Study in Canada from India — Study Permit, PGWP, Express Entry

The pathway

Eight steps to your Study Permit.

The post-SDS process is non-negotiable about sequence — language test before admission, admission before PAL, PAL before tuition, GIC before submission. Skipping is what creates refusals.

Prerequisite

Clear your language proficiency exam.

Take IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL. The realistic floor for direct entry is an overall IELTS 6.0, with 6.5 needed for most universities and competitive diploma programs. Bands matter as much as the overall — no module below 5.5.

Admission

Apply to a Designated Learning Institution.

Your college or university must hold an active DLI number — if it doesn't, the visa cannot be issued. We shortlist three to five DLIs that fit your scores, budget, and post-study work plans, and secure your Letter of Acceptance.

Mandatory legal step

Obtain your Provincial Attestation Letter.

Under the current undergraduate-and-diploma caps, your DLI requests a PAL from the provincial government on your behalf. The PAL is mandatory for most applicants — no PAL, no permit. Timelines vary by province.

Tuition

Pay your first-year tuition fees.

Most institutions require the first semester or full first year paid before issuing a payment receipt. This receipt is part of your visa file — and it's also what unlocks the next step.

Financial proof

Purchase a Guaranteed Investment Certificate.

Open a student account with an IRCC-approved Canadian institution — Scotiabank, RBC, CIBC, ICICI Bank Canada, or HSBC — transfer CAD 22,895, and obtain the official GIC certificate. This is your living-expense proof for the first year.

Health clearance

Undergo an upfront medical examination.

Book with an IRCC-approved panel physician in India. We schedule with clinics that turn the tracking sheet around within 48 hours so it doesn't bottleneck your submission.

The application

Submit on the IRCC portal.

Account creation, form completion, document upload — LOA, PAL, GIC certificate, tuition receipt, language scores, and a precise Statement of Purpose. Processing fees paid online. Every upload is reviewed twice before submission.

Final steps

Biometrics and passport stamping.

VFS Global appointment for fingerprints and a photo. Once approved, your physical passport goes in for visa stamping. We hand it back to you with a pre-departure briefing and a Mississauga contact for your first week.

Designated Learning Institutions

127 DLIs we place students into.

Every institution below holds an active Designated Learning Institution number. Search by name, or tell us your field and budget and we'll shortlist three to five that fit.

The University of British Columbia (UBC) – Okanagan Campus

University of Alberta

University of Waterloo

University of Calgary Continuing Education

University of Ottawa

Queen's University

Dalhousie University

University of Victoria

Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE)

York University

Acadia University

Northeastern University – Toronto Campus

Cape Breton University (CBU)

Northeastern University – Vancouver Campus

Carleton University

University of Guelph

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU)

University of Windsor

Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU)

Brock University

Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)

Memorial University of Newfoundland – St. John Campus

Memorial University of Newfoundland – Grenfell Campus

University of Manitoba

University of New Brunswick (UNB)

University of Regina

University of New Brunswick – Saint John

Trinity Western University (TWU)

Adler University

University of Lethbridge

Lakehead University – Thunder Bay Campus

Lakehead University – Orillia Campus

Lakehead University – Barrie STEM Hub

University of Winnipeg

University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI)

Mohawk College

St. Francis Xavier University (StFX)

University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)

Thompson Rivers University (TRU)

Ontario Tech University

Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU)

Trent University

Royal Roads University (RRU)

Fairleigh Dickinson University (Vancouver)

Western University

Simon Fraser University

Vancouver Island University (VIU)

St. Thomas University

Nipissing University

King's University College (Western Ontario)

Huron University

Capilano University

University of the Fraser Valley (UFV)

Mount Allison University (MTA)

MacEwan University

Crandall University

Crandall University – Sussex

Niagara University, Ontario

International Business University (IBU)

City University

Seneca Polytechnic

Humber Polytechnic

George Brown Polytechnic – Casa Loma Campus

George Brown Polytechnic – St. James Campus

George Brown Polytechnic – Waterfront Campus

Algonquin College

Sheridan College – Davis Campus (Brampton)

Sheridan College – Trafalgar Campus (Oakville)

Sheridan College – Hazel McCallion Campus (Mississauga)

Bow Valley College (BVC)

St. Clair College, Ontario

Douglas College

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)

Niagara College

Fanshawe College

Durham College

Fleming College

North Island College (NIC)

Georgian College

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP)

Lakeland College

Cambrian College

Conestoga College – Stratford Campus

Conestoga College – Cambridge Campus

Conestoga College – Waterloo Campus

Conestoga College – Doon Campus

Conestoga College – Reuter Drive Campus

Conestoga College – Brantford Campus

Conestoga College – Guelph Campus

Conestoga College – Milton Campus

College of New Caledonia (CNC)

Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Saskatoon

Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Regina

Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Moose Jaw

Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Prince Albert

LaSalle College, Vancouver

LaSalle College, Montreal

College of the Rockies (COTR)

Northern Lights College (NLC)

Northern College, Timmins

Booth University College, Winnipeg

St. Lawrence College – Kingston Campus

St. Lawrence College – Cornwall Campus

St. Lawrence College – Brockville Campus

Lambton College – Sarnia Campus

Selkirk College

Assiniboine College

Keyano College

Canadore College – West Parry Sound Campus

Canadore College – College Drive North Bay Campus

Canadore College – Commerce Court North Bay Campus

Acsenda School of Management

Vancouver Film School (VFS)

Vancouver Community College (VCC)

British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)

Medicine Hat College (MHC)

NorQuest College

OLDS College, Alberta

Confederation College – Thunder Bay Campus

Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC)

Great Plains College, Saskatchewan

North West College, Saskatchewan

Suncrest College, Saskatchewan

Columbia College, Vancouver

Vega Academy

Luther College High School

No institutions match “” — ask us, we likely still work with your target school.

Don’t see your target institution? Ask us — our network extends beyond this list.

2026 financial structure

What it actually costs.

A line-by-line breakdown of every fee, deposit, and financial proof you'll need for the first year. Tuition ranges reflect the gap between affordable colleges and top-tier universities.

Expense	Cost in CAD	Cost in INR
Language proficiency test (IELTS / PTE / TOEFL)	CAD 270 – 310	₹16,500 – 19,000
University / college application fees (per institution)	CAD 100 – 250	₹6,100 – 15,300
Upfront medical examination	CAD 90 – 130	₹5,500 – 8,000
IRCC Study Permit processing fee	CAD 150	₹9,200
Biometrics enrolment	CAD 85	₹5,200
Mandatory GIC deposit (living expenses)	CAD 22,895	≈ ₹14,10,000
First-year tuition (diploma to degree range)	CAD 14,000 – 35,000	≈ ₹8,60,000 – 21,50,000
First-year total liquid capital required	CAD 37,500 – 59,000	≈ ₹23 – 36 lakhs

Tuition ranges reflect 2026 published rates from a sample of public and private DLIs. INR conversions are indicative.

What changed in 2024–25

The Canadian process is now disciplined.

The Student Direct Stream is retired. Every applicant is now on the regular stream, and shortcut financial proofs are gone.
Provincial Attestation Letters are mandatory for most undergraduate and college diploma applicants, with provincial caps limiting supply each year.
The GIC threshold is CAD 22,895 — up significantly from earlier years to reflect actual cost-of-living.
Spousal open work permits are restricted to master's and doctoral students, and to spouses of workers in select occupations.
Post-Graduation Work Permit rules now favour graduates from PGWP-eligible programs aligned with in-demand sectors. We check this before shortlisting.

Canada,
step by step.

Four ways to get to Canada.