Canada Student Visa (Study Permit) for Indian Students: Fees, Proof of Funds, PAL and Process (2026)
Canada study permit 2026 for Indians: CAD 150 fee + CAD 85 biometrics, CAD 23,448 (₹15.9 lakh) living funds from 1 Sep 2026, PAL rules, 24-hour work limit.
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A Canada study permit costs CAD 150 (about ₹10,200) plus CAD 85 (about ₹5,800) for biometrics. For applications made on or after 1 September 2026 you must show CAD 23,448 (about ₹15.9 lakh) for one year of living costs, plus your first-year tuition and return airfare. Most college and bachelor's applicants also need a provincial attestation letter (PAL) issued under the 2026 cap; master's and PhD applicants at public universities are exempt from 1 January 2026, and every study permit application must be filed online.
What is the Canada student visa, and why is it called a study permit?
Canada does not issue a "student visa" as such. The document that lets an Indian citizen study a course longer than 6 months is the study permit, issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Because Indian passport holders also need a visa to enter Canada, an approved study permit application comes with a temporary resident visa (TRV) stamped in your passport and a port-of-entry letter of introduction. The permit itself is printed when you land: a border services officer checks the letter and issues the study permit at the airport.
To qualify you must hold a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI), prove you can pay tuition, living costs and return travel for yourself and any family who come with you, be admissible (no criminal record, medical exam where required) and convince the officer that you will leave Canada when the permit expires. The DLI now has to confirm your letter of acceptance to IRCC directly; if the school does not validate it by IRCC's deadline, the application is returned and the fee refunded.
Two changes since 2024 shape every Indian application. The Student Direct Stream (SDS), which gave Indian applicants faster processing in exchange for a CAD 20,635 GIC and an IELTS 6.0, ended at 2:00 p.m. ET on 8 November 2024; every application from India now goes through the regular stream. And since 22 January 2024 Canada caps the number of study permit applications it accepts, which is why most applicants need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) issued by the province where they will study.
How much does a Canada student visa cost from India in 2026?
IRCC's fees are set in Canadian dollars and are the same whether you apply from India or from inside Canada. The visa application centre (VFS Global in India) charges its own service fee for the biometrics appointment, and the medical exam is paid to the panel physician.
| Item | Amount (CAD) | Approx. INR | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study permit application fee | CAD 150 | ₹10,200 | Per person, including extensions |
| Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) | CAD 85 | ₹5,800 | Once every 10 years; family maximum CAD 170 |
| Total IRCC fees for one applicant | CAD 235 | ₹15,900 | Paid online by card when you submit |
| Temporary resident visa (entry visa) | Included | — | Issued with an approved study permit; no separate fee |
| Immigration medical exam | Panel physician sets the fee | Check clinic | Needed for stays over 6 months where IRCC requires it |
| Restore student status after expiry | CAD 396.25 | ₹26,800 | CAD 246.25 restoration + CAD 150 new permit |
| Post-graduation work permit (later) | CAD 255 | ₹17,300 | CAD 155 work permit + CAD 100 open work permit holder fee |
| Spouse open work permit (where eligible) | CAD 255 | ₹17,300 | Same two fees; only some students qualify |
Source: IRCC fee list and Study permit — How to apply, read 26 Sep 2026. C$1 = ₹67.73 (Wise mid-market, 26 Sep 2026). VFS service charges and courier fees are extra.
How much money do you need to show for a Canada student visa?
IRCC publishes a fixed living-cost table, updated each year, and the amount depends only on how many family members come with you. On top of the living amount you must show the first year of tuition (a receipt for fees already paid counts) and the cost of travel to and from Canada. Quebec sets its own figures through the CAQ process.
| Family members (including you) | Applying on or after 1 Sep 2026 | Applying 1 Jan 2025 – 31 Aug 2026 | Approx. INR (2026 rule) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (you alone) | CAD 23,448 | CAD 22,895 | ₹15.9 lakh |
| 2 | CAD 29,192 | CAD 28,502 | ₹19.8 lakh |
| 3 | CAD 35,888 | CAD 35,040 | ₹24.3 lakh |
| 4 | CAD 43,572 | CAD 42,543 | ₹29.5 lakh |
| 5 | CAD 49,419 | CAD 48,252 | ₹33.5 lakh |
| Each additional person beyond 7 | CAD 6,318 | CAD 6,170 | ₹4.3 lakh |
| Plus first-year tuition | As on your letter of acceptance | Same | e.g. CAD 17,000 college ≈ ₹11.5 lakh; CAD 66,110 UofT Arts & Science ≈ ₹44.8 lakh |
| Plus return airfare | Show the cost of travel | Same | A reasonable figure for Delhi/Mumbai–Toronto/Vancouver return |
| Worked example: single student, CAD 20,000 college fee | CAD 43,448 + airfare | — | ≈ ₹29.4 lakh + airfare |
Source: IRCC — Proof of financial support, read 15 Oct 2026 (table for all provinces and territories except Quebec). C$1 = ₹67.73 (conversion dated 26 Sep 2026; not rechecked). The living-cost figure does not include tuition or transport.
Which financial documents does IRCC accept from Indian applicants?
IRCC wants two things: proof that the money for the first year exists now, and a credible explanation of how the rest of the programme will be paid for. The list below is IRCC's own set of examples; the visa office instructions for India can ask for more.
- A receipt from the DLI showing first-year tuition (and residence fees, if any) already paid. This covers tuition only; you still need documents for living costs and travel.
- A student or education loan sanction letter from a bank. Indian public-sector and private bank sanction letters are accepted; the letter should show the amount, the borrower and the purpose. Collateral-free loans typically top out around ₹7.5 lakh under the scheme rules, so most Indian families combine a loan with savings or a Canadian GIC term deposit.
- A GIC (a one-year term deposit) from a Canadian financial institution. The GIC is no longer mandatory because SDS ended, but IRCC still lists it as acceptable proof and many Indian students use it because it is easy for an officer to verify.
- Bank statements for the past 6 months, including the month you apply or the month before, with documents showing where the money came from (salary credits, fixed-deposit maturities, property sale). Large unexplained deposits are the single most common reason financial evidence is discounted.
- A letter from the person funding you (usually a parent) stating their occupation, relationship to you, number of dependants and the amount of support, backed by their salary slips or business registration and a copy of their photo ID.
- Proof of a scholarship or of a Government of Canada-funded programme. If it covers tuition only, add living-cost evidence.
- Proof of a Canadian bank account in your name if you have already transferred funds. Remittances from India go under the RBI Liberalised Remittance Scheme; tax collected at source (TCS) can apply above a threshold and differs for loan-funded transfers, so check the current rules with your bank before wiring the tuition deposit.
- For programmes longer than a year, a short statement of how years 2 onward will be paid (parents' continuing employment, a multi-year scholarship, a sanctioned loan disbursement schedule).
Who needs a provincial attestation letter (PAL) for Canada in 2026?
The PAL/TAL is a letter from the province or territory, handed to you by your DLI, confirming you have one of that province's spaces under the national cap. In most cases you must accept the offer and pay a tuition deposit before the school will request it. Quebec issues a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) instead. A PAL issued in 2026 is valid until 31 December 2026 and cannot be used in a later cap year.
| Your situation | PAL/TAL needed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| College diploma, graduate certificate or bachelor's degree | Yes | This is where most Indian applicants sit; ask the DLI how it allocates letters |
| Master's or doctoral degree at a public DLI | No (from 1 Jan 2026) | Exemption applies to degree-granting graduate programmes at public institutions |
| Kindergarten to grade 12 | No | Children under 17 travelling without a parent or legal guardian need a custodian declaration |
| Exchange student paying no tuition to the Canadian DLI | No | Provide the exchange agreement as proof |
| Global Affairs Canada scholarship holder | No | Upload the scholarship letter |
| Extending a permit at the same DLI and same level of study | No | Changing school or level needs a new PAL |
| Studying in Quebec | CAQ instead | CAQ must carry the line confirming your place in Quebec's share |
| 2026 national cap | 309,670 application spaces | Ontario 104,780 · Quebec 93,069 · BC 32,596 · Alberta 32,271 |
Source: IRCC — Provincial or territorial attestation letter, and the 25 Nov 2025 notice on 2026 allocations, read 26 Sep 2026. IRCC expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026, 155,000 of them to new arrivals.
How to apply for a Canada student visa from India: step by step
Every study permit application must be submitted online through an IRCC account; paper applications are accepted only if a disability prevents you from applying online or you hold a refugee or stateless-person travel document. Most Indian students for the September intake apply between April and June; January-intake students apply in September or October.
Accept your offer and pay the deposit
Choose a programme at a DLI that is PGWP-eligible if you plan to work afterwards. Pay the tuition deposit the school asks for; most provinces will not release a PAL until the deposit has cleared. Send the money under LRS and keep the remittance advice, since it doubles as proof of funds.
Get your PAL/TAL (or CAQ for Quebec)
The DLI requests the letter from the province and forwards it to you. It is tied to that school and to the 2026 cap year. If you later switch schools you need a new PAL; if your application is refused you also need a new one before reapplying.
Assemble the money evidence
Six months of bank statements with source-of-funds proof, the tuition receipt, a loan sanction letter or GIC certificate, and a sponsor letter from parents. Make sure the total clears CAD 23,448 plus first-year tuition plus airfare for a single applicant applying on or after 1 September 2026.
Book the medical exam if required
Applicants planning to stay more than 6 months, or who have recently lived in listed countries, may need an immigration medical exam with an IRCC panel physician. India has panel physicians in the main metros. You can do an upfront exam before applying to avoid a request later; check the IRCC medical exam page for whether it applies to you.
Write the letter of explanation
IRCC recommends it. Explain why this programme, why Canada, how it connects to your past study or work, how it is funded, and what you will do when the permit expires. Officers refuse applications that fail to show the main purpose is study or that you will leave at the end of your stay, so this letter is doing real work.
Create the IRCC account and submit online
Upload the letter of acceptance in its dedicated slot only, the PAL in the PAL field, passport pages, photos, financial documents and the letter of explanation. Pay CAD 150 plus CAD 85 biometrics by card. The fee is refunded if the DLI fails to validate your letter of acceptance.
Give biometrics within 30 days
IRCC sends a biometrics instruction letter; book a VFS Global appointment in an Indian city and attend within 30 days of the letter's date. Biometrics are valid 10 years, so a student who gave them for an earlier Canadian visa usually does not repeat them.
Track the decision and answer requests
Processing starts once biometrics are received. Use the IRCC application status tracker with your UCI and application number. You may be asked for an interview at the visa office, more documents, or a medical. Do not book non-refundable flights before the passport request arrives.
Passport stamping and travel
On approval IRCC asks for your passport to place the temporary resident visa and issues a port-of-entry letter of introduction. Carry the letter, the letter of acceptance, proof of funds and the PAL in hand luggage. The border officer issues the study permit at the airport; check every line on it before leaving the counter.
Canada student visa requirements for Indian students: the document checklist
- Valid passport with an information page copy uploaded; the original is sent for visa stamping after approval.
- Letter of acceptance from a DLI, uploaded in the LOA-specific field. IRCC asks the school to validate it, so keep the school informed of your application date.
- Provincial or territorial attestation letter, or proof that you fall under an exemption (for example a master's offer from a public university).
- Proof of funds: bank statements for 6 months with source of funds, tuition receipt, education loan sanction letter or GIC, sponsor letter with the sponsor's employment proof and ID.
- Two passport-size photographs with your name and date of birth on the back, as specified by IRCC.
- Letter of explanation (statement of purpose) covering course choice, funding and intent to leave at the end of the permit.
- Academic documents: class 10 and 12 marksheets, degree and semester marksheets, backlog statement if any, and any test scores the school relied on (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, Duolingo, GRE, GMAT).
- Immigration medical exam confirmation (eMedical sheet) where required.
- Police clearance certificate only if IRCC asks; apply early if you think you may need one.
- For minors under 17 travelling without a parent: a custodianship declaration signed in Canada and in India.
- For a spouse applying for an open work permit at the same time: marriage certificate, your letter of acceptance and proof that your programme qualifies (master's of 16 months or longer, doctoral, or a listed professional degree).
How long does a Canada student visa take from India?
IRCC no longer publishes a fixed service standard for study permits. Instead its processing-times tool gives a live estimate for applications from India, based on how long recent complete applications took, and the temporary-residence estimates are refreshed weekly. The figure moves with the season: the April–July peak for September starts is slower than October–December. Read the tool on the day you apply and again a month later, and treat it as a median, not a promise; your own file can be faster or slower depending on whether a medical, an interview or extra documents are requested.
Three things you control shorten the wait. Submit a complete file, because IRCC returns or delays incomplete applications and does not start the clock until documents arrive. Give biometrics as soon as the instruction letter lands, since processing only begins after IRCC receives them. And do an upfront medical exam if you expect to need one, so the officer does not have to pause your file to request it.
If you are refused, the letter states the reason. The recurring ones IRCC lists are: no valid letter of acceptance, insufficient proof of funds, a failed medical, failing to satisfy the officer that your main purpose is study, and failing to satisfy the officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your studies. Refused applicants need a new PAL before reapplying, so speak to the DLI immediately.
What can you do on a Canada study permit: work, family and switching schools
Full-time students at a DLI on a programme of at least 6 months that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate can work off campus up to 24 hours a week during regular terms, across one or more jobs, and full time during scheduled breaks such as the summer or winter holidays. You cannot work before your programme starts, and working beyond 24 hours is a breach that can cost you your status and future permits. On-campus work has no hour limit. You need a Social Insurance Number, which you can apply for once the work condition is printed on your permit.
Since 21 January 2025, your spouse or common-law partner qualifies for an open work permit only if you are in a master's programme of 16 months or longer, a doctoral programme, or one of the listed professional degrees such as MD, JD, BEng, BScN or BEd. Spouses of college diploma, graduate certificate and most bachelor's students no longer qualify. The spouse's permit normally runs to the same date as your study permit.
You cannot change schools on the same permit. Since 8 November 2024 a student who moves to a different DLI must apply to extend the permit, with a new PAL where the level of study requires one. Moving from a bachelor's to a master's at a public university does not need a new PAL. Keep your permit valid throughout: if it expires you have 90 days to apply to restore status, at CAD 396.25 in fees, and you cannot study or work while restoration is pending.
Why Canada study permits from India get refused
Frequently asked questions
What is the Canada student visa fee for Indian students in 2026?
The study permit application fee is CAD 150 (about ₹10,200) and biometrics cost CAD 85 (about ₹5,800), so IRCC charges CAD 235 (about ₹15,900) per applicant. The entry visa is issued with the permit at no extra charge. VFS Global service fees and the panel physician's medical exam fee are paid separately.
How much bank balance is required for a Canada student visa?
For applications submitted on or after 1 September 2026 a single applicant must show CAD 23,448 (about ₹15.9 lakh) for living costs, plus first-year tuition and return airfare. With a spouse the living figure is CAD 29,192 and with a spouse and one child CAD 35,888. Before 1 September 2026 the single-applicant figure was CAD 22,895.
Is a PAL required for a Canada study permit in 2026?
Yes for most college and bachelor's applicants: the provincial or territorial attestation letter confirms you hold one of the 309,670 application spaces under the 2026 cap. Master's and doctoral students at public designated learning institutions are exempt from 1 January 2026, as are K-12 students and exchange students who pay no Canadian tuition. Quebec issues a CAQ instead.
Is IELTS mandatory for a Canada student visa?
No. IRCC does not set a language test requirement for the study permit itself; the requirement comes from your college or university, and some accept PTE, TOEFL, Duolingo or medium-of-instruction evidence. Since the Student Direct Stream closed on 8 November 2024 there is no IELTS-linked fast track. A test does matter later: the post-graduation work permit needs CLB 7 for university graduates and CLB 5 for college graduates.
How long does a Canada study permit take from India?
IRCC publishes a live estimate for India in its processing-times tool and updates temporary-residence estimates weekly, so there is no single fixed number. Processing starts only after your biometrics are received, and a request for a medical exam, interview or missing document pauses the clock. Check the tool on the day you apply and plan for the April–July peak to be slower.
Is SDS still available for Indian students?
No. The Student Direct Stream, which offered faster processing to Indian applicants who bought a CAD 20,635 GIC and scored IELTS 6.0, ended at 2:00 p.m. ET on 8 November 2024. All applications from India now go through the regular study permit stream with the standard proof-of-funds table, which for 2026 applications made from 1 September is CAD 23,448 plus tuition.
How many hours can I work on a Canada student visa?
Up to 24 hours a week off campus during regular academic terms, in one job or several, and full time during scheduled breaks such as summer. You must be a full-time student at a DLI on a programme of at least 6 months, and you cannot start working before the programme begins. On-campus work has no hour cap.
Can I take my spouse on a Canada study permit?
A spouse can apply to accompany you, but an open work permit is available only if you are in a master's programme of 16 months or longer, a doctoral programme, or a listed professional degree such as an MD, JD, BEng or BScN. Spouses of college diploma and most bachelor's students do not qualify for a work permit, and each family member adds to the funds you must show.
Do I need a medical exam for a Canada study permit from India?
IRCC asks for an immigration medical exam when you plan to stay in Canada for more than 6 months and have recently lived in a listed country, or will work in certain health or child-care jobs. Most Indian applicants on programmes over 6 months are asked for one; check the IRCC medical exam page, and use only a panel physician approved by IRCC.
Official sources used on this page
- IRCC — Study permit: Get the right documents — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 26 September 2026
- IRCC — Study permit: Proof of financial support (cost-of-living table) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 15 October 2026
- IRCC — Provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 26 September 2026
- IRCC — Fee list (study permits, restoration, work permits) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 26 September 2026
- IRCC — Study permit: How to apply (online-only rule, biometrics fee) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 26 September 2026
- IRCC — Study permit: After you apply — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 26 September 2026
- IRCC — Study permit: Who can apply — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 26 September 2026
- IRCC — Work off campus as an international student — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 26 September 2026
- IRCC — Help your spouse or common-law partner work in Canada — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 26 September 2026
- IRCC — 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 26 September 2026
- IRCC — End of the Student Direct Stream — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 26 September 2026
- IRCC — Check processing times (live tool) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 26 September 2026
- Wise — CAD to INR mid-market rate — Wise · checked 26 September 2026
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