Studying in Quebec: the CAQ, proof of funds and how it differs from the rest of Canada

Why is Quebec different?

Quebec has its own agreement with the federal government on immigration. Because of this, Quebec chooses which international students it accepts. In other provinces, you deal mainly with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). In Quebec, you deal with two governments.

1. Quebec: the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) is Quebec’s immigration ministry. It gives you a Quebec Acceptance Certificate for studies (in French, Certificat d’acceptation du Québec, or CAQ).
2. Canada: IRCC then decides on your study permit.

You need both. A CAQ alone does not let you enter Canada, and IRCC will not issue a study permit for a Quebec school without the CAQ.

Quebec vs other provinces at a glance

Sources: Québec.ca (CAQ fee, processing, costs of studies) and IRCC (PAL page and 2026 cap allocations), checked October 10, 2026.

How do I apply for a CAQ?

Quebec’s CAQ page lists these steps (as of October 2026):

1. Get admitted. You need a letter of admission from a Quebec school. It must show the program, diploma type, start and end dates, credits or hours, and the tuition amount.
2. Prepare your documents. These include your passport pages, the signed Declaration, Undertakings and Authorization form, and proof of financial capacity.
3. Create an Arrima account and fill in the online application.
4. Pay the $135 fee within 1 hour of submitting the form.
5. Watch for your file number. Quebec says you receive it within 48 hours of payment. You then have 15 days to submit your documents in Arrima.
6. Wait for the decision. Quebec says it decides within 25 business days of receiving a complete application in 80% of cases.
7. Apply for your study permit with IRCC once you have the CAQ.

Quebec says the fee is not refunded, even if your application is refused. Plan your dates backwards from your program start. 25 business days is about 5 weeks, and IRCC processing time comes after that.

How much money must I show for Quebec?

Quebec sets its own financial capacity amounts. IRCC says students going to Quebec must show they can cover the costs set by MIFI, not the IRCC table used in other provinces. You must show you can pay tuition, travel, and basic needs.

Quebec’s basic-needs amounts for one year, from January 1, 2026:

Quebec says these amounts cover food, housing (including set-up costs), clothes, transport, health and hospital insurance for you and your family, and other basic needs. Tuition and travel are extra.

Worked example

Statistics Canada’s average international undergraduate tuition in Quebec is $36,879 for 2026/2027. For a student alone, that gives:

• $24,617 basic needs + $36,879 tuition = $61,496, plus your flight

For a student with a spouse: $34,814 + $36,879 = $71,693, plus flights. Use the tuition on your own letter of admission, not the average.

Accepted proof includes bank statements for the last 6 months, a guaranteed investment certificate (GIC), scholarship letters, student loan documents, and proof that tuition is paid. If someone else pays, they sign a declaration of financial support. Compare GIC options in our student GIC guide.

How is tuition set for international students in Quebec?

Under Quebec’s policy, international student tuition is the fee Quebec students pay plus a flat amount (montant forfaitaire). The government sets that amount each year in the universities’ budget rules. Universities may also charge special fees.

Since fall 2024, Quebec uses a new pricing model for students from outside Quebec in bachelor’s and professional master’s programs. Quebec’s announcement said universities can add their own amounts on top. Research master’s and doctoral programs, and students covered by international agreements (for example from France and Belgium), were left out of this change.

For example, McGill lists the Quebec basic tuition at $103.92 per credit for 2026-2027. International fees at McGill and other schools are much higher and vary by program. For school-by-school numbers, see Quebec international tuition compared.

What about health insurance in Quebec?

Quebec requires international students to keep health and hospital insurance for their whole stay. This also applies to family members who come with you.

• Students from countries with a social security agreement with Quebec may join the public plan run by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ). Quebec says a waiting period of usually three months applies to new registrations.
• Everyone else needs private insurance. Quebec says you have 5 to 30 days after you arrive to get it. After that, you may not be able to get insurance.

Private plans may not cover some services, such as medication, dental care, pregnancy or mental health. Most Quebec universities enrol international students in a group plan. Compare provinces in health insurance for international students by province.

What rules apply once I am studying?

Quebec lists conditions you must keep while you hold a CAQ:

• Study at the level and at the school shown on your CAQ
• Keep valid health and hospital insurance
• Make studies your main activity (full-time), unless an exception applies, such as your final term

Changing school or level can mean a new CAQ. IRCC says you can reuse a valid CAQ for a new study permit application unless you change your level of study, with limited exceptions for school changes.

Caps on CAQ applications

Quebec limits how many CAQ applications each school can submit. The current decree (Décret 1488-2025) runs from December 17, 2025 to December 16, 2027, in two one-year periods. Quebec kept university and protected college programs near their 2024 levels. It cut private vocational schools by 35% and non-protected college programs (attestations of college studies) by 75%. Renewals in the same program, school and level are not counted.

For work rights after graduation, Quebec programs follow federal PGWP rules. For Quebec programs, IRCC uses a minimum length of 900 hours instead of 8 months. Check your case with the PGWP eligibility checker.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying for the study permit first. IRCC needs your CAQ attestation. Get the CAQ first.
• Using the IRCC proof of funds amount. For Quebec, use the MIFI amounts above, plus tuition and travel.
• Missing the Arrima deadlines. You have 1 hour to pay and 15 days to upload documents.
• Waiting too long for private insurance. Quebec gives you 5 to 30 days after arrival.
• Paying an agent who promises a CAQ. Only MIFI issues CAQs. Read study in Canada scams before you pay anyone.

Common questions

Sources

• Québec.ca: Applying for temporary selection for studies (CAQ)
• Québec.ca: Costs of studies in Québec (financial capacity)
• Québec.ca: Required conditions to study in Québec
• Québec.ca: Required documents
• Québec.ca: Management of applications in the International Student Program for the next two years (Décret 1488-2025)
• Québec.ca: Nouveau modèle de tarification pour les étudiants hors Québec (October 13, 2023)
• Ministère de l’Éducation du Québec: Politique relative aux droits de scolarité exigés des étudiants étrangers
• IRCC: Provincial attestation letter (PAL/TAL)
• IRCC: 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap
• IRCC: Proof of financial support
• IRCC: About the post-graduation work permit
• Statistics Canada: Table 37-10-0045-01, tuition fees for degree programs
• McGill University: Tuition and fees 2026-27
• McGill University: Court rules on tuition increases, French proficiency (April 24, 2025)

Checked against these sources on October 10, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.