Canada visaInternational studentCanada study permit for Indian students
A study permit needs a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution, a provincial or territorial attestation letter for most programs, and proof you can pay the first year without working. From 1 September 2026 the living-cost figure for one person outside Quebec is CAD 23,448 on top of tuition and travel.
8 min read Verified 29 October 2026 against canada.ca · How we verify
Canada study permit: quick answers
- Who qualifies for a Canada study permit?
- An applicant with a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI), a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) unless exempt, proof of funds for year one, a clean police and medical record, and a credible plan that shows why this program, in Canada, now. Master's and doctoral students at public DLIs and school-age children do not need a PAL or TAL.
- How much money must I show?
- Tuition for the first year, travel to and from Canada, and living costs of CAD 23,448 for a single applicant applying on or after 1 September 2026 (CAD 29,192 for two people, CAD 35,888 for three). A Canadian GIC, bank statements for six months with the source of funds, an education loan sanction letter or a scholarship letter all count.
- How long does it take from India?
- About 7 weeks for a complete application filed in India at IRCC's late-October 2026 update, after biometrics. The Student Direct Stream closed in November 2024, so there is no fast lane; file as soon as the acceptance letter and PAL arrive.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Permit | Study permit; a visitor visa (TRV) is issued with it at no extra fee |
| Government fee | CAD 150 per person |
| Biometrics | CAD 85 per person; valid 10 years |
| Living funds, 1 person | CAD 23,448 per year (outside Quebec, applications from 1 Sept 2026) |
| Attestation letter | PAL or TAL required except master's, doctoral, K-12 and a few exempt groups |
| Processing from India | About 7 weeks (IRCC tool, late October 2026) |
| Work while studying | Up to 24 hours a week off campus in term time when the permit allows it |
| 2026 intake | IRCC plans about 155,000 new study permits in 2026; 309,670 application spaces under the cap for PAL/TAL students |
Who can apply and what the officer checks
You need an acceptance letter from a DLI for a program of more than six months, the PAL or TAL the province issues through the institution (the application is returned unprocessed without it where it is required), proof of funds for the first year and a plan to pay for the rest, and no criminal or medical inadmissibility. Applicants from India staying over six months take an immigration medical exam with a panel physician; doing it upfront saves four to six weeks.
The officer weighs the study plan: whether the program follows logically from your previous education and work, why it is not available at home, and how it fits what you say you will do afterwards. Academic progression matters: a diploma after a master's degree, or a program unrelated to the last five years of work, is a recurring refusal reason unless the statement explains it.
Spouses and partners can work on an open work permit only in limited cases, chiefly when the student is in a master's program of 16 months or more, a doctoral program or an eligible professional degree. Children can attend school. Check the IRCC family-member eligibility page before planning the move together.
Fees and funds
| Item | CAD | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Study permit | 150 | Per person, including extensions |
| Biometrics | 85 | CAD 170 maximum for a family |
| Restore status as a student | 396.25 | Restoration (246.25) plus a new permit (150), within 90 days of expiry |
| Living funds, single applicant | 23,448 | Per year, outside Quebec, applications on or after 1 Sept 2026 |
| Living funds, 2 people | 29,192 | Applicant plus one family member |
| Living funds, 3 people | 35,888 | Each additional member after seven: CAD 6,318 |
| Living funds, 4 people | 43,572 | Figures are updated each year by IRCC |
Funds are shown on top of first-year tuition and travel. Acceptable proof includes a receipt for tuition and housing paid to the DLI, a GIC from a Canadian bank, bank statements for the past six months with the source of each large credit, an education loan sanction letter, a scholarship letter on letterhead, or a sponsor's letter with their employment proof and identification. Applicants between 1 January 2025 and 31 August 2026 are assessed against the earlier figure of CAD 22,895.
How the application runs, step by step
- 1
Accept the offer and request the PAL or TAL
Pay the deposit the DLI asks for; the institution requests the attestation letter from the province. Master's, doctoral and K-12 applicants skip this step.
- 2
Arrange funds and the medical
Open a GIC or gather six months of statements and the loan sanction; book the upfront medical with an IRCC panel physician in India.
- 3
File in the IRCC account and pay CAD 235
Acceptance letter, PAL or TAL, proof of funds, statement of purpose, passport, photo, transcripts and language test. Pay the permit fee and biometrics.
- 4
Give biometrics within 30 days
At a VFS Global VAC in India; processing starts when IRCC receives them.
- 5
Receive the letter of introduction and the TRV
Approval brings a port-of-entry letter and a visa counterfoil in the passport; the study permit itself is printed at the airport on arrival.
Timeline for a September intake
| Month | Milestone |
|---|---|
| February to April | Offer accepted, deposit paid, PAL or TAL requested through the DLI |
| April to May | GIC funded, loan sanctioned, medical done, language test valid |
| May to early June | Application filed; biometrics within two weeks |
| Mid-June to early August | Decision in about seven weeks at the current rate; IRCC's estimate changes weekly |
| Late August | Travel with the letter of introduction, acceptance letter and proof of funds for the airport officer |
Filing after the first week of July for a September start leaves no room for a document request. Many DLIs allow a deferral to January if the permit is late; confirm the policy in writing before the term starts.
Working, extending and the post-graduation work permit
Off-campus work is limited to 24 hours a week during term and full time in scheduled breaks, only when the permit carries the work condition. On-campus work is unrestricted. Unauthorised hours are non-compliance and can cost the post-graduation work permit.
The post-graduation work permit (PGWP) runs up to three years depending on program length and level. Since November 2024 applicants must meet a language level (CLB 7 for university graduates, CLB 5 for college graduates) and, for most non-degree college programs, graduate in an eligible field of study. Check the program against IRCC's current PGWP page before accepting an offer, because the eligible-field list is revised.
Document checklist: admission and attestation
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Letter of acceptance from a DLI | Names the program, start date, duration, tuition and the DLI number; conditional offers are accepted only when the condition is a prerequisite course |
| Provincial or territorial attestation letter | Issued by the province through the DLI; applications without it are returned with a fee refund where it is required |
| Quebec acceptance certificate (CAQ) | Only for Quebec DLIs; apply to MIFI before the permit |
Funds
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| GIC certificate or six months of bank statements | GIC of at least CAD 23,448 from a participating Canadian bank, or statements showing the balance and the source of every large deposit |
| Tuition payment receipt | First-year or first-semester tuition paid to the DLI |
| Education loan sanction letter | From an Indian bank or NBFC, stating the disbursable amount and the course |
| Sponsor's documents | Parents' or sponsor's statements, ITRs, employment proof and a signed support letter with their ID |
Academic and language
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Transcripts and certificates | Class 10, 12 and degree mark sheets; gap-year explanation if more than six months |
| Language test result | IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT or CELPIP, within two years; the DLI sets the band |
| Statement of purpose | One to two pages: why this program, why Canada, how it fits past study and future work, and funding |
Identity and health
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Passport valid beyond the program | The permit cannot outlast the passport; renew first if it expires during the course |
| Digital photo | IRCC specification, recent, plain background |
| Upfront medical exam receipt (IMM 1017) | From an IRCC panel physician in India, needed for stays over six months |
| Police clearance certificate | Only if IRCC requests one; obtain from the Passport Seva Kendra or local police |
Why applications on this route get refused, and the fix
Financial insufficiency
The officer was not satisfied you could pay tuition and CAD 23,448 of living costs for year one, or the source of the funds was unclear.
The fix. Fund a GIC, show six months of statements with every large credit explained, and attach the loan sanction letter; add the sponsor's ITRs when parents pay.
Purpose of study not reasonable
The program did not follow from your previous education or work, or similar courses were available in India at lower cost without an explanation.
The fix. Rewrite the statement of purpose around a specific career outcome, name the modules and employers that make this program the right step, and address any downward move in level directly.
Not satisfied you will leave Canada
Weak ties to India combined with family already in Canada, or a statement that read as a plan to settle.
The fix. State dual intent honestly, then evidence the ties: family business, property, dependants, a job offer or return plan with employer letters.
Missing or defective attestation letter
The application was returned because the PAL or TAL was absent, expired or issued for a different DLI or program.
The fix. Ask the DLI to reissue the letter for the exact program and intake and file again; the IRCC fee is refunded when an application is returned.
Academic record and gaps
Low marks, backlogs or an unexplained gap of several years raised doubts about completing the program.
The fix. Explain gaps with employment letters or medical records, include the DLI's confirmation that your record met its admission standard, and show recent relevant work or study.
Official sources
- IRCC: proof of financial support for a study permit (dated 28 Aug 2026) ↗
- IRCC: provincial or territorial attestation letter ↗
- IRCC notice: 2026 allocations under the international student cap ↗
- IRCC fee list (dated 21 Sep 2026) ↗
- IRCC processing times tool ↗
- IRCC: help your spouse or partner work in Canada ↗
Canada study permit questions
Other Canada routes
Temporary resident visa
Visitor visa (TRV)
CAD 100 per person
Read the route
Temporary foreign worker
Work permit (LMIA and employer-specific)
CAD 155 per person
Read the route
Permanent residence
Express Entry (permanent residence)
CAD 1,590 principal applicant
Read the route
Family class
Spousal and partner sponsorship
CAD 1,260 per spouse
Read the route
