Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)

Quebec runs its own immigration selection, so if you plan to study or work in the province, you usually need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate before the federal government will issue your permit. For students, this document is now the gateway to studying in Quebec, and the rules changed significantly for 2026, with the financial requirement more than tripling and a firm limit on how many student applications each school can send. This guide explains what the CAQ is, who needs one, how to apply through Quebec's immigration ministry, and how it fits with your federal study permit.

What Is the Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)?

The Quebec Acceptance Certificate, or Certificat d'acceptation du Quebec (CAQ), is a document issued by Quebec's Ministere de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Integration (MIFI). It confirms that Quebec has selected you to study or work temporarily in the province. Because of Quebec's special immigration agreement with the federal government, the province sets many of its own conditions, and its approval comes first. Once MIFI issues your CAQ, you present it to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to obtain the matching federal permit.

In other words, the CAQ is a provincial approval, and the study permit or work permit is the federal approval. You generally need both, in that order.

Who Needs a CAQ to Study in Quebec?

You need a CAQ for studies if you are an international student whose program in Quebec lasts more than six months. This applies to vocational, college, and university programs at a Quebec designated learning institution. A few points help clarify the boundaries:

• Programs of six months or less generally do not require a CAQ or a study permit, though you may still need a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization to enter Canada.
• Your school must be a designated learning institution. Confirm this before you pay a deposit. Our guide to the designated learning institution list explains how to check a school's status.
• Some applicants are exempt from the CAQ, often the same people who are exempt from needing a study permit at all. If you are unsure, confirm your situation before applying.

The CAQ and Your Study Permit: A Two-Stage Process

Studying in Quebec is a two-stage process. First, you apply to MIFI for the CAQ. Then, with the CAQ in hand, you apply to IRCC for the federal study permit. You cannot complete the federal stage without the provincial one.

The CAQ also does something specific for students bound for Quebec: it takes the place of the provincial attestation letter (PAL) that students in the rest of Canada must provide. Your CAQ includes the attestation IRCC needs to process your study permit under Canada's international student cap, so you do not obtain a separate PAL. One useful nuance for 2026: master's and doctoral students at public institutions are exempt from the national cap and do not need a PAL, yet if they are studying in Quebec they still need a CAQ. The provincial requirement stands on its own.

If you are already in Canada, for example as a visitor, the sequencing still matters. Our page on changing a visitor visa to a study permit explains when studying from inside Canada is possible.

How to Apply for a CAQ for Studies

Quebec has moved the CAQ for studies to a fully online process through its Arrima platform. In broad terms, you create an account, complete the application for temporary selection for studies, upload your documents, and pay the fee by credit card. MIFI then reviews your file and, if approved, posts your CAQ to your online account.

What You Need Before You Apply

• A letter of admission from your Quebec designated learning institution.
• A valid passport and personal details that match it exactly.
• Proof of financial capacity for tuition, travel, and living expenses, covered in detail below.
• A valid email address and a credit card to complete and pay for the online application.

The Application Process Step by Step

The CAQ for studies is applied for entirely online, across two connected systems: MIFI's Online application for temporary selection for studies, and the Arrima platform for payment and documents. Here is how the process runs from start to finish:

1. Get your letter of admission. Secure an offer from a Quebec designated learning institution for a program longer than six months. You cannot start the CAQ without it.
2. Complete the online application for temporary selection for studies. Open MIFI's application portal and fill in every field. You cannot save and finish later, so complete it in one sitting. Enter your name exactly as it appears in your passport, and answer the question about the application management rules carefully, since most applicants are not exempt and must answer "No." A wrong answer here can make your file inadmissible.
3. Note your file number. Within about 48 hours you receive a file number, beginning with the letters "C00," through the application portal. You will need it for the next steps.
4. Create or sign in to your Arrima account. Register on Arrima using the exact same name as in your passport and your application. If you already have an Arrima account, use it.
5. Pay the fee by credit card. In Arrima, select the International Student Program, enter your application number, and pay the processing fee. Pay promptly, as the payment window is short.
6. Get your personalized document checklist. After payment, return to your application account to receive the tailored list of documents and forms you must provide, including your proof of financial capacity and any required declaration of financial support.
7. Upload your supporting documents on Arrima. Submit all documents through Arrima within 15 days of paying. Sign by hand any forms that require it, and keep your originals in case MIFI asks to see them.
8. Wait for the decision. MIFI reviews your complete file, aiming for 25 business days in most cases. If something is missing or non-compliant, you receive a notice of intent to refuse and a chance to respond, which extends the timeline.
9. Receive your CAQ. If approved, an attestation of your CAQ is posted to your online MIFI account. MIFI no longer issues a paper CAQ, so the digital attestation is your document. Read it carefully and report any errors.
10. Apply for your study permit. Use your CAQ, which includes the attestation IRCC needs, to apply to IRCC for your federal study permit.

One note on representation: MIFI does not give priority to applications filed by a paid representative, and for the document submission stage in Arrima, only you can act on your own file. Professional help is most valuable in preparing a complete, accurate application, not in speeding up MIFI's queue.

Fees and Processing Times

The fee to review an application for temporary selection for studies is adjusted every January 1. As of January 1, 2026, the processing fee is in the range of CA$135, and it is non-refundable even if your application is refused. Confirm the current fee on Quebec's official page before you pay, since it changes yearly.

For timing, MIFI aims to decide a complete application within 25 business days in 80% of cases, measured from when it receives all required documents. An incomplete or non-compliant file takes longer. Because you still need to complete the federal study permit afterward, a sensible rule of thumb is to begin about four to six months before your program starts.

2026 Financial Capacity Requirements

This is the change most likely to affect your plans. Effective January 1, 2026, Quebec more than tripled the living-expense amount that many students must prove. A single applicant must now show CA$24,617 in available funds for living expenses for one year, up from CA$15,508 for adults and CA$7,756 for minors under the previous rules. The required amount increases with each accompanying family member, reaching roughly CA$34,814 for two adults and about CA$49,234 for a family of four.

Several details matter here:

• Living expenses are separate from tuition and travel. You must show you can cover all three.
• The same funds count twice. MIFI assesses your finances for the CAQ, and IRCC assesses the same pool for your study permit. You do not need to double the money.
• The requirement returns at renewal. If you extend your studies, you must meet the financial threshold again for both the CAQ renewal and the study permit extension.
• Quebec's amount now exceeds the federal figure that applies elsewhere in Canada, so students bound for Quebec face the higher of the two thresholds.

Document your funds carefully. Recent bank statements, official bank letters, proof of scholarships, and clear evidence of the source of your money all strengthen a file. Sudden large deposits without explanation are a common reason applications draw extra scrutiny.

Quebec's Limit on Student Applications

Quebec now caps how many CAQ for studies applications each institution can submit. Under application management rules in force since February 26, 2025, and an order covering the period from December 17, 2025 to December 16, 2027, MIFI sets a maximum number of applications per educational institution, school service centre, or school board for each one-year period. The limit applies to vocational, college, and university studies.

In practice, this means that if your school has already reached its maximum for the period, you cannot submit a CAQ application unless you qualify for an exemption. Freed places are reallocated on selected Thursdays. The takeaway for applicants is timing: confirm that your institution still has room, prepare a complete file, and apply early, because a strong application cannot help you if the institution's quota is full.

Conditions You Must Meet During Your Studies

A CAQ comes with obligations, and failing to meet them can lead to cancellation. Two are easy to overlook:

• Private health insurance. After arriving in Quebec, you generally have between 5 and 30 days to obtain private insurance unless you are covered under an agreement between Quebec and your home country. Missing this window can put your status at risk.
• Keeping your file current. MIFI communicates through your online account, so you must keep your file and email address up to date throughout your studies.

Renewing or Changing Your CAQ

Your CAQ is tied to your period of study. If your program runs longer than your current authorization, you must renew the CAQ and then extend your federal study permit, meeting the financial requirements again at both stages. Families should also note a 2026 procedural change: as of June 8, 2026, MIFI processes certain family cases sequentially, so a child's CAQ for studies application may need to wait until the principal applicant's work permit is approved rather than being filed at the same time.

Do You Need a CAQ to Work in Quebec?

The CAQ is not only for students. A Quebec employer hiring a foreign worker through a Labour Market Impact Assessment generally needs a CAQ as well, reflecting MIFI's agreement that the hire is positive or neutral for the local labour market. Short assignments of 30 days or less usually do not require one, and some workers whose permits are exempt from a Labour Market Impact Assessment may also be exempt from the CAQ. Because the work side has its own exceptions, confirm your specific category before assuming a CAQ is or is not required.

For many students, studying in Quebec is a step toward staying in Canada. After you graduate, a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) can let you gain Canadian work experience. From there, Quebec has its own permanent residence routes, such as the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) and the Quebec Skilled Worker Program, which increasingly emphasize French, with graduates generally expected to reach an advanced spoken French level to transition to permanent residence in the province.

If you later settle outside Quebec, federal options such as Express Entry may apply instead, and you can estimate your standing with our CRS score calculator. Whatever your destination, it helps to plan your route to permanent residence from the start, since your study and work choices shape which programs you qualify for. If your spouse or partner joins you, a spouse open work permit may also be part of the plan.

Quebec's two-stage process leaves little room for mismatched documents or missed deadlines, and the 2026 financial and quota changes raise the stakes further. SEP Immigration is a Toronto-based firm led by Sepehr Falahati, a licensed member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) and the Immigration and Refugee Board (member number R533959).

This page is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules, fees, and financial thresholds change often, and Quebec sets many of its own. Confirm current requirements on quebec.ca and canada.ca, or with a licensed representative, before you act.