

Supply a one-page statement in your own words, disclosing translator, software or AI assistance. Provide six months of statements and sponsor evidence; a Canadian sponsor supplies income and legal-status evidence, such as T4 or Notice of Assessment where applicable.

If you worked within three years, supply detailed employment letters with period, position, salary and duties, or business/income/licence/contracts evidence for self-employment. If you travelled outside your residence country, include all current passport pages and detailed travel history. Provide non-citizen residence evidence, explain why a spouse or children will not accompany you, and apply for study permits for accompanying school-age children under the office's instructions. Disclose helpers' details and supply Schedule 1 for “yes” answers. Additional rules apply to residents of Syria and Iran.

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All five official packages link to Abu Dhabi's IMM 5814. Each traveller needs a separate passport with at least one blank page and validity for one month beyond intended departure from Canada. Include the latest Gulf residence visa if not affixed to the passport.

Provide funds and source evidence, sponsor undertaking and documents or scholarship, statements and payment receipts. Non-parent sponsorship requires relationship, reasons and financial capacity. Include scholarships, tuition receipts, marriage/children's birth certificates or IMM 5409 as applicable, eMedical proof if completed, and Schedule 1 for “yes” background answers.

For a minor travelling alone or with one parent provide custody evidence or the other parent's consent with signed identity-document copy. A one-page plan covers program choice, alternatives, career benefits, ties, the minor's parents' residence status and education history with dates, schools and qualifications. Instructions for applicants using Pakistani or Afghan centres are specific, not general Gulf rules.

These passport minima are not advice to use a short-validity passport: consider your study duration because immigration documents may be limited by passport expiry. For online applications upload copies and submit originals only following IRCC's instructions; do not automatically apply paper-submission steps online.

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FMCSP is available to citizens of specified countries, including Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Lebanon among the countries in this guide; Algeria is not listed. Apply from outside Canada, with a participating DLI's LOA explicitly identifying FMCSP, for a full-time post-secondary program lasting at least two years, leading to a degree or diploma and taught more than 50% in French.

Demonstrate NCLC 5 or higher in all four skills through TEF Canada or TCF Canada. No PAL/TAL is required. Living-funds requirements depend on the community size of the institution: use the FMCSP table rather than automatically applying ordinary figures. Citizenship alone is insufficient; medical, security and local-document requirements still apply as relevant.

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Follow the forms generated by your account and local package. Common or conditional forms include IMM 1294, family IMM 5707, checklist IMM 5483, IMM 5257 Schedule 1 for relevant backgrounds/citizenships, custodianship IMM 5646, common-law IMM 5409 and representative IMM 5476.

Download current versions. Open required PDFs in Acrobat Reader and use Validate as instructed. Online IMM 1294 signing follows account instructions; other forms may require actual signatures. For documents outside English/French, include source and translation under certified-translation rules. The IRCC guide requires the translator's affidavit when not a Canadian certified translator. Neither you nor your relatives may translate your documents. Specific certification requirements do not mean blanket diplomatic legalization of the entire file.

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Required paper photographs: two identical photos taken within six months, white or light background, full frontal face and neutral expression, frame at least 35 × 45 mm and chin-to-crown head size 31–36 mm. No digital alteration. Religious coverings are allowed with facial features visible; non-tinted prescription glasses must not obscure the eyes.

For online applications follow the digital-photo field's size and format requirements, not paper dimensions alone. Apply local reverse-side names, birth dates, signatures and dates where requested.

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Study exceeding six months alone does not settle the question. Relevant factors include six consecutive months in specified countries during the preceding year and studies/work in public-health-sensitive fields, including medicine, care and work with children. Use the official tool with your residence/travel history and intended field.

Use an IRCC panel physician, not any doctor. Complete an upfront examination under the instructions and upload its proof, or follow IRCC's request. Bring identification, glasses, reports, medication list and any issued medical form; four photos may be needed without eMedical. Charges vary by doctor and tests. Results normally remain valid 12 months and must be valid on entry.

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Each accompanying family member needs appropriate applications, documents and fees, relationship evidence and family funding. Spousal open work permits are not automatic: eligible categories include master's programs of 16 months or more, doctoral programs and specified professional degrees/programs, including FMCSP, under current rules.

Children coming from abroad to study should check study permit requirements rather than relying on visitor visas. An LOA exemption may apply when accompanying a parent applying for a study/work permit under the official conditions.

A child under 17 without a parent/legal guardian needs a Canadian custodian. The custodian signs and notarizes page one of IMM 5646 in Canada; parents sign and notarize page two at home. From 17 to provincial majority, an officer may request custodianship. Prepare travel consent, custody and non-accompanying parental identification as needed.

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Study permits cost CAD 150 per person; biometrics CAD 85 when required, with a CAD 170 family maximum for eligible members applying together under the rules. An individual needing biometrics generally pays CAD 235 for these federal fees.

Additional expenses may include CAQ, admission, tests, translation, medical exam, police records, VAC services and courier. Refusal does not automatically refund processing fees. Tuition payment does not guarantee approval: check school refund policies.

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Open the official application page, select outside Canada and your country. Use the account pathway IRCC directs you to, with a scanner/camera and accepted payment method. Answer citizenship, residence, program, family and background questions truthfully to generate your personal checklist.

Complete required forms; upload clear complete documents in the correct fields and permitted formats/sizes. Include PAL/TAL or exemption evidence, CAQ if needed and local additions. Put only LOA in the LOA field. Review names, dates, previous refusals, education, work and travel; pay, sign and submit as directed. Keep receipt and application number and monitor account/email deadlines.

Online is the normal requirement. Paper is restricted to exceptions such as disability preventing online submission or specified refugee, stateless or non-national travel documents. Use a paper package only if eligible.

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Usually required for ages 14–79, subject to exemptions and normally ten-year validity for prior temporary-resident biometrics. Check existing validity before paying again. After submission/payment, receive BIL, book an official collection site and attend within 30 days of the letter date with passport, letter and required centre documents.

Use IRCC's official directory to choose country/city and follow its linked centre website for current appointments, documents, services and fees. Check operation before travelling. VACs collect biometrics and transmit documents; IRCC decides applications. Booking is not application submission or approval. Follow the later passport request for where and how to submit your passport.

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There is no fixed period for every country. Use IRCC's processing-time tool for overseas study permits and your application country. Estimates change; interviews, documents or medical checks can add time. Start early and avoid irreversible travel bookings based only on estimates.

SDS ended November 8, 2024; do not follow outdated promises of that route. Eligible doctoral applicants applying online from abroad may receive faster processing with complete documents, translations and fees, biometrics within two weeks of BIL, and school LOA validation. IRCC aims for two weeks after LOA validation, not from submission. Complex/incomplete cases may be excluded; eligible accompanying family applying together may benefit.

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Monitor your account and respond to documents, interview and medical requests by their deadlines. If you defer during processing, obtain the school's approval and updated LOA and submit it through the account or official web form.

Approval brings a port-of-entry introduction letter and required travel document. The letter is not the final study permit; issuance is completed on entry subject to border assessment. Read refusal reasons and address them with appropriate evidence before a new application; resubmitting the same file does not itself resolve the problem.

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Carry passport, valid entry document, introduction letter, correct/current LOA, funds evidence, documents requested by the visa office, applicable CAQ, valid medical results where required and children's documents in hand luggage. Arrange accommodation address and school contacts.

There is no universal earliest-arrival date; allow reasonable settling time. For deferral after approval obtain a current LOA and valid introduction letter. Changing DLI outside Canada after approval requires a new study application, new LOA and fees.

Check permit name, school, validity and work conditions when issued and report errors. Do not work before studies begin. Also check institution insurance, accommodation and enrolment arrangements.

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Eligible students may work off campus up to 24 hours weekly during terms and full-time during scheduled breaks under the conditions. An eligible program, actual study start, suitable permit conditions and SIN are required. Language-only, general-interest or admission prerequisite courses do not automatically qualify; do not work during an ineligible interruption.

From April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for student placements. Placement conditions still apply. Some earlier local checklists mention a placement permit: use current placement instructions. Secondary students follow different rules.

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Check school, campus, DLI number, program, language and dates against LOA. Verify valid LOA, PAL/TAL or exemption and applicable CAQ. Confirm tuition, living and travel funding, source evidence, sponsor and family documents.

Add every applicable local requirement including language, police, employment and military records. Ensure readable documents, compliant translations and properly completed/signed forms. Disclose citizenship, residence, prior refusals, background, gaps and travel truthfully and consistently. Check spouse, children, custodianship and travel consent cases. Know how to pay, monitor the account, give biometrics and respond to IRCC.

This guide covers shared and local steps as of the review date. Your personal checklist, visa office instructions and additional requests remain decisive for your individual case. Admission and complete documents do not guarantee approval.