Étudier au Québec demande deux autorisations — dans le bon ordre.
1. Two authorizations, two governments
To study in Quebec you need two separate documents, issued by two governments:
- The CAQ for studies — issued by the Quebec government
- The study permit — issued by the federal government of Canada
The order is fixed: the CAQ first, then the study permit.
2. Step 1 — the CAQ for studies
The CAQ for studies is requested online from the MIFI, after receiving a letter of admission from a school.
Fees apply; check the amount and current processing time on the Quebec government site.
Important advantage: the CAQ for studies also serves as a provincial attestation letter, the document the federal government now requires to process most study permit applications. You have no separate step to obtain it.
3. Step 2 — the federal study permit
Once you have the CAQ, you apply for the study permit from IRCC. You attach the CAQ attestation.
The physical study permit is generally handed to you on arrival in Canada by the border officer. Check the conditions printed on it as soon as you receive it.
4. Working during your studies
The study permit generally allows off-campus work:
- Up to 24 hours per week during study sessions
- Full-time during official breaks (summer, winter, reading week)
This limit is set by the federal government and has changed before. Check the limit in force before taking a job, and track your hours closely. Exceeding it puts your study permit at risk.
5. After graduation
After your studies, the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) can let you work in Canada and gain experience that opens a path to permanent residence.
Its eligibility conditions — program length and type, recognized institution, language level — change regularly. Check the rules in force well before your studies end.
6. Your action list
Follow these steps in order to obtain your study authorizations. Check each box as you go — your progress is saved if you're signed in.
- Obtain a letter of admission from a recognized institution
- Apply for the CAQ for studies online from the MIFI
- Receive the CAQ attestation in your online file
- Apply for the study permit from the federal government with the CAQ attestation
- Prepare your arrival and pick up the physical permit at the border
- Verify the conditions printed on your study permit
7. Frequently asked questions
The most common questions on the CAQ and study permit: why two documents, what the provincial attestation letter is, timelines, and working during studies.
Why do you need two documents to study in Quebec?
Because immigration is a shared responsibility in Canada. Quebec chooses who it accepts on its territory — that's the CAQ. The federal government issues the permit that legally authorizes you to be in Canada as a student — that's the study permit.
Other provinces issue a separate provincial attestation letter; in Quebec, the CAQ for studies plays that role itself. You complete the Quebec step first, then the federal step.
How long do these steps take?
The processing times of the CAQ and study permit vary, and they have changed often in recent years. Do not rely on a number you saw on a forum.
Check the current processing time for the CAQ on the Quebec government site, and for the study permit on the federal IRCC site, before planning.
The safe rule: start the CAQ application as soon as you have your letter of admission, and never assume the documents will arrive 'just in time'.
My CAQ or permit is expiring — what do I do?
Both the CAQ and the study permit have an expiry date. If you continue or extend your studies, you must renew them before expiry — and once again, the CAQ first, then the study permit.
Filing your renewal before expiry of the current document lets you keep your status while you wait for the decision. Never let a permit lapse.
Can I work as soon as I arrive as a student?
The right to work off-campus comes from the conditions printed on your study permit — read them. When allowed, a weekly hour limit applies during sessions, and full-time is permitted during breaks.
You also need a SIN (Social Insurance Number) to work and be paid correctly — Service Canada issues it on the spot with your passport and study permit.
8. Official sources
For official and up-to-date information:
9. See also
These related resources may be useful:
- Parcours — International student — all your steps from the CAQ to permanent residence.
- The SIN — Social Insurance Number — needed to work off-campus.
- Learn French for free — free classes open to many students.
Author's Note: the only truly costly mistake here is mismanaging time. The CAQ first, the permit next, each with its own processing time. Get the machine moving the moment you have your letter of admission.
