What Is a DLI in Canada? How Nepali Students Can Check the DLI List

What Is a DLI in Canada?

A DLI, or designated learning institution, is a school that a province or territory has approved to host international students.

You need a letter of acceptance from a DLI to apply for a study permit. So before you pay any tuition, check that your college is on IRCC’s official DLI list. Our main page on study in Canada from Nepal shows where this step fits in your plan.

All primary and secondary schools in Canada count as DLIs, so they aren’t on the list. If you are going for a diploma or a degree, your school must be on it. DLIs must also verify your letter of acceptance and report whether you are enrolled, and one that doesn’t can be suspended.

What Is a DLI Number?

A DLI number is the code IRCC gives each approved school, and you write it on your study permit application.

It starts with the letter O, followed by 11 or 12 numbers. It goes in the “Details of intended study in Canada” section of your form. Nepali students usually get it with the offer letter, but always check it against IRCC’s list.

One school can use the same number for 2 or more campuses. So match the city and campus too, and don’t rely on the number alone.

How Do You Check the DLI List for Canada?

Open IRCC’s list, pick the right tab and province, then search for your school and match its details.

This matters most if you heard about a college through an agent or an online ad in Nepal.

1. Open the official list. Don’t use an old screenshot, a PDF or an agent’s list.
2. Pick a tab. The list has 3 tabs, shown in the table below.
3. Choose the province or territory. This removes schools with similar names.
4. Search the full name. You can also type the city. If nothing shows, check the spelling and drop any short forms.
5. Match the number, the city and the campus. They should all fit your offer letter.
6. Open the details if you want to work after study. The PGWP tab lists the school’s eligible programs.

Is Every DLI in Canada PGWP Eligible?

No, IRCC says not all programs at a DLI are eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.

A DLI can offer both types, and a private college may offer none. Many Nepali students plan to work in Canada after study, so check this before you pay. Our PGWP guide covers the full rules. These checks come from IRCC’s PGWP page:

The field of study rule uses a 6-digit CIP code. IRCC says most DLIs show this code on their websites. A subject name alone proves nothing. A post graduate diploma in Canada in IT needs its own code checked, while a bachelor of computer science in Canada has no field rule.

Does a DLI Mean You Don’t Need a PAL?

No, most students at a DLI still need a provincial attestation letter, with a main exception since 1 January 2026.

That exception covers master’s and doctoral degree programs at public DLIs. From Nepal, you usually accept your offer and pay some tuition before your school gives you this letter. Our PAL/TAL guide explains who needs it and how to get it.

Quebec has its own process, with a Quebec Acceptance Certificate. Being on the list also doesn’t mean your visa is approved, because the officer looks at your whole file.

How Does Your DLI Connect to Your Letter of Acceptance?

Your letter must come from a DLI, and its name, campus and program should all match IRCC’s list.

Read the difference between a conditional and final letter of acceptance before you pay. A conditional letter still has steps to finish. In Nepal, your offer letter is also what you use to apply for your NOC, so a wrong name causes trouble twice. Also check these 3 items on the letter:

• The credential you will receive, such as a diploma or a degree
• The length of the program, since it affects your PGWP
• The start date and your tuition

What Should You Check Before Paying Tuition to a Canadian School?

Confirm 6 things first, because a wrong school is hard to fix once you have paid from Nepal.

• The school and its number are on IRCC’s list.
• Your program is on the PGWP tab, if you want to work after study.
• Your program’s CIP code qualifies, if a field rule applies.
• Your English score meets the school’s rule. See our page on minimum IELTS and PTE for Canada.
• You know whether you need a PAL.
• You have read the school’s refund policy for a visa refusal.

Our pages on the best colleges in Canada and best universities in Canada can help you compare options. The application process for Canada shows what comes next.

What If You Can’t Find Your College on the DLI List?

Check the spelling and the province first, then ask the college to show you its exact listing.

Many colleges advertise in Nepal under a short name, or teach through a partner campus. If you still can’t find it, don’t pay yet, and ask for its full legal name and DLI number in writing. You can’t use its offer for a study permit if it isn’t a DLI. Our guide on Canada student visa refusal explains how a weak choice of school can hurt a file.

If you later want to move to another school, IRCC’s rules on changing schools ask you to check that the new school is a DLI too. Depending on your situation, you may need to extend your study permit and get a new PAL. Plan for that in the cost of studying in Canada.

If you are comparing advisers, see how to pick the best consultancy for Canada. Goreto has branches in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Chitwan, Itahari and Pokhara, and you can talk to a counselor who will check your college and program with you.