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    Student visa guide · Indian students

    Canada student visa for Indian students: fee, requirements and processing time

    The Study permit costs $175 in fees nobody can skip, up to $425 if every situational extra applies.

    About ₹16,800 for the Study permit at the ExchangeRate-API rate on 18 September 2026. The fee is charged in the destination's currency, so the exact amount moves with the exchange rate.

    By Global Admissions Editorial · Checked against 4 official sources

    What is different when you apply from India

    The general process is on the Canada student visa guide. These are the parts that only apply to you.

    The Student Direct Stream no longer exists

    India was one of the SDS countries until IRCC closed the stream at 2:00 p.m. ET on 8 November 2024. Advice built around SDS timelines and its fixed document list is out of date; Indian applicants now use the regular study permit stream.

    IRCC: End of the Student Direct Stream and Nigeria Student Express (8 November 2024)

    A GIC still counts, but it is no longer a shortcut

    The regular stream accepts Guaranteed Investment Certificates as proof of financial support, so the GIC many Indian students already hold remains valid evidence. It no longer buys the faster processing SDS promised, and it still has to cover the CAD 23,448 living-cost threshold.

    IRCC: End of the Student Direct Stream and Nigeria Student Express (8 November 2024)

    How much bank balance is required for a Canada student visa from India?

    For the Study permit, Canada asks you to show CAD 23,448. The accepted form is Bank statements, a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC), or proof of a loan or scholarship, and it covers Twelve months of living expenses for a single applicant outside Quebec, excluding tuition and transport, for applications made on or after 1 September 2026. A partner adds CAD 29,192 in total for two people, and a family of three needs CAD 35,888. This is money you show, not money you pay, so it never appears in the fee table above. The figure comes from IRCC: Study permit: Proof of financial support, checked August 2026.

    IRCC: Study permit: Proof of financial support · checked August 2026

    Canada student visa documents for Indian applicants

    9documents every applicant provides.

    DocumentWhat it involves
    Letter of acceptance from a designated learning institutionUpload it in the dedicated space in your online application. Post-secondary schools are asked to validate the letter, and if yours does not respond by the deadline IRCC returns the application and refunds the processing fee. source
    Provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL)Needed in most cases and issued by your school on behalf of the province, confirming there is space for you within its allocation. You usually have to accept the offer and pay tuition in part or in full to get one. Master's and doctoral students at a public DLI starting on or after 1 January 2026 are exempt, as are school pupils up to grade 12. source
    Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) if you will study in QuebecQuebec applicants need an attestation of issuance of the CAQ from the Government of Quebec instead of a PAL, and the CAQ must carry the line confirming your place in Quebec's share of study permit applications. source
    Valid passport and two passport-size photosUpload the information page of your passport when applying online, and write your name and date of birth on the back of each photo. If you are approved you must then send IRCC your original passport. source
    Proof of financial supportShow funds for tuition, living expenses and return transport for yourself and anyone coming with you, without relying on work in Canada. Accepted evidence includes a GIC from a Canadian financial institution, six months of bank statements with the source of the income documented, a loan or scholarship award, or a sponsor's letter with proof of their employment. source
    Letter of explanationRecommended rather than mandatory. It explains why you want to study in Canada and shows you understand your responsibilities as an international student. source
    Immigration medical exam where requiredYou may need one if you plan to stay longer than six months, have recently spent time in certain countries, or intend to work in a job where public health must be protected. source
    Police certificate if IRCC asks for oneNot requested in every case, but the certificates take time to obtain, so apply early if you think yours will be needed. source
    Documents specific to your local visa officeRequirements vary by the country you apply from. Select your country under Outside Canada then Apply online on the How to apply page to see your visa office instructions, and prove your immigration status if you are applying from a country other than your own. source

    How to apply for a Canada student visa from India

    1. Accept your offer and get the letter of acceptance

      Your designated learning institution issues the letter of acceptance once you accept the place. Confirm the school will validate it, since IRCC now checks letters directly with schools.

      source
    2. Obtain your PAL or TAL, or a CAQ for Quebec

      Most applicants need the attestation letter from the province or territory before applying, and getting one usually means paying tuition in part or in full first. Quebec runs its own certificate instead.

      source
    3. Assemble your proof of funds

      Gather evidence covering CAD 23,448 in living costs for a single applicant plus first-year tuition and transport. Bank statements need documentation showing where the money came from, so start well before you apply.

      source
    4. Apply online and give biometrics

      Submit the application with each document in its correct upload slot, because anything you attach in the letter-of-acceptance slot is disclosed to your school. Biometrics are collected after you apply.

      source
    5. Complete a medical exam and police certificate if asked

      Do these as early as you can, since both add weeks to the timeline and IRCC will not finalize an incomplete application.

      source
    6. Send your passport and travel

      Once approved you send IRCC your original passport for the visa or eTA, then present your documents to a border officer, who issues the study permit on arrival.

      source

    Work rights, dependants and what comes after

    Work rights

    Study permit holders may work off campus up to 24 hours a week during a regular academic session and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks, provided they are enrolled full time at a designated learning institution in a program of at least six months.

    source

    After graduation

    A post-graduation work permit runs from eight months to three years. A program of at least eight months but under two years earns a permit matching the program length; two years or more earns the full three years. Most applicants have had to submit language test results since 1 November 2024, and the program must be PGWP-eligible.

    source

    Canada student visa for other nationalities

    Student visas for Indian students elsewhere

    FAQ

    Frequently asked questions

    How much does a Canada student visa cost for Indian students?
    $175 in mandatory fees for the Study permit. About ₹16,800 for the Study permit at the ExchangeRate-API rate on 18 September 2026. The fee is charged in the destination's currency, so the exact amount moves with the exchange rate. Situational extras can take it to $425.
    How much bank balance is required for a Canada student visa?
    CAD 23,448, held as Bank statements, a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC), or proof of a loan or scholarship, covering Twelve months of living expenses for a single applicant outside Quebec, excluding tuition and transport, for applications made on or after 1 September 2026. A partner adds CAD 29,192 in total for two people, and a family of three needs CAD 35,888. It is money you show rather than money you pay, so it is separate from the visa fees. Applications submitted between 1 January 2025 and 31 August 2026 use the earlier CAD 22,895 figure. You must show the funds for the first year and explain how you will pay for the rest of a longer program. Quebec applicants meet the thresholds set by the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration instead. Source: IRCC: Study permit: Proof of financial support (August 2026).
    Can you work on a Canada student visa?
    Study permit holders may work off campus up to 24 hours a week during a regular academic session and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks, provided they are enrolled full time at a designated learning institution in a program of at least six months. Source: IRCC: Work off campus as an international student (August 2026).

    Official sources

    Proof of funds: CAD 23,448, IRCC: Study permit: Proof of financial support.