Canada

Documents for a Canada Study Permit from Bangladesh: Checklist

6 min read · Checked against official sources in October 2026

Start with the official checklist

Apply online from outside Canada, unless you fall under one of IRCC's paper exceptions. The online tool asks questions and builds a personal document checklist. Also choose Bangladesh on IRCC's study page to see the local visa office instructions, because local offices can ask for extra documents.

IRCC says to submit as many documents as you can at the start. Waiting to send them later causes delays, and an incomplete application will not be finalized. This is the short list most students work from.

• Letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI).
• Provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL or TAL), Quebec's CAQ, or proof that you are exempt.
• Passport information page and two recent passport-size photos.
• Proof of funds for the first year.
• Letter of explanation, which IRCC recommends.
• Medical exam, police certificate and biometrics, when required.

Letter of acceptance and PAL

The letter of acceptance must come from a designated learning institution. IRCC says that if the school is not a DLI, it will refuse your application. For post-secondary programs, the school must validate the letter.

Most students also need a PAL or TAL, issued by the province or territory where you will study. It confirms you have been given one of its study spaces. In most cases you must accept your offer and pay tuition, in part or in full, to get it. Your school tells you how to apply. Each applicant needs their own, and it goes in with your study permit application, not afterwards.

A PAL is valid until 31 December of its cap year, and you cannot use one from an earlier year. From 1 January 2026, master's and doctoral students at public DLIs do not need a PAL, and neither do school students up to Grade 12. If you are exempt, you must include proof. Quebec uses its own CAQ.

Proof of funds

IRCC wants to see enough money for your first year. For one person outside Quebec, applying on or after 1 September 2026, the living-expense minimum is CAD 23,448 a year. For two family members it is CAD 29,192, and the table rises for larger families. These amounts do not include tuition or travel. Quebec is covered separately, so check the official page if you plan to study there.

Documents IRCC lists include the following. The list is not complete, and your visa office may ask for more.

• Bank statements for the past 6 months, showing the source of income.
• Receipts showing the first year's tuition and housing fees are paid.
• A Canadian bank account in your name, or a GIC from a Canadian financial institution.
• A bank education loan or a scholarship letter.
• Recent pay stubs.
• A letter from the person supporting you, with their job, relationship to you, dependants and the amount, plus ID or business registration.

Bangladeshi papers that support your story

IRCC does not name a bank solvency certificate, a TIN certificate or a tax return as required documents. It asks you to show your funds, their source and the sponsor's relationship to you. Bangladeshi families often use the papers below to explain those points. Use them only if they match what your visa office instructions ask.

If your country has foreign exchange controls, IRCC says you must also show you can send funds out for your expenses. Read the Bangladesh visa office instructions on this point. For a program longer than one year, explain how you will fund the full program.

• Bank statements, and a solvency certificate for the same account if your bank issues one.
• The sponsor's TIN certificate and recent tax return.
• Job letter and salary slips, or trade licence and business papers.
• Land, property or savings records, if they are part of your funds.
• Birth certificate, NID or family certificate that shows the parent and child link.

Medical, police certificate, biometrics and fees

Medical exam: you may need one if you plan to stay more than 6 months and certain conditions apply, such as time spent in listed countries. Check IRCC's rules for your case. Your own doctor cannot do it. You must use a panel physician approved by IRCC, and results are valid for 12 months.

Police certificate: IRCC may ask for one, so apply early if you think you will need it. In Bangladesh the certificate is applied for online through the police portal, pcc.police.gov.bd, and your scan must show the seal and signature.

Biometrics: most people aged 14 to 79 give fingerprints and a photo, generally once every 10 years. You have 30 days from your biometrics letter. IRCC lists visa application centres in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet, and you must book an appointment. IRCC's fees are CAD 150 for the study permit and CAD 85 for biometrics. Medical, police, test and centre service costs are paid directly to those providers.

Letter of explanation and common mistakes

IRCC recommends a letter that explains why you want to study in Canada and shows you understand your responsibilities as an international student. Some visa office checklists ask for more, such as why you chose this program and how it fits your past studies and future plans. Write in your own words and be specific. A copied template says nothing about you.

A refusal letter lists the reasons. IRCC names common ones, such as an invalid acceptance letter, not enough proof of funds, or an officer not being convinced you will leave Canada at the end of your studies. Avoid these mistakes.

• Sending an incomplete application and planning to add papers later.
• Using an acceptance letter from a school that is not a DLI.
• An expired PAL, or no new PAL after changing school.
• Funds that do not cover tuition, living costs and travel together.
• Bank statements with no source of income, or a sponsor letter with no relationship proof.
• A study plan that does not match your past education or your documents.

What IGC counsellors check with you

IGC counsellors go through your documents with you before you submit. We check that names, dates and amounts match across every paper, that your sponsor can explain the source of funds, and that your study plan makes sense. We cannot promise a visa. The decision belongs to IRCC. Figures and rules change, so confirm everything on the official pages.

Frequently asked questions

Is a bank solvency certificate compulsory for a Canada study permit?

IRCC's list does not name it. IRCC does ask for proof of funds, such as six months of bank statements showing the source of income. A solvency certificate can support those statements, but follow your visa office instructions.

Do I need an IELTS score to apply for the study permit?

IRCC's document list does not include a language test score. Your school may require one for admission. Check your visa office instructions and the personal checklist from IRCC's online tool, because requirements can change.

Can I send some documents later?

IRCC says to submit as many documents as you can at the start. It warns that an incomplete application will not be finalized and that sending papers late causes delays. Prepare everything before you press submit.

Do I need a medical exam from Bangladesh?

It depends on your case. IRCC says you may need one if you plan to stay more than 6 months and certain conditions apply. If one is needed, it must be done by an IRCC-approved panel physician.

To check your documents before you apply, book a free profile assessment with IGC. A counsellor will tell you honestly what looks complete and what still needs work.