In most cases, prospective international students who wish to study at a Canadian post-secondary institution need to provide a letter of acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution when applying for a Canadian study permit.
Applicants must provide the Designated Learning Institution number (DLI #) for their school of choice. The DLI number is the number that begins with the letter “O” on the study permit application form.
In certain cases, students may be exempt from providing a letter from a DLI, or from providing a DLI number in their application. These cases may include, but are not limited to:
- Students at a primary or secondary institution. These schools are all automatically designated, and no DLI number is provided.
- A family member of a foreign national whose application for a work permit or a study permit is approved in writing before the foreign national enters Canada. In this case, the family member may obtain an open study permit.
- Some institutions in Quebec are designated by the provincial government, but do not have a unique DLI number.
Sometimes, institutions may lose their designated status. Depending on when the status is lost, the international student may be affected.
- If an individual submits an application for a study permit with a letter of acceptance from an institution that is not a DLI, the study permit application is refused.
- If an individual submits an application for a study permit with a letter of acceptance from a DLI, but the institution loses its designated status before the study permit can be issued, the student has three options. He or she may:
- Withdraw the application;
- Submit a letter of acceptance from a different DLI;
- Do nothing, in which case the application will be processed according to the information provided. The application will therefore be refused.
- If an individual receives a study permit for a DLI, and the institution loses its designated status after the study permit is issued, the student has two options. He or she may:
- Transfer to another DLI;
- Continue studying at the non-designated institution until his or her study permit expires. In this case, the study permit may not be renewed for the non-designated institution.
British Columbia Designated Learning Institution List
Designated learning institution number (DLI #) | Name of institution | City |
O19394940254 | ARV Canada College | Richmond |
O123960086627 | Academy of Excellence Hair Design & Aesthetics Ltd. | Victoria |
O212477056057 | Academy of Learning College – Abbotsford | Abbotsford, Langley |
O212477063807 | Academy of Learning College – Langley | Langley |
O19395300024 | Academy of Learning College – Victoria | Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Victoria |
O110096211204 | Academy of Learning College – Richmond | Richmond |
O19361063652 | Academy of Learning College – Surrey | Surrey |
O19376530942 | Academy of Learning College – Vancouver – Broadway | Vancouver |
O110735702489 | Acadia College | Langley |
O19278931852 | Acsenda School of Management | Vancouver |
O19394452198 | Adler University | Vancouver |
O112543961007 | Advantage English School E/J | Whistler |
O246351578557 | Ajna Yoga Teacher Training | Victoria |
O19347185182 | Alexander College | Burnaby, Vancouver |
O19394940220 | All Body Laser Corp. Training Institute | Port Coquitlam |
O19219834012 | Arbutus College of Communication Arts, Business & Technology | Vancouver |
O19219876582 | Ashton College | Vancouver |
O19394940276 | Automotive Training Centre | Surrey |
O19273931872 | BC College of Optics | Surrey |
O19257719332 | Blanche Macdonald Centre | Vancouver |
O19394940288 | Blue Bird Flight Academy | Chilliwack |
O116475837152 | Body Glamour Institute of Beauty by Anita | North Vancouver |
O19219916952 | Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine | New Westminster |
O19257044542 | Brighton College | Burnaby |
O19330128542 | British Columbia Institute of Technology | Burnaby, North Vancouver, Richmond, Vancouver |
O19240092592 | CG Masters School of 3D Animation and Visual Effects | New Westminster |
O249677787727 | CSIC e-Academy | Burnaby |
O19219937972 | Camber College | Powell River |
O19283903592 | Cambria College | Victoria |
O19394940342 | Cambridge College | Burnaby |
O19361235542 | Camosun College | Victoria |
O116342294647 | Can-Quest ESL Academy | North Vancouver |
O140788898652 | Canada College Vancouver | Vancouver |
O142484375262 | Canada International Royal Arts College | Richmond, Vancouver |
O110027361097 | Canadian Aviation College | Pitt Meadows |
O19394940354 | Canadian Baptist Seminary | Langley |
O19352621432 | Canadian College | Vancouver |
O19352470312 | Canadian College of English Language | Vancouver |
O110684673294 | Canadian College of Performing Arts | Victoria |
O19283908462 | Canadian College of Shiatsu Therapy | North Vancouver, Vancouver |
O134304821852 | Canadian College of Technology and Business | Delta |
O19240322772 | Canadian Film and Television Institute | Richmond |
O110207076237 | Canadian Flight Centre (CFC) | Delta, Kamloops |
O19331168352 | Canadian Health Care Academy | New Westminster |
O19376505602 | Canadian National Institute of Business | Coquitlam |
O19584795462 | Canadian School of Natural Nutrition (Vancouver) | Vancouver |
O116149580707 | Canadian School of Natural Nutrition Vancouver Island | Nanaimo, Victoria |
O19395300110 | Canadian Sports Business Academy | Whistler |
O19301323922 | Canadian Tourism College | Surrey, Vancouver |
O19280078102 | Capilano University | North Vancouver, Sechelt |
O19283932632 | Capital College | Richmond |
O254785080177 | Career City College | Kelowna |
O19394940388 | Carey Theological College | Vancouver |
O19220052602 | Central College | New Westminster |
O19283900882 | Centre for Arts and Technology | Kelowna, Surrey |
O19395300152 | Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) | Vancouver |
O19280114462 | Chinook Helicopters | Abbotsford |
O19361040422 | City University of Seattle | Langford, Vancouver |
O19371018112 | Clearmind International Institute Inc. | Langley, Vancouver |
O19394940242 | Cloud Nine College Ltd | Vancouver |
O110095977911 | Coast Mountain College | Hazelton, Houston, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Masset (Haida Gwaii), Queen Charlotte, Smithers, Terrace |
O142195159782 | Coastal College of British Columbia | New Westminster |
O19377035282 | Coastal Pacific Aviation | Abbotsford |
O116475837179 | CodeCore | Vancouver |
O19832975987 | Collège Éducacentre College | Prince George, Vancouver, Victoria |
O19360977332 | College of New Caledonia | Burns Lake, Fort St. James, Fraser Lake, Mackenzie, Prince George, Quesnel, Vanderhoof, Valemount |
O19377233362 | College of the Rockies | Cranbrook, Creston, Fernie, Golden, Invermere, Kimberley |
O19394940898 | Columbia Bible College | Abbotsford |
O19279591302 | Columbia College | Vancouver |
O19244321962 | Coquitlam College | Coquitlam |
O19274576342 | Cornerstone International Community College of Canada | Richmond, Vancouver |
O19280180922 | Corpus Christi College | Vancouver |
O19275297052 | Create Career College | Burnaby, Vancouver |
O143703092532 | DEA Canadian College | North Vancouver |
O19351714242 | Discovery Community College | Campbell River, Courtenay, Maple Ridge, Nanaimo, Parksville, Surrey |
O261679968772 | DiveSafe International | Campbell River |
O264560001042 | Diving Dynamics – Home of the Commercial Diving Institute of Canada (CDI) | Kelowna |
O19330170302 | Dominion Herbal College | Burnaby |
O19360973702 | Douglas College | Coquitlam, New Westminster, Surrey |
O19394940944 | Drake Medox College | Surrey, Vancouver |
O19280217882 | EC Vancouver | Vancouver |
O19314246102 | EF International Language Campus | Vancouver, Victoria |
O19360978002 | ELS Language Centers | Vancouver |
O19361202892 | ESLI | Langley |
O19361259712 | Emily Carr University of Art and Design | Vancouver |
O143477803312 | English Depot Education Academy | Richmond |
O19330008162 | Eton College | Vancouver |
O19394940966 | Excel Career College | Vancouver |
O19227134842 | Fairleigh Dickinson University (Vancouver) | Vancouver |
O256618792847 | First College | Kelowna, West Kelowna |
O19330446102 | Focus College | Kelowna, Surrey |
O19396094599 | Franklin English Language College | Vancouver |
O19239078442 | Fraser International College | Burnaby |
O19361015442 | GEOS Languages Plus | Vancouver, Victoria |
O19238785512 | Gastown Business College | Vancouver |
O19279807782 | Gateway College | Vancouver |
O19347491712 | Global College | Vancouver |
O19330822902 | Global Village Vancouver | Vancouver |
O19319050762 | Global Village Victoria | Victoria |
O110656686527 | Goh Ballet Academy | Vancouver |
O116736261697 | Granville College | Vancouver |
O19352522932 | Greystone College of Business and Technology | Vancouver |
O19618862812 | Hanson International Academy | New Westminster, Vancouver |
O19330716802 | Harbourside Institute of Technology | North Vancouver |
O19279689162 | Heli-College Canada Training Inc. | Langley |
O132232057367 | Heritage Community College | Surrey |
O19395639240 | IH Career College | Vancouver |
O110957942277 | ILAC International College | Vancouver |
O19275396842 | ILSC Vancouver | Vancouver |
O19279658882 | ISS Language and Career College of BC | Vancouver |
O19395639663 | In Focus Film School | Vancouver |
O19394941064 | Infofit Educators | Burnaby, Vancouver |
O137690849762 | Insignia College | Delta, Surrey |
O19279542632 | Institute of Technology Development Canada (ITD) | Vancouver |
O19395639387 | Interior Academy | Kamloops |
O19395639399 | International Flight Centre Inc. | Delta |
O19279619012 | International House Vancouver | Vancouver, Whistler |
O19283901032 | International Language Academy of Canada (ILAC) | Vancouver |
O110265135107 | Island Coastal Aviation Inc. | Pitt Meadows |
O19283904182 | JCI Institute | Vancouver |
O19394941140 | Justice Institute of British Columbia | Chilliwack, Kelowna, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, Victoria |
O19394941182 | Kaplan International Languages | Vancouver |
O124191974237 | Kelowna College of Professional Counselling | Kelowna |
O130389245177 | Keystone College Ltd. | Courtenay, Surrey |
O19256958102 | Kootenay Columbia College of Integrative Health Sciences | Nelson |
O19283913752 | Kosmetae Academy | Abbotsford |
O19395639473 | Kutenai Art Therapy Institute Association | Nelson |
O19350676872 | Kwantlen Polytechnic University | Cloverdale, Langley, Richmond, Surrey |
O19275426742 | LaSalle College Vancouver | Kamloops, Vancouver, Victoria |
O19319074622 | Langara College | Vancouver |
O19395299244 | Langley Flying School | Langley |
O262347512072 | Language Arts Institute | Burnaby |
O19283928542 | Language Studies International (LSI) | Vancouver |
O19274549462 | Languages Across Borders | Vancouver |
O122551197237 | Legends Academy | Abbotsford |
O110684673337 | Lighthouse Labs | Vancouver |
O19352116052 | London School | Vancouver |
O19274961822 | Lost Boys Studios – School of Visual Effects | Vancouver |
O263573449582 | M.C. College | Kelowna |
O19375649052 | Madlab School of Fitness | Vancouver |
O19314231702 | Mark Anthony Academy of Cosmetology | Langley |
O19395299306 | Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary | Langley |
O19329963492 | Metropolitan Community College | Vancouver |
O113462258677 | Montair | Pitt Meadows |
O19301054682 | Montessori Training Centre of British Columbia | Vancouver |
O19395299350 | Mountain Transport Institute Ltd. Castlegar | Castlegar |
O19274696442 | New Image College | Vancouver |
O19280343742 | New Link College | Burnaby, Richmond |
O19280365272 | New York Institute of Technology | Vancouver |
O19395299432 | Nicola Valley Institute of Technology | Burnaby, Merritt |
O19283933722 | Nimbus School of Recording & Media | Vancouver |
O19301182602 | North Island College | Campbell River, Courtenay, Port Alberni, Port Hardy, Ucluelet |
O142031583162 | Northeastern University | Vancouver |
O19395299444 | Northern Lights College | Dawson Creek |
O19330361712 | Northwest Baptist Seminary | Langley |
O19395299466 | Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver | Vancouver |
O19394452186 | OHC Vancouver | Vancouver |
O19275179522 | OIEG Oxford International Education Group/Eurocentres Canada | Vancouver |
O19395299488 | Okanagan College | Kelowna, Oliver, Penticton, Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Summerland, Vernon |
O138327915822 | Okanagan Mountain Helicopters FTU Ltd. | Kelowna |
O247767381127 | Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy Ltd. | Vernon |
O19347439002 | Omni College | Richmond |
O259056158042 | Orane International College | Victoria |
O19394451545 | Orca Institute | New Westminster, Vancouver |
O138917878102 | Oscar International College | Abbotsford, Surrey, Vancouver |
O19329994642 | Oshio College of Acupuncture and Herbology | Victoria |
O19274781992 | Pacific Coast Community College | New Westminster |
O19395639631 | Pacific DanceArts | Vancouver |
O19394451567 | Pacific Design Academy | Victoria |
O19274466542 | Pacific Flying Club | Delta |
O19238828022 | Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts | Vancouver |
O19394451600 | Pacific Life Bible College | Surrey |
O19394451662 | Pacific Link College | Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey |
O116542595727 | Pacific Rim Aviation Academy Inc. | Pitt Meadows |
O19304067532 | Pacific Rim College | Victoria |
O19394451698 | Pacific Rim Early Childhood Institute | Saanichton |
O19395639737 | Pearson College UWC | Victoria |
O246621852107 | Principal Air | Chilliwack |
O19238920192 | Professional Flight Centre | Delta |
O125645169227 | Q College | Vancouver, Victoria |
O19395639759 | Quantum Academy | Richmond |
O19377267862 | Quest University Canada | Squamish |
O19283912352 | Regent College | Vancouver |
O19273650972 | Rhodes Wellness College Ltd. | Vancouver |
O142586176482 | Richmond International Academy | Richmond |
O142488561162 | Royal Bridge College | Coquitlam |
O19361238482 | Royal Metro College | Coquitlam |
O19330635812 | Royal Roads University | Victoria |
O19330716802 | SAE Institute | North Vancouver |
O19394452136 | SC institute of the Arts | Vancouver |
O19395639791 | SELC Career College Vancouver | Vancouver |
O19330751052 | SELC English Language Centre Canada | Vancouver |
O19394452152 | Sea Land Air Flight Centre | Delta, Richmond |
O19360990072 | Selkirk College | Castlegar, Grand Forks, Kaslo Centre, Nakusp, Nelson, Trail |
O19329910782 | Seminary of Christ the King | Mission |
O19394452174 | Senniyo Aesthetics International School of Canada Inc. | Richmond |
O18781994282 | Simon Fraser University (SFU) | Burnaby, Surrey, Vancouver |
O19396094731 | SkyQuest Aviation Ltd. | Langley |
O19278865162 | Sprott Shaw College | Abbotsford, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Kamloops, Kelowna, Maple Ridge, Nanaimo, New Westminster, Osoyoos, Penticton, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, Victoria |
O19283917732 | Sprott Shaw Language College | Surrey, Vancouver, Victoria |
O19352161652 | St. George International College | Vancouver |
O19395299510 | St. Giles International | Vancouver |
O144740585612 | St. Mark’s College | Vancouver |
O19283910772 | Stenberg College | Duncan, Kamloops, Surrey, Vernon |
O19279828772 | Sterling College | Surrey, Vancouver |
O19330780272 | Summit Pacific College | Abbotsford |
O19361007342 | Tamwood Careers | Vancouver, Whistler |
O19280516442 | Tamwood Language Centres | Vancouver, Whistler |
O245272133587 | Taylor Pro Training | Kelowna |
O142582255042 | The Cut Fashion Design Academy | Vancouver |
O243191415557 | The Hair Art Academy | Langley, Surrey |
O19395639374 | The Institute of Holistic Nutrition | Vancouver |
O19395299578 | Think Tank Training Centre | North Vancouver |
O19395299610 | Thompson Rivers University | Kamloops, Williams Lake |
O19361274462 | Torchbearers Capernwray Canada Society | Thetis Island |
O19347055392 | Trinity Western University | Langley, Richmond |
O259092443252 | Tylair Aviation Ltd | Abbotsford, Kamloops |
O19394941076 | Tzu Chi International College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCICTCM) | Vancouver |
O19283932472 | Universal Learning Institute | Richmond, Vancouver |
O19377235822 | University Canada West | Vancouver |
O19330231062 | University of British Columbia (UBC) | Kelowna, Vancouver |
O19283889692 | University of Northern British Columbia | Fort St. John, Prince George, Quesnel, Terrace |
O19280533442 | University of Victoria | Victoria |
O19395299642 | University of the Fraser Valley | Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope, Mission |
O19386095472 | VGC International College | Vancouver |
O19395299852 | VanWest College (Kelowna) | Kelowna |
O19283891072 | VanWest College (Vancouver) | Vancouver |
O212566030007 | Vancouver Academy of Dramatic Arts | Vancouver |
O19280560262 | Vancouver Academy of Music | Vancouver |
O19394452136 | Vancouver Acting School | Vancouver |
O19283928982 | Vancouver Animation School | Vancouver |
O19275386392 | Vancouver Art Therapy Institute | Vancouver |
O19395299664 | Vancouver Career College (Burnaby) Inc. | Abbotsford, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Kelowna, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, Victoria |
O111991452477 | Vancouver College of Counsellor Training | Vancouver |
O19301369352 | Vancouver College of Dental Hygiene Inc. | New Westminster |
O212534420437 | Vancouver College of Massage Therapy | Vancouver |
O19279717512 | Vancouver Community College | Vancouver |
O19239015912 | Vancouver Film School | Vancouver |
O19331363352 | Vancouver Institute of Media Arts (VanArts) | Vancouver |
O19283898312 | Vancouver International College | Vancouver |
O264603551792 | Vancouver Island College | Nanaimo |
O111345278377 | Vancouver Island School of Art | Victoria |
O19395299688 | Vancouver Island University | Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Powell River |
O19274398652 | Vancouver Premier College of Arts and Science | Burnaby |
O143533237562 | Vancouver Premier College of Business and Management Ltd | Vancouver |
O19280589592 | Vancouver Premier College of Hotel Management | Vancouver |
O119520583367 | Vancouver School of Healing Arts | Vancouver |
O19407411913 | Vancouver School of Theology | Vancouver |
O19274398652 | Victor College | Vancouver |
O19347351442 | Victoria Academy of Ballet | Victoria |
O246912351437 | Victoria Academy of the Dramatic Arts | Victoria |
O19395299874 | Victoria College of Art | Victoria |
O122562157147 | Victoria Conservatory of Music | Victoria |
O19283898542 | Victoria Flying Club | Victoria |
O19305771772 | Wales Young Institute | Vancouver |
O19395299928 | West Coast College of Massage Therapy | New Westminster, Victoria |
O264573530022 | West Coast Institute for Studies in Anthroposophy | Sechelt |
O19361275312 | Westcoast Adventure College Ltd. | Sooke |
O19396094295 | Western Community College | Abbotsford, Surrey |
O19395299940 | Western Maritime Institute | Ladysmith, Steveston |
O19273949312 | Whistler Adventure School | Whistler |
O246050646187 | Windsong College of Healing Arts | Port Alberni |
O19280640022 | Winston College | New Westminster |
O129034707957 | Yorkville University | Vancouver |
O19274183992 | iTTTi Vancouver | Vancouver |
O19279564092 | inlingua Vancouver dba INVO Career College | Vancouver |
O19350928592 | inlingua Victoria College of Languages | Victoria |