Canada Study Permit from Nigeria: Requirements & Costs

A Canada study permit lets Nigerians study at a Canadian college or university. You apply for it once you hold a Letter of Acceptance from a school on Canada’s approved list. The permit is not the visa sticker itself: most applicants are also issued a visitor visa to enter the country.

IRCC decides study permits on a clear test: are you a genuine student who can fund the program and will follow its rules? Build your file around that.

Canada study permit requirements for Nigerians

You apply online through an IRCC account, pay the fees, then give biometrics at a VAC in Lagos or Abuja. Prepare:

• Letter of Acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). The school must be on IRCC’s DLI list, or your permit cannot be approved.
• Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from the province or territory of your school. Most applicants now need one, and the DLI usually issues it after you accept your place.
• Proof of funds covering first-year tuition plus living costs. The living-cost benchmark is around CAD 20,635 per year as of 2026. Confirm the current amount on the IRCC website.
• A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) is one accepted way to show living costs. You buy it from a Canadian bank and it releases funds to you in Canada. It is optional, not mandatory.
• A valid passport covering your study period.
• A study plan or statement of purpose explaining the program, why this school, and how it fits your goals.
• Proof of ties to Nigeria, such as family, property or career plans, to show your intent.

Proof of funds in detail

Funds are the most common sticking point. You must show first-year tuition and the living-cost benchmark, and ideally your return travel.

The money should sit in accounts you can explain, not a single large deposit that appears just before you apply. A GIC plus a paid first-term tuition receipt is a clean, well-understood combination. For the wider picture, see our proof of funds guide.

How much a study permit costs

The study permit fee is CAD 150, plus CAD 85 biometrics, about CAD 235 total. You pay in Canadian dollars online and your card handles the Naira conversion. Fees are set by IRCC and can change, so check the official site.

You may also need a medical exam from an IRCC-approved panel physician. This is required for many longer programs and for some fields of study. Budget for the panel clinic fee separately.

How long it takes and the SDS change

Canada does not publish a fixed timeline. Use IRCC’s processing-time tool for the current estimate for Nigeria, which can range from several weeks to a few months.

One important change: the Student Direct Stream (SDS) was discontinued in November 2024. There is no longer a fast-track GIC route. Every Nigerian applicant now uses the regular study permit stream, so apply early and expect standard processing.

Why study permits get refused

Most Nigerian study permit refusals come down to a short list of officer concerns:

1. Funds, where the money is insufficient, recent or unexplained.
2. Purpose of study, where the program choice or career logic is unclear.
3. Ties and intent, where the officer is not convinced you will respect the permit’s terms.

The fix is rarely just more money. It is a clearer study plan, clean financials, and a program that makes sense for your background.

How Oya Visa helps

We check your file against the exact points IRCC officers cite, sharpen your study plan, and make sure your funds and acceptance documents read clearly. See our pricing, or browse the full visa guides hub. Visiting first or comparing options? Start with our Canada visitor visa guide.