Study Permit Fees and Biometrics
A Canadian study permit application currently costs CAD $150 per person. Applicants who are required to provide biometrics generally pay an additional CAD $85, although exemptions and a family maximum biometrics fee may apply.
How Much Is the Canada Study Permit Fee?
The current IRCC processing fee for a Canadian study permit is CAD $150 per person.
The same CAD $150 processing fee applies to an application to extend a study permit.
This is the federal immigration processing fee. It is separate from tuition, school application fees, provincial requirements and other costs associated with studying in Canada.
Study permit, including an extension: CAD $150 per person. Immigration fees can change, so applicants should confirm the amount on IRCC's official fee list immediately before paying.
For the complete study permit framework, see Study Permit Canada: Complete Guide .
How Much Is the Biometrics Fee?
If biometrics are required, the current biometrics fee is CAD $85 for an individual.
For an eligible family of two or more people applying at the same time, the maximum total biometrics fee is CAD $170.
For the family maximum, eligible family members include a spouse or common-law partner, dependent children and their dependent children, subject to IRCC's applicable definition and requirements.
| Fee | Current amount |
|---|---|
| Study permit | CAD $150 per person |
| Study permit extension | CAD $150 per person |
| Biometrics — individual | CAD $85 |
| Biometrics — eligible family | Maximum CAD $170 |
The CAD $85 biometrics service fee is also reflected in section 315.1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).
What Are the Total IRCC Fees for a Study Permit?
For one applicant who must provide biometrics, the standard federal fees are currently:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Study permit processing fee | CAD $150 |
| Biometrics fee | CAD $85 |
| Total | CAD $235 |
If the applicant does not need to provide biometrics, the biometrics fee does not apply.
Family applications can involve different totals because each person may have a separate immigration application fee, while qualifying family members applying together may benefit from the CAD $170 maximum biometrics fee.
Paying the study permit application fee does not satisfy the financial requirement for a study permit. Applicants must separately demonstrate sufficient funds for the applicable tuition, living expenses and transportation requirements.
See Proof of Funds for a Canada Study Permit for the financial-support requirements.
Who Needs Biometrics for a Canada Study Permit?
Biometrics are an applicant's fingerprints and photograph. IRCC uses biometric information to help confirm identity and assess immigration applications.
Unless an exemption applies, a foreign national applying for an initial study permit or a study permit extension generally needs to provide biometrics.
For temporary-residence applications, this requirement must also be considered together with the 10-year biometrics validity rule. Applicants who already have valid temporary resident biometrics will normally not need to provide them again simply because they are submitting another study permit application.
Age for biometrics
The standard biometrics requirement generally applies to applicants who are at least 14 years old and no more than 79 years old when the application is submitted, unless another exemption applies.
IRCC assesses the age exemption using the applicant's age on the date the application was submitted.
For example, a child who was 13 when the application was submitted does not become subject to the requirement merely because the child turns 14 while the application is being processed.
Similarly, an applicant who was 79 when the application was submitted must still provide biometrics if required even if the applicant turns 80 during processing.
Who Is Exempt from Study Permit Biometrics?
Not every study permit applicant must provide biometrics. Relevant exemptions can include:
- children under 14 when the application is submitted;
- applicants over 79 when the application is submitted;
- U.S. nationals applying for a study permit;
- applicants who have already provided biometrics for a permanent residence application that remains in process, where IRCC's temporary-residence reuse rule applies; and
- certain other persons covered by specific statutory, regulatory or IRCC exemptions.
IRCC's current biometrics guidance excludes U.S. nationals from the biometrics requirement for study permit applications. This does not remove the other requirements for obtaining a study permit.
Biometrics rules depend on the type of application and the applicant's circumstances. An exemption that applies in one immigration process should not automatically be assumed to apply to another.
How Long Are Biometrics Valid?
For temporary-residence applications, biometrics are generally valid for 10 years.
If an applicant gave biometrics within the last 10 years for a temporary-residence application, IRCC will normally attach the valid biometrics to a new visitor visa, work permit, study permit or extension application.
This means a student generally does not need to provide biometrics every time a new temporary residence application is submitted while the existing biometrics remain valid.
Biometrics expiry can affect permit validity
There is an important limitation. IRCC states that it cannot issue a visa or permit beyond the expiry date of the applicant's biometrics.
If valid biometrics will expire before the requested period of authorization ends, an applicant may choose to provide biometrics again with the new application so that biometrics validity does not shorten the visa or permit.
To do this, IRCC instructs the applicant to pay the biometrics fee with the application, wait for a new biometric instruction letter and use that new letter to provide biometrics again.
If you previously provided biometrics, check their expiry date before submitting a study permit application. Biometrics that remain technically valid but expire soon can affect how long IRCC is able to issue the visa or permit.
When Should You Pay the Biometrics Fee?
If biometrics are required, IRCC instructs applicants to pay the biometrics fee when submitting the study permit application.
Paying the fee at the application stage allows IRCC to issue the biometric instruction letter and helps avoid unnecessary processing delays.
The study permit processing fee is also paid as part of the application process.
For the full application sequence, see How to Apply for a Study Permit in Canada .
What Is a Biometrics Instruction Letter?
After an applicant who needs biometrics submits the application and pays the required biometrics fee, IRCC issues a biometric instruction letter (BIL).
The BIL contains the instructions the applicant needs to provide fingerprints and a photograph at an authorized collection location.
Applicants should wait for the BIL before going to a biometrics collection location and should follow the instructions contained in the current letter.
If an application was refused because required biometrics were not provided and the applicant later reapplies, IRCC instructs the applicant to use the new BIL issued for the new application rather than attempting to use the old letter.
Where Do Study Permit Applicants Give Biometrics?
Biometrics must be provided at an official biometrics collection location.
Depending on where the applicant is located, authorized collection locations can include:
- Visa Application Centres (VACs) outside Canada;
- designated Service Canada locations inside Canada; and
- certain other authorized collection locations identified by IRCC.
Applicants in Canada who receive a BIL can use designated Service Canada biometrics collection locations and must follow the appointment requirements.
Can biometrics be given at a Canadian port of entry?
Only in limited circumstances.
IRCC states that biometrics can be provided at a port of entry only when the person is eligible to apply for a study or work permit at the port of entry and starts and completes that application there.
An applicant who has already submitted an application and received a BIL cannot simply provide those biometrics at the border. The applicant must use an authorized collection location applicable to that application.
How Long Do You Have to Give Biometrics?
Applicants should follow the deadline shown in their biometric instruction letter and arrange collection as soon as possible after receiving it.
A biometrics appointment is not the same as the date the study permit application was submitted. The applicant first submits the application and, where required, receives the BIL before completing biometrics.
Failure to provide required biometrics within the applicable period can prevent IRCC from completing the application and may result in a refusal.
Use the deadline and instructions contained in the biometric instruction letter issued for the application. Do not rely on an old BIL from a previous application.
Do Study Permit Extensions Require Biometrics?
A study permit extension can be subject to the biometrics requirement.
The former broad temporary exemption for temporary-residence applicants applying from inside Canada ended in 2023. Biometrics collection resumed for in-Canada temporary residence applications, including study permit extensions.
However, the 10-year temporary-resident biometrics rule remains important. A student whose biometrics are still valid will normally not need to provide them again for an extension.
If the existing biometrics will expire during the requested extension period, the student should consider the effect of that expiry before submitting the application.
For the extension process, see Study Permit Extension in Canada .
Other Costs in a Study Permit Application
The CAD $150 study permit fee and any applicable biometrics fee are not necessarily the only costs associated with an application.
Depending on the applicant's circumstances, separate costs may arise for:
- an immigration medical examination;
- police certificates;
- translations;
- document preparation or certification;
- services offered by a Visa Application Centre;
- tuition deposits or school-related fees;
- provincial or territorial processes; and
- Quebec immigration requirements where applicable.
These are not all IRCC study permit processing fees. Some are paid directly to a school, physician, service provider, provincial authority or other third party.
IRCC specifically notes that third-party costs may include medical examinations, police certificates and services at a Visa Application Centre.
Study Permit Fees and Biometrics FAQs
How much does a Canadian study permit cost?
The current federal study permit processing fee is CAD $150 per person.
How much are biometrics for a study permit?
The current fee is CAD $85 for an individual. An eligible family of two or more people applying together can pay a maximum total biometrics fee of CAD $170.
What is the total fee if one student needs biometrics?
Based on the current fees, the study permit fee of CAD $150 plus the individual biometrics fee of CAD $85 equals CAD $235.
Does every study permit applicant need biometrics?
No. Biometrics exemptions apply in specified circumstances. Applicants with valid reusable temporary-resident biometrics also generally do not need to provide them again until required.
Do U.S. citizens need biometrics for a study permit?
No. Under IRCC's current biometrics rules, U.S. nationals applying for a study permit are excluded from the biometrics requirement.
Does a 13-year-old need to provide biometrics?
No. A child who is under 14 when the application is submitted is exempt from the biometrics requirement.
Does an applicant who is 80 need biometrics?
An applicant who is over 79 when the application is submitted is generally exempt. Age is assessed at the time of application, so a person who was 79 when applying may still need to provide biometrics even if they turn 80 during processing.
How long are study permit biometrics valid?
Biometrics used for temporary-residence applications are generally valid for 10 years.
Can I give biometrics again before they expire?
Yes. IRCC permits a temporary-residence applicant to provide biometrics again in connection with a new application if the existing biometrics will expire before the requested visa or permit validity. The applicant must follow IRCC's process, including paying the biometrics fee and using the new BIL.
Is the biometrics fee included in the $150 study permit fee?
No. The study permit processing fee and the biometrics fee are separate. An applicant who is required to provide biometrics generally pays both.
Do I pay separately for a visa or eTA with my study permit?
When a study permit applicant needs a temporary resident visa or electronic travel authorization for travel to Canada, IRCC states that it will issue the required TRV or eTA with the approved study permit application. The applicant does not submit a separate application or pay a separate TRV or eTA fee as part of that process.
Does paying the fee mean the study permit will be approved?
No. Paying the required fees allows the application to be processed. The applicant must still meet all applicable study permit and admissibility requirements.
Immigration fees and biometrics requirements can change. Confirm the current amount, exemptions and collection instructions directly with IRCC before submitting an application or making a payment.