Required authorizations to study in Québec as a foreign national

To follow a course of more than six months in Québec as a foreign student, you must obtain the following two documents:  

• Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) for studies, issued by the government of Québec;
• Study permit, issued by the government of Canada. 

To obtain these documents:

1. You must be admitted to a designated learning institutiony in Québec;
2. You must apply for temporary selection for studies as soon as you obtain your letter of admission from the learning institution where you intend to study in Quebec;
3. You must submit your application for a study permit to the Government of Canada as soon as you receive your letter confirming the issuance of your CAQ for studies. 

Before starting, check if you are in one of the situations where you do not need the Québec Acceptance Certificate for studies. 

You have no obligation to get a CAQ for studies if you are in one of the following situations:  

• You wish to study in a program of six months or less. (Please note: even if the duration of the study stay is less than 6 months, if the studies are part of a program with a total duration of more than 6 months, the foreign national must obtain a CAQ for studies.)
• You are participating in a federal assistance program for developing countries, for example if you have a scholarship from:
  • The Commonwealth;
  • Global Affairs Canada;
  • The Francophonie.
• You are a minor seeking asylum and were attending elementary or secondary school;
• You are a minor, you are already in Canada, and you are enrolled in elementary or secondary school (this exemption does not apply to children whose parents are visitors and who are not authorized to study or work);
• You are a recognized refugee or protected person in Canada;
• You are staying in Québec and your spouse who has Canadian citizenship or permanent residence has applied for an undertaking on your behalf;
• You have a temporary residence permit with a view to obtaining your permanent residence;
• You are authorized to study without a study permit;
• You hold a valid work permit (or a work authorization while awaiting extension of your work permit) from the government of Canada, and the application associated with that permit was received by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on or before June 7, 2023.

You can wait up to six weeks after your arrival in Canada to obtain your Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) if you are a legal resident of:

• United States;
• Greenland;
• Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.

Your accompanying minor child does not have to obtain a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) to study in Québec if you are in one of the following situations:  

• Yor child attends preschool;
• Your child is already in Québec, has the obligation to attend elementary or secondary school and you are staying in Québec: 
  • As a temporary foreign worker;
  • As a foreign student;
  • To receive medical treatment.
• You are a parent in one of the following situations:  
  • You are asking for asylum;
  • You are a recognized refugee;
  • You are a recognized protected person in Canada.

You cannot obtain a CAQ for studies if you are in one of these situations:

• You are completing your entire study program online, whether you are in Québec or abroad;
• You want to take French courses offered by the Québec government.