Canada Study Visa FAQs for Indian Students

A Canada study permit lets a foreign national study at an eligible Designated Learning Institution. It is not the entry visa itself; Indian students usually also need a TRV to enter Canada.

The study permit fee is CAD 150. Biometrics cost CAD 85 per person when required. For applications from September 1, 2026, one person outside Quebec needs CAD 23,448 for first-year living costs, plus tuition and transportation. Quebec and accompanying-family amounts differ.

Processing times vary. Use the IRCC tool for a study permit applied for outside Canada and select India. Its estimate is not a decision deadline. SDS closed on November 8, 2024; new applications use the regular stream. Apply once your required documents are ready and discuss a deferral with your DLI if needed.

No. IRCC ended SDS on November 8, 2024. New Indian student applicants now apply through the regular study permit stream; already-issued permits are not affected by the closure.

Most applicants need a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter unless an exemption applies. From January 1, 2026, applicants for degree-granting master's or doctoral programs at public DLIs are exempt. Check the current exemption list and any separate Quebec CAQ requirements for your case.

Eligible students may work up to 24 hours per week off campus during regular academic sessions and full-time during scheduled breaks if all conditions are met. On-campus work has separate eligibility rules and no hourly limit for eligible students. Do not start work before your program begins.

IRCC does not prescribe one IELTS score for every study permit. Check your DLI and program admission requirements, accepted tests and the documents required for your permit application. Admission and a study permit are separate assessments.

For applications from September 1, 2026, a single applicant outside Quebec must show CAD 23,448 in first-year living funds, plus tuition and transportation. Show how you will fund later years if the program is longer. Family-size amounts differ and Quebec has separate rules. A GIC is one accepted example of proof, not a compulsory deposit.

Family members need their own immigration status. A spouse or common-law partner may qualify for an open work permit if the student holds a valid study permit and studies in a master's program of at least 16 months, a doctoral program, or an eligible listed professional or other program. Admission alone does not guarantee a spouse work permit.

Studying does not guarantee PR or a Post-Graduation Work Permit. Graduates must meet current PGWP school, program, language and, where applicable, field-of-study rules. Qualifying Canadian work may support a later Express Entry or provincial application, subject to that program's conditions.

Start with proof of identity, a DLI letter of acceptance and financial support. Include a PAL/TAL or exemption evidence where applicable. Follow your personalized and local visa-office checklists for academic records, explanations, medical exams, police certificates, translations and other evidence. Give biometrics if required.