Applying from India
Study Permit for applicants from India
The rules for a Canadian study permit are the same in every country. What changes for applicants from India is the checklist the responsible visa office publishes, the financial documents it expects, where you give biometrics, and whether you need a medical exam or a police certificate. This page covers those differences, each with its official source.
Jacinth Immigration Canada teamReviewed by a licensed RCICLast updated
Entry requirements
Before you apply
| Visitor visa (TRV) to enter Canada | Required |
|---|---|
| Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) | Required |
Processing times
IRCC processing times for applicants from India
| Application type | IRCC estimate | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Study Permit | 8 weeks | 56 |
| Family Sponsorship | 8 months | 240 |
| Super visa | 82 days | 82 |
| Visitor Visa | 31 days | 31 |
| Work Permit | 10 weeks | 70 |
Source: IRCC processing times, updated November 2, 2026
Applying from India
What is different for applicants from India
- The Student Direct Stream ended at 2:00 p.m. ET on 8 November 2024; applications are now processed in the regular study permit stream, which accepts a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) as proof of funds. India was an SDS country.
- New Delhi visa office checklist (IMM 5818, February 2026) includes a Study Permit Questionnaire: you must name any agent or representative and list all study and work since age 18 with no gaps.
- Applications received after 1 April (May intake), 1 August (September) or 1 December (January) are unlikely to be processed in time.
- Provide income tax returns for you and your parents for 2 years, a funding letter from each sponsor, and individual mark sheets (consolidated mark sheets are not accepted).
- Proof of funds: IRCC's current living-cost figure for one student outside Quebec is CAN$23,448 a year plus tuition and travel (applications on or after 1 September 2026); any older dollar figure printed in a visa office checklist is superseded by the IRCC website.
Biometrics, medical and police
Biometrics, medical exam and police certificate
- Biometrics
Give biometrics (fingerprints and photo) at a visa application centre in one of 10 Indian cities (New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Mumbai or Pune) after paying the biometrics fee; biometrics given for a visitor visa or study permit stay valid for 10 years, and IRCC cannot issue a visa or permit beyond their expiry date.
Visa application centres: New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune.
Official IRCC page- Medical exam
India is on IRCC's list of countries where an immigration medical exam is required for stays over 6 months, so most study permit applicants (and visitors staying more than 6 months, including super visa applicants) need an exam by an IRCC panel physician; your own doctor cannot do it. Find a panel physician.
Official IRCC page- Police certificate
IRCC says you will be asked for a police certificate for a study permit only if you declare a criminal record; the New Delhi visit checklist does not list one upfront. Character certificates are not accepted.
India's certificate: Police Clearance Certificate (Issued through the Passport Seva system: local district police station, passport office, Indian embassy or consulate, or BLS International Centre abroad).
Official IRCC page
Sources
Official sources
- ircc.canada.ca/english/information/applications/student.asp?countrySelect=IN
- ircc.canada.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/imm5818e.pdf
- canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/end-student-direct-stream-nigeria-student-express.html
- canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents/financial-support.html
- canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/medical-exams/requirements-temporary-residents/country-requirements.html
Checked against these pages on October 11, 2026. Visa offices update their checklists; always use the version linked from your application.
Explore
Study Permit from other countries
Explore
Other pathways from India
From the blog
Related reading
- Study & workStudy permit requirements, and the attestation letter nobody can get for youYou cannot apply to a province for an attestation letter. Your school requests it. Who needs a PAL or TAL, who is exempt, and how it ties into the intake cap.September 19, 2026
- Study & workThe letter of acceptance: what it must show, and how to prove it is realFake acceptance letters have cost students years and their status in Canada. What a genuine offer contains, how IRCC verifies it, and how to check yours.September 19, 2026
- Study & workWriting a study plan a visa officer will actually believeA study plan is not an essay about loving Canada. What the officer is testing when they read it, and the mistakes that make one fall apart.September 30, 2026
Check where you stand before you book
Two free tools, no account needed.
Read the full Study Permit guide for eligibility and the step-by-step process.
Ready when you are
Ready to start your Canadian journey?
Take the first step towards your new life in Canada. Book a consultation with our licensed immigration consultant today.
- Licensed RCIC consultant
- High success rate
- 500+ families helped