Canada Student Visa for Indian Students in 2026
Indian students apply through the regular study permit stream, since the Student Direct Stream closed on November 8, 2024. Most need a DLI acceptance letter, a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL), and proof of first-year tuition plus $23,448 in living costs for applications from September 1, 2026. The permit fee is $150, plus biometrics. An IRCC officer decides each application.
$23,448
Living costs for a single applicant outside Quebec, applications from September 1, 2026
$150
Study permit application fee
$85
Biometrics, per person (family maximum $170)
8 weeks
IRCC's published study permit processing time from India, as of its November 4, 2026 update
The wait changes often. The Processing Times page shows the current figure for India.
What changed for Indian students when the SDS closed?
The Student Direct Stream (SDS) and Nigeria Student Express ended at 2:00 p.m. ET on November 8, 2024. SDS had offered faster processing for students from certain countries, including India, who met set financial and language conditions.
Every Indian applicant now uses the regular study permit stream, which IRCC processes without the old SDS service standard. Plan for longer and more variable processing, and apply early. Biometrics appointments at the Visa Application Centre (VAC) can add time.
Do Indian students need a PAL?
Starting in 2024, Canada introduced a national cap on new study permit applications and, as of January 22, 2024, required most new college and undergraduate students to include a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) issued by the province or territory where they plan to study. The PAL confirms you have a spot within that province’s allocation, and provinces have a limited number to give out.
For 2026, IRCC made about 309,670 study permit application spaces available nationally, allocated among the provinces and territories. Each province or territory distributes its allocated spaces to its DLIs, so ask your school how it handles PALs before you plan your intake.
The requirement reached master’s, doctoral and most in-Canada applicants in 2025. As of January 1, 2026, students in degree-granting master’s and doctoral programs at public DLIs are again exempt, as are preschool, primary and secondary students; other exemptions can apply. Confirm the current scope on canada.ca.
The rule
Without a required PAL, IRCC returns the application, with the processing fee refunded.
What documents do Indian students need?
| Requirement | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Letter of Acceptance from a DLI | Your school must be a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). IRCC verifies acceptance letters with DLIs. Verify DLI status on the canada.ca DLI list. |
| PAL/TAL | Required for most college and undergraduate applicants; you obtain it through your DLI once the province issues it. |
| Proof of funds | CAD $23,448 for first-year living costs, plus first-year tuition and travel. A GIC from a Canadian financial institution is one accepted way; bank statements for the past 6 months, with the source of the money, are another. Quebec sets its own amount. |
| Language test result | IRCC does not set a fixed score for the permit itself; each school sets its own minimum. Schools may accept IELTS Academic, Duolingo, PTE or CELPIP, and francophone programs may accept TEF or TCF. |
| Valid passport | An officer sets the end date of your permit, and the Regulations let it take account of your passport expiry (IRPR s.183(2)(c)). |
| Biometrics | Fingerprints and photo, generally given at a Visa Application Centre (VAC). |
| Application forms | Completed IMM 1294 (Application for a Study Permit Made Outside of Canada) and all required schedules and declarations. |
| Statement of purpose / study plan | IRCC calls this a letter of explanation and marks it recommended. In IRCC’s words, you must explain why you want to study in Canada, and that you understand your responsibilities as an international student in Canada. |
How does your choice of DLI affect your options?
Your choice of DLI affects your study permit eligibility, PGWP eligibility, and post-graduation immigration options:
- Only Designated Learning Institutions can host international students with study permits.
- To qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), your program generally must be at least 8 months at a PGWP-eligible institution. Graduates of public-private partnership college programs are generally not eligible.
- For PGWP applications made on or after November 1, 2024, most applicants must meet a language level in all four skills: CLB/NCLC 7 for a university program and CLB/NCLC 5 for a college or other non-university program.
- If you apply for your study permit on or after November 1, 2024, any program other than a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree must also be in a field on IRCC’s list, which is linked to jobs in long-term shortage.
- The province where you study affects which Express Entry streams you may later qualify for through PNP programs.
How can studying in Canada lead to permanent residence?
Graduate from a PGWP-eligible program
The program generally must be 8+ months at a PGWP-eligible DLI, and the field of study and language rules above apply.
Apply for the PGWP after you finish
You apply within 180 days of confirmation that you completed your program. PGWP length depends on your program’s level and length and on your passport expiry, up to a maximum of 3 years. A PGWP is issued once.
Gain 1 year of skilled Canadian work experience
Work in Canada for at least 1 year full time (1,560 hours), or the same amount part time, in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job within the 3 years before you apply. Work while you studied full time does not count.
Apply to CEC through Express Entry
Create an Express Entry profile selecting CEC. You need CLB 7 (TEER 0/1) or CLB 5 (TEER 2/3). Each round has its own cut-off, which IRCC publishes.
Receive an ITA and apply for PR
Submit a complete PR application within 60 days of receiving your ITA. IRCC’s service standard is 180 days for 80% of complete applications.
Another route is a provincial nomination through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Some provinces have streams for international graduates of their own schools.
Which free tool checks your own case?
- Document ChecklistTypical documents by application type
- Funds CalculatorProof of funds, super visa and sponsorship income
- Processing TimesIRCC wait times by program
Free, with no account. What you enter in a tool stays in your browser.
What do people ask?
What are the Canada student visa requirements for Indian students?
Most Indian students need a letter of acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution, a Provincial Attestation Letter, and proof of first-year tuition plus $23,448 in living costs. They also need a valid passport, biometrics, the IMM 1294 form, a study plan and the English or French test result their school requires. An officer decides. Our Document Checklist tool builds the full list for your application.
How much does a Canada student visa cost from India?
The IRCC study permit fee is $150 CAD, plus $85 for biometrics. On top of the fees, a single applicant must show first-year tuition and $23,448 in living costs for applications made on or after September 1, 2026. Language test fees and travel come on top. Our fee calculator totals the IRCC fees, and our GIC guide explains one accepted way to show living costs.
How long does a Canada student visa take from India?
IRCC's published processing time for a study permit from India is 8 weeks, as of its November 4, 2026 update. The figure changes often, and biometrics appointments at the Visa Application Centre can add time. Apply early. Our processing times page lets you look up the current figure for India and every other country.
How much money do I need to show, and what is the GIC?
A single applicant outside Quebec must show $23,448 for first-year living costs (applications from September 1, 2026), plus first-year tuition and travel. Quebec sets its own amount. A Guaranteed Investment Certificate is a term deposit at a Canadian financial institution, and it is one accepted way to show the living-cost portion. Our GIC guide explains how it works and what else counts as proof.
Is the Student Direct Stream (SDS) still available for Indian students?
No. The SDS and Nigeria Student Express ended at 2:00 p.m. ET on November 8, 2024. Applications submitted after that time go through the regular study permit stream, which has no India-specific fast track. Plan to apply early and include complete proof of funds and language results. Our SDS closure guide explains what changed for applicants from India.
Do I need IELTS for a Canada student visa from India?
IRCC sets no IELTS score for the study permit itself, but each Canadian school sets its own test minimum for admission, and you cannot apply without an acceptance letter. Schools may accept IELTS Academic, Duolingo, PTE or CELPIP. Check your school's requirement. Our language converter shows how test scores map to CLB levels.
Do master's and PhD students from India need a PAL in 2026?
No, not at public DLIs. As of January 1, 2026, students in degree-granting master's and doctoral programs at public Designated Learning Institutions are again exempt from the PAL/TAL requirement, and most college and undergraduate applicants still need one. These exemptions have changed more than once since 2024, so confirm the current scope on canada.ca. Our study permit guide covers the PAL rules in full.
What happens if my study permit is refused?
IRCC sends a refusal letter with reasons, and since July 29, 2025 it includes officer decision notes with most temporary resident refusals. Grounds include the funds rule (IRPR s.220), the officer not being satisfied you will leave at the end of your stay (IRPR s.216(1)(b)), or incomplete documents. The Regulations set no waiting period after an ordinary refusal (exceptions: IRPR s.221, IRPA s.40), and a PAL-required applicant needs a new PAL. You can also apply to the Federal Court for judicial review, on your own or through a lawyer. An officer decides each case. Our study permit refusal guide explains the refusal grounds and how people respond to each.
Part of:Studying in CanadaStudy permits
- Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) for a Study Permit
- Working While Studying in Canada: Rules & Limits
- Can International Students Work in Canada? Off-Campus Work Rules
The textbook on this subject
Volume 2: Immigrating to Canada $79
The economic and family pathways to permanent residence, explained from the published criteria.
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This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.