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You can only get a study permit at a Designated Learning Institution. But being a DLI is not the same as offering a program that leads to a work permit. Here is how the DLI list works, how to read a DLI number, and how to avoid the trap.
Search DLI institutions — freeA school a province or territory has approved to host international students. Only a DLI can support a study permit. The official list — public colleges, universities, CEGEPs, and some private schools — is maintained by IRCC on canada.ca.
Every DLI has a number beginning with the letter O followed by digits (e.g. O19359011234). You need it for both your study permit application and your Provincial Attestation Letter. It appears on your acceptance letter.
This is the single most expensive misunderstanding in the whole process. A school can be a DLI — able to host you and support a study permit — while a specific program at that school does not lead to a Post-Graduation Work Permit. PGWP eligibility is decided at the program level: its level, length, delivery mode, and, for college grads, its field of study. Always confirm PGWP status for the exact program, not just the school.
Skip cross-checking spreadsheets. Search designated learning institutions and see PGWP status at the program level, so you never confuse “a DLI” with “a program that leads to a work permit.”
Search DLI institutions — freeEverything you need to read the list correctly.
A Designated Learning Institution (DLI) is a school that a provincial or territorial government has approved to host international students. You can only apply for a study permit if you have been accepted to a DLI. The list of DLIs is maintained by IRCC and published on canada.ca. It includes public colleges, universities, CEGEPs, and some private institutions.
Every DLI has a DLI number, which begins with the letter “O” followed by a series of digits (for example, O19359011234). You can look up a school on the official DLI list on canada.ca, and its acceptance letter will show its DLI number — you need that number for both your study permit application and your Provincial Attestation Letter.
No — and this is the most important catch. Being a DLI only means the school can host international students. It does not mean every program there leads to a Post-Graduation Work Permit. PGWP eligibility depends on the specific program (its level, length, delivery, and the field of study for college graduates). Always confirm PGWP status at the program level, not just that the school is a DLI.
Yes. Your study permit application requires the DLI number of the school that accepted you, and your Provincial Attestation Letter is tied to that institution as well. The number appears on your letter of acceptance and on the official DLI list.
Yes. Provinces can add or remove schools from the DLI list, and a school’s ability to host students or offer PGWP-eligible programs can change. This is why you should confirm a school’s current DLI status — and its programs’ current PGWP status — close to the time you apply, rather than relying on older information.
What makes a program lead to a work permit.
The other study-permit requirement for 2026.
Search institutions by province and program.
The hub, and a free program match.
General information, not legal advice, reflecting rules in effect as of September 2026. The official DLI list and PGWP eligibility change — always confirm current status on canada.ca before you apply.