A Letter of Acceptance (LOA) is an official document issued by a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada confirming that a student has been admitted to a specific program of study.
This document is required when applying for a Canadian Study Permit.
There are two types of acceptance letters:
Unconditional – you have met all the requirements and are fully admitted.
Conditional – you are admitted on the condition that you meet additional requirements, for example: submitting your final official transcripts or paying a portion of your tuition to secure your spot (tuition deposit).
Your LOA contains important details such as your student ID, program name, start and end dates, tuition fees, and the school’s DLI number — all required for your visa application.
Before applying, clearly define your academic and career goals. Canada offers multiple pathways for both undergraduate and postgraduate students:
Diploma or Advanced Diploma (1–3 years): Offered by colleges only, focused on practical skills, high school and bachelor graduates can apply, less competitive and easier to get accepted for programs.
Bachelor’s Degree (3–4 years): Offered by universities and collages, high school and bachelor graduates can apply. (bachelor graduates can apply for a second degree)
Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma (1–2 years): Offered by universities and collages, designed only for bachelor graduates, who seek career-focused training.
Master’s Degree (1–2 years): Offered by universities only, research- or coursework-based programs only for students with a bachelor’s degree.
When choosing a program, consider:
Your academic background, does it match the program requirements?
English proficiency requirements, does the program require a test? if so, the minimum scores?
Your budget, tuition and tuition deposit varies greatly across provinces and institutions?
You can only apply for a Canadian study permit if your school is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
A DLI is a college or university authorized by a provincial or territorial government to host international students.
You can find the full list of approved institutions on the official (IRCC) Canada’s DLI list. LINK – DLI
When researching institutions:
Check the province — tuition, living costs, and employment opportunities (for example, Ontario and British Columbia have higher living costs than Manitoba or New Brunswick).
Review program options and entry requirements — for each institution (some institutions may have high requirements for the programs you want to study, while other institutions might have less requirements for the same program).
Take note of application deadlines — If you miss deadlines you won’t be able to apply, these vary by intake (Fall, Winter, or Spring).
Canadian institutions require a set of documents to evaluate your eligibility. Always prepare scanned, clear, and properly labeled copies of your documents.
For Undergraduate Applicants:
Passport (valid, not expired)
Secondary school transcripts and graduation certificates
Proof of English proficiency, a letter that states your previous education was in English (from previous school or a government body), or if required an English test (IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo)
Statement of Purpose (if required)
For Postgraduate Applicants:
Bachelor’s degree certificate and full transcripts
Updated Resume (CV)
Statement of Purpose (motivation for studying the program)
Two Letters of Recommendation (academic or professional)
Proof of English proficiency
Important:
All non-English documents must be translated by an authorized translator.
Some institutions require notarized or attested copies.
Most Canadian institutions use online application portals. The process usually involves:
Creating an account on the university or college website.
Filling out the application form (personal info, education history, program choice).
Uploading required documents.
Paying the non-refundable application fee.
Typical application fees:
Colleges: CAD $100 – $200
Universities: CAD $150 – $250
Be sure all your details match across your passport, transcripts, and application — small errors can cause delays.
After submitting, the institution will review your application.
Processing times vary: but generally 2–6 weeks
During this period, institutions may contact you for:
Additional documents
Verification of grades or certificates
Online interviews (for some postgraduate programs)
If accepted, you’ll receive:
– Unconditional Acceptance Letter (There are no pending requirements) Or
– A Conditional Acceptance Letter (when there are pending requirements like, submitting your final official transcripts, paying a portion of your tuition to secure your spot (tuition deposit)).
Once your offer is finalized, the institution will send your Letter of Acceptance (LOA) by email (PDF).
Your LOA includes:
Student name and ID
Program and start date
DLI number
Tuition amount and tuition deposit instructions (if you haven’t already paid)
Any other conditions (if applicable)
To confirm your seat, you must accept your admission offer (acceptance letter). If you are accepted by multiple programs, you must choose one and accept the offer you choose.
By now you should have or will need to do two things,
1. Pay the tuition deposit, usually between CAD $1,000 and CAD $5,000 and is usually refundable if your student visa is refused (make sure to check the institutions refund policy’s).
2. Send your official transcripts directly from your previous school or government body to the institution (usually via email) (note that, it is only called “official transcript” when its sent from your previous school directly to the institutions (university’s)).
– Only after these two steps are complete, will your institution issue your Provencal Attestation Letter for you.
You will need your letter of acceptance (LOA) and provincial attestation letter (PAL) to apply for your student visa application (study permit).
Keep your tuition deposit payment slip (receipt), to use it for your student visa application.
When you apply to the IRCC (Canada embassy) ensure that their is enough processing time for your student visa before your program start date (you can always extend the program’s start date (study intake)).
| Step | Task | Typical Fee (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose A Program | Research DLI & program’s | — | Check IRCC DLI list |
| Document Prep | Collect transcripts, passport, etc. | — | Translate if needed |
| Take an English Test (if needed) | IELTS / TOEFL / Duolingo | 250–350 | Tests are valid for 2 years |
| Apply | Submit online application | 100–250 | Non-refundable |
| Institution review | Wait for school decision | — | May take 2–6 weeks |
| Confirm Offer | Pay deposit / Send official transcripts | 1,000–5,000 | To secure your seat (usually refundable, if visa is refused) |
| Receive LOA and PAL | Download PDF | — | Needed to apply for student visa (permit) |
