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Designated Learning Institution List

The International students who intend to study in a Canadian Post- Secondary Institution must provide a letter of acceptance from a Designated Learning institution at the time of the Canadian Study permit application.

The applicants must provide the Designated Learning Institution number of the chosen school. The DLI number begins with “O” on the study permit application form.
The students may be exempted from the Letter of DLI requirement. Some of the cases in which exception is provided are

Primary or Secondary Institution students, as these schools are automatically designated and DLI number is not assigned.
If a family member of the applicant already has an approved work permit or study permit before the applicant enters Canada. The Family Member may get the open study permit in this case.
Several institutes in Quebec have the designated provincial government authority. Thus, don't have a DLI Number.

Institutes may lose their designated status, and this affects the international student also
In case the application is submitted for a permit with LOA for an institute with no DLI, the study permit can be denied.
In case the application submitted for the institute that loses its Designated Status then Students can

Submit an LOA with new DLI
Withdraw the Application

In case the applicant receives the study permit for an institute, and later the institute loses DLI, then the student can Transfer to another DLI or Carry on Studies in the non-designated institution until completion of the study permit.

For the complete list of designated learning institutions, please visit