Study Permit Pathways for Foreign Dentists in Canada: PG Programs, PGWP and Licensing

  • Dr. T
  • October 16, 2026
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Study permit route to Canada · Updated October 2026

Study Permit Pathways for Foreign Dentists in Canada: PG Programs, PGWP and Licensing

A foreign dentist can move to Canada on a study permit by joining a postgraduate program, such as a master’s in public health, dental sciences or health administration, or a college graduate certificate, then working on a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and applying for permanent residence through Express Entry. The study permit does not license you: to practise dentistry you still need the NDEB route, starting with the AFK.

Who this guide is for: dentists with a BDS or BDS + MDS from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Nepal, BDS holders from the Middle East, and Latin American dentists with a Licenciatura or Cirujano Dentista title, who want to know how to go to Canada after BDS.

408,000study permits Canada plans to issue in 2026
155,000of them for new arrivals
3 yrsPGWP after an eligible master’s of 8+ months
CA$23,448living funds to show, plus tuition

How we helpThe honest pictureStudy permit 2026ProgramsPGWPExpress EntryCostsLicensingOur planFAQ
How The Study Boards helps you

Clear the NDEB exams while you study and work

The study permit gets you to Canada. The NDEB exams get you a licence. The Study Boards prepares you for the exams on your own schedule:

  • AFK and ADAT courses for Canada, built for internationally trained dentists.
  • INBDE course if you also keep the US open: 35,000+ questions, Modules, Master Files, test series and a nightly live test at 9 PM New York time. 99% first-attempt pass rate for students who complete the course. $299 for 3 months, $499 for 6 months, $899 for 12 months, or $39 a month.
  • The rest of your file: the CAAPID application program, TOEFL, bench test prep with Dr. Kaur and interview prep with Dr. T.
  • Extremely personalised: red lines and assignments are given to you on the go, the course learns from how you study, and our faculty assist you. No lectures, so it fits around classes and shifts.

See the AFK course blueprint and our guide to becoming a dentist in Canada.

Read this first

What the study permit route is, and what it is not

Many dentists who write to The Study Boards want to settle in Canada first and license later. A postgraduate program gives you a study permit, the PGWP gives you Canadian work experience, and that experience can lead to permanent residence.

Dr. T’s honest framingThis route is financially exhausting, but it is a real pathway. International tuition is several times what Canadians pay, and you must show living funds on top. Many people do find work afterwards, often first in research, public health, administration or dental-adjacent roles.

Local postgraduate routes, such as MDS through NEET MDS in India or FCPS through the CPSP in Pakistan, remain sound choices. This page is for dentists who have decided to go abroad.

It does not license youA Canadian master’s or certificate does not let you practise dentistry. For that you need NDEB certification: the Equivalency Process (AFK, ACJ, NDECC), then the Virtual OSCE, or a degree-completion program.1

The 2026 rules

The study permit in 2026: caps and attestation letters

Cap

408,000 permits in 2026IRCC plans to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026: 155,000 to new arrivals and 253,000 extensions. There are 309,670 application spaces under the cap for students who need an attestation letter.2

PAL

Master’s students are exemptFrom 1 January 2026, master’s and doctoral students at a public designated learning institution (DLI) do not need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL).3

PAL

College certificates still need oneA graduate certificate or diploma at a college is not a master’s degree, so you will usually need a PAL from the province, issued through the school.3

$

Proof of fundsFor applications from 1 September 2026, a single student outside Quebec must show CA$23,448 for living costs, in addition to first-year tuition and travel.4

While you study you can work up to 24 hours a week off campus during term and unlimited hours in scheduled breaks.5 Check every rule again when you apply. IRCC updates these pages often.

Programs open to you without a licence

Which PG program can a dentist join in Canada?

The type of program decides two things: whether you need a PAL, and whether your PGWP depends on your field of study.

Program PAL needed? PGWP field of study rule PGWP length
University master’s (MPH, MSc dental sciences, MHSc health administration, health informatics) No, at a public DLI, from 2026 None for master’s degrees Up to 3 years if the program is 8+ months
College graduate certificate or postgraduate diploma Usually yes Must be an eligible field (study permits applied for from 1 Nov 2024) Up to the length of the program if under 2 years
College diploma, e.g. dental hygiene Usually yes Must be an eligible field 3 years if the program is 2+ years

Sources: IRCC PGWP eligibility, length and field of study pages.678

Good news for dental fieldsOn IRCC’s eligible field of study list (page updated 9 March 2026), dental codes are included: 51.05xx dental sciences such as oral biology (51.0503) and dental public health (51.0504), 51.0602 dental hygiene, and the 60.01xx dental residency codes.8 Ask the college which CIP code your program uses before you pay.

Language rules for the PGWP also differ: CLB 7 in all four skills for university graduates, CLB 5 for college graduates.6 You must apply within 180 days of being told you have completed the program.

Your work window

The PGWP, step by step

Pick a PGWP-eligible program at a DLIAt least 8 months long, studied full time in every semester except the last.6
Apply for the study permitLetter of acceptance, PAL if needed, proof of funds, and language scores.
Study, and start the AFKYour first NDEB exam needs no Canadian status.1 Sitting it during your program saves a year later.
Apply for the PGWP within 180 daysA master’s of 8 months or more can give a 3-year PGWP even if the program was under 2 years. A certificate gives up to its own length.7
Work 12 months in a skilled jobThat year is what Express Entry counts.

Permanent residence

Express Entry basics for dentists

CEC

Canadian Experience ClassAt least 1 year (1,560 hours) of skilled Canadian work in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 in the 3 years before you apply. Work done while you were a full-time student does not count.9

Health

Healthcare categoryCategory-based draws include dentists (NOC 31110) and dental hygienists and therapists (NOC 32111), with 12 months of full-time work in the occupation in the past 3 years. Dental assistants are not included.10

Res

Researchers categoryA category for researchers with Canadian work experience. Relevant if your master’s leads to a research job.10

The healthcare category counts work in that occupation, and working as a dentist or hygienist needs a provincial licence. So for most new graduates, the realistic first step is the CEC through a skilled research, public health or administration job. This is general information, not immigration advice. Check with your school’s international office or a licensed Canadian immigration consultant or lawyer.

What it really costs

Cost of a PG program in Canada after BDS

Real published figures from the University of Toronto, used only as examples.

Item Published figure (CA$) Notes
U of T Master of Public Health, international tuition 53,060 for 2026-2711 Per year, full time
U of T MHSc Health Administration or Master of Health Informatics, international 53,060 a year12 Excludes incidental fees
U of T MSc in Clinical Epidemiology and similar research MSc, international 33,460 a year12 Research stream
Living funds for the study permit 23,4484 Single student outside Quebec
NDEB Equivalency, first attempt at each step 11,95013 900 + 1,000 + 1,350 + 6,500 + 450 + 1,750
The rough mathsA two-year professional master’s in Toronto can pass CA$150,000 once you add rent and food, before any NDEB fees. College certificates and research master’s cost less. Plan the full program, not just the first year you show on your application.

How a dentist actually gets licensed

Combining the study permit with NDEB licensing

Pick your route to see how it fits a study permit. The Study Boards prepares you for the AFK and the ADAT on each of them.

Choose an option above to see how it works.
Open to study permit holders

StatusNo permanent residence or citizenship needed to apply or sit the exams.1
OrderAFK, then ACJ, then NDECC, then the Virtual OSCE (maximum three attempts).1
WatchSince 1 July 2025, NDECC registration runs in stages: first-time candidates who passed the latest ACJ, then citizens and permanent residents, then everyone else.14 Registering for the NDECC soon after you pass the ACJ keeps you in the first group.

Start here: our AFK exam guide and NDEB equivalency process.

Needs PR or citizenship

StatusU of T’s IDAPP says international students are not eligible; applicants must be citizens or permanent residents by the deadline. Alberta’s Advanced Placement has the same rule.15
SoStudy permit, then PGWP, then PR, then apply. The study permit route can lead here, but not directly.

Read: Canadian degree-completion programs and the ADAT course.

Needs PR or citizenship

WhatThe ACFD’s Bridge Training to Dental Practice in Canada (BTDPC) is for dentists who have passed the AFK and ACJ.16
StatusApplicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents.16

Read: NDEB bridge training pathway.

Two countries, one study plan

OverlapBoth exams test basic and clinical science, so one strong base helps with both.
PlanSee our INBDE + AFK combo plan.

If you go for the USA instead, the routes after the INBDE are Advanced Standing / IDP through CAAPID (2 to 3 years to a DDS or DMD, roughly $250,000 to $450,000 all-in, mostly financed with private loans, co-signer loans with a US citizen or green-card holder, or a few international lenders with no co-signer), AEGD through PASS (some states give a limited licence after it; rules vary), specialty residency through PASS, and teaching. Our Advanced Standing guide and the companion page on BDS / MDS to DDS / DMD explain the US side.

We teach the exams that license you

How to prepare: our full plan

AFK

AFK Premium BoardsYour first NDEB exam, and the one you can take on a study permit.

See the AFK Blueprint

INBDE

INBDE Premium Boards35,000+ questions, Modules, Master Files and nightly 9 PM New York time live tests. From $39 a month.

See the INBDE Blueprint

Tick as you go

Your study permit checklist

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

How to go to Canada after BDS?
Two ways. The licence route: the NDEB Equivalency Process (AFK, ACJ, NDECC, Virtual OSCE), which does not need Canadian status. The study-first route: a postgraduate program on a study permit, then a PGWP, then permanent residence. Many dentists combine them by sitting the AFK while they study.
Do I need a PAL for a master’s in Canada in 2026?
Not if it is a degree-granting master’s or doctoral program at a public DLI. That exemption started on 1 January 2026. College certificates and diplomas usually still need a PAL.
Is a postgraduate diploma in Canada eligible for the PGWP?
It can be, if the program is at least 8 months at an eligible DLI and, for study permits applied for from 1 November 2024, its field of study is on IRCC’s eligible list. Dental hygiene and dental sciences codes are on the list as of March 2026.
Can I work as a dentist in Canada after an MPH or MSc?
No. You need NDEB certification and a provincial licence. The master’s can lead to jobs in research, public health or administration while you complete the NDEB exams.
Can I give the AFK on a study permit?
Yes. The NDEB says applicants do not need to be permanent residents or citizens to apply to the Equivalency Process or take its exams.
Can I join a Canadian DDS degree-completion program as an international student?
Generally no. Programs such as U of T’s IDAPP and Alberta’s Advanced Placement require citizenship or permanent residence. The study permit, PGWP and PR route can get you there, but it takes years.
Licensing, while you study

AFK and INBDE courses by The Study Boards

Prepare for the exams that actually license you, around your classes and shifts, with US-licensed dentists answering your questions.

AFK and ADAT for CanadaNightly 9 PM NY live testsFrom $39 a month

See the AFK Blueprint

How to Become a Dentist in CanadaAll three NDEB pathways.NDEB AFK Exam GuideYour first exam.Practise Dentistry in CanadaFor Indian dentists.Degree-Completion ProgramsSchools, fees and seats.

Not sure if the study permit route fits you?

Tell The Study Boards your degree, budget and goal. Our Admin Team with Dr. T and Dr. Kaur will contact you over WhatsApp.

Message the Admin Team on WhatsApp

References

  1. NDEB. Frequently Asked Questions: status not required for the Equivalency Process; Virtual OSCE maximum three attempts. Checked 15 October 2026. ndeb-bned.ca
  2. IRCC. 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap, 25 November 2025. canada.ca
  3. IRCC. Study permit: Provincial or territorial attestation letter (modified 2 September 2026). canada.ca
  4. IRCC. Study permit: Proof of financial support (modified 28 August 2026). canada.ca
  5. IRCC. Work off campus as an international student. canada.ca
  6. IRCC. Post-graduation work permit: Who can apply (modified 24 June 2026). canada.ca
  7. IRCC. About the post-graduation work permit: length of the PGWP. canada.ca
  8. IRCC. Post-graduation work permit: Field of study requirement (modified 9 March 2026). canada.ca
  9. IRCC. Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class (modified 24 September 2026). canada.ca
  10. IRCC. Express Entry: Category-based selection (modified 22 June 2026). canada.ca
  11. University of Toronto Planning and Budget Office. Tuition Fee Schedule for Publicly-Funded Programs, 2026-27, Table D4. governingcouncil.utoronto.ca
  12. University of Toronto IHPME. Tuition and Incidental Fees, 2026-27. ihpme.utoronto.ca
  13. NDEB. Equivalency Process fees and Certification Process fees, effective 1 July 2025. equivalency · certification
  14. NDEB. NDECC Registration Changes, 27 May 2025. ndeb-bned.ca
  15. University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry, IDAPP; University of Alberta, DDS Advanced Placement. dentistry.utoronto.ca · ualberta.ca
  16. ACFD. Bridge Training to Dental Practice in Canada Program. acfd.ca

Current as of 15 October 2026. The 99% pass rate refers to students who complete the INBDE Premium Boards course. Program examples are for illustration only; we are not affiliated with any school named. Immigration rules change often. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice: confirm every detail with your school’s international office, IRCC, or a licensed immigration lawyer or consultant.

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