• Students at a primary or secondary institution as 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, DLI’s can lose their designated status. The international student may be affected if DLI’s status is lost considering the following examples:

• If the applicant applies for a study permit with a letter of acceptance from an institution that is not a DLI, the study permit application is refused
• If the applicant applies for a study permit with a letter of acceptance from a DLI, but during the process the DLI loses its designated status before the study permit is issued, the student has three options and 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 and will therefore be refused
• If the applicant receives a study permit for a DLI, and the institution loses its designated status after the issuance of the study permit, the student may:
• Transfer to another DLI
• Continue studying at the non-designated DLI until the study permit expires. But the study permit may not be renewed for the non-designated institution.

For the list of Designated Learning Institutions (DLI) please visit the following website.