Short version: Canada won’t let you study unless the school that accepted you is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and your Letter of Acceptance (LOA) is a core part of your study-permit application. IRCC’s rules around DLIs and school changes mean your choice of school can affect your legal status, work options, and post-study pathways, so treat DLI selection like a career decision, not a spreadsheet cell. (Government of Canada)
Why DLI status is legally critical
- You need an LOA from a DLI to apply for a study permit. IRCC’s official guidance is clear: to apply for a study permit, you must include a letter of acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution. Without that, your application is incomplete. (Government of Canada)
- DLIs are tracked and verified by IRCC. Post-secondary DLIs now participate in IRCC’s LOA verification processes (the institutional portal), so institutions and IRCC both play a role in validating your acceptance. That reduces fraud but also means the LOA process is more formal and time-sensitive. (Government of Canada)
- Changing schools is no longer a casual admin step. IRCC guidance says you must notify them if you change the DLI named on your application/permit; in practice, changing DLIs often requires applying to change the conditions of your study permit or to extend it. If you transfer without following the process, you could create compliance problems. Treat a DLI switch like changing jobs — paperwork and permission are required. (Government of Canada)
What this means in practical terms
- Picking a DLI isn’t just about prestige or location. It affects your ability to get a permit, to stay compliant if you transfer, and sometimes your eligibility for post-graduation work permits and employer hiring windows. (Example: some programs at certain DLIs are tied to provincial attestation letters or additional documentation.) (Government of Canada)
- Because IRCC increasingly verifies LOAs and enforces the DLI named on your permit, don’t assume you can freely move between private pathway providers and public universities without updating your permit. Plan ahead. (Government of Canada)
Tactical checklist — choose your DLI like you’d choose an employer
- Map outcomes, not just programs
- Shortlist schools whose programs align with both your academic goals and the labour market you want to enter (local internship networks, co-op availability, industry ties).
- Confirm DLI status — directly
- Use the official Canada DLI list to confirm a school is a DLI (select province/territory and search the name). Don’t rely only on marketing pages. (Government of Canada)
- Ask the international office two direct questions
- “Is our institution (and this specific program) a DLI for international students right now?”
- “Has the DLI number or our status changed recently, and do you validate LOAs through the IRCC LOA portal?”
— then keep their written reply. (Government of Canada)
- Plan for transfers
- If you might switch schools, ask: “What’s your process if an international student transfers in/out? Will I need to apply to change my study-permit conditions?” If the answer is yes, factor the permit processing time into your plans. (Government of Canada)
- Check post-study outcomes
- If a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) or local hiring matters, confirm the program’s eligibility for PGWP or whether it’s a pathway program (not all DLIs/programs make you PGWP-eligible). (Use the school’s international office + IRCC guidance.) (Government of Canada, Canadavisa.com)
How to check a school is a DLI — step-by-step
- Go to the official Government of Canada DLI list (Designated learning institutions list). (Government of Canada)
- Choose the province or territory where the school is located.
- Search the school name (and program, if shown). Confirm the institution appears on the list and note any DLI number or notes.
- Email the school’s international office and ask them to confirm in writing their DLI status and whether they verify LOAs via the IRCC LOA portal, keep that email with your application records. (Government of Canada)
Quick email you can copy to an international office
Subject: Quick confirmation of DLI status and LOA process
Hi [International Office],
I’m considering applying/enrolling and need to confirm two items for my study-permit application:
- Is [program name] at [school name] currently listed as a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) for international students?
- Does the school verify Letters of Acceptance through the IRCC LOA portal, and can you provide a written confirmation of the LOA details I should include in my study-permit application?
Thank you — a short written reply is enough and will help me prepare my IRCC application.
Best,
[Your name]
Final pro tip & CTA
Think of your DLI choice like choosing an employer: reputation matters, but compliance and the paperwork behind the scenes are what determine whether you can legally study, switch schools, or access work opportunities afterward. If you’d like, send me a school name (or a short shortlist) and I’ll show you exactly how to check its DLI status and what questions to save for the international office.
(Official IRCC resources used for this post: the government DLI list, IRCC guidance on proof of acceptance and changing schools, and IRCC materials on LOA verification/portal.) (Government of Canada)
Would you like me to check one school now? If so, paste the school name and province and I’ll look it up and flag anything to watch for.