What Is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada?

If you want to study in Canada, one term shows up again and again: designated learning institution, or DLI. It is one of the first things Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) checks when you apply for a study permit. This guide explains what a DLI is, why you must attend one, how to find a school on the official DLI list, what a DLI number is, and how DLIs connect to the provincial attestation letter (PAL) and the post-graduation work permit (PGWP).

What is a DLI in Canada?

A designated learning institution is a school that a provincial or territorial government has approved to host international students. Provinces and territories decide which schools can enrol students from abroad, so a DLI is simply a school that has been given that approval.

One important detail: all primary and secondary schools in Canada are DLIs automatically. Because of this, IRCC does not include them in its published DLI list. The official list focuses on post-secondary institutions such as colleges and universities, which must be individually designated by their province or territory.

Why you must attend a DLI to get a study permit

You can only get a study permit if you plan to attend a designated learning institution. Before you apply, you need a letter of acceptance (or proof of enrolment) from a DLI. Without acceptance from a designated school, you cannot complete a study permit application.

The requirement does not stop once your permit is approved. As a study permit holder, you must remain enrolled at the DLI named in your permit and make reasonable and timely progress toward completing your program. Post-secondary DLIs report your enrolment and status to IRCC. If you stop meeting these conditions, you could be asked to leave Canada. For the full picture of how the permit works, see our guide on how to get a study permit.

How to check the DLI list and find a DLI number

IRCC publishes an official designated learning institutions list on canada.ca. You can search it by school name, city, or province to confirm whether a post-secondary school is designated.

Each DLI on the list has a DLI number. This number always begins with the letter O followed by digits. You need it when you fill out your study permit application: it goes under the section called Details of intended study in Canada. Steps to use the list:

• Open the official DLI list on canada.ca.
• Search for the exact school where you have been accepted.
• Confirm the school appears and note its DLI number.
• Copy the DLI number into your study permit application.

If your chosen school is not on the list, it is not designated for post-secondary international students, and you generally cannot use it to support a study permit application.

DLIs, the PAL, and the international student cap

For many study permit applications, you also need a provincial attestation letter (PAL) or, in territories, a territorial attestation letter (TAL). A PAL confirms that the province or territory has assigned you one of its available study spaces under the international student cap.

You do not get a PAL directly from IRCC. Instead, you contact your school (the DLI) to find out how to apply for a PAL or TAL. Once you have it, you include it with your study permit application. There are some exemptions: for example, as of January 1, 2026, students in a master's or doctoral degree program at a public DLI do not need to submit a PAL or TAL with their application. Always confirm whether your situation needs a PAL before you apply.

How DLIs connect to the PGWP

Many students choose a school with their future work plans in mind. The post-graduation work permit (PGWP) lets eligible graduates gain Canadian work experience after finishing their studies. However, graduating from a DLI does not automatically make you eligible for a PGWP.

To be eligible, you generally must complete a program at a PGWP-eligible DLI that was at least 8 months long, keep full-time student status during each semester of your program, and apply within 180 days of confirmation that you completed your program. Not every program at a DLI qualifies, so check the PGWP details before you enrol if a work permit after graduation matters to you.

How to choose a DLI

Choosing the right designated learning institution affects both your studies and your future options in Canada. Keep these points in mind:

• Confirm it is on the DLI list. Verify the school and its DLI number on the official canada.ca list before you pay any fees.
• Check PGWP eligibility. If you want to work in Canada afterward, confirm the program is PGWP-eligible.
• Ask about the PAL. Find out how the school issues a PAL or TAL and whether your program is exempt.
• Plan your budget. Compare tuition and living costs, and look into scholarships to help fund your studies.

Taking the time to verify these details up front helps you avoid delays, protects your study permit status, and keeps your post-graduation options open.