Canada Student Visa Processing Time from India (2026)

All figures here are as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) decides study permits; VFS Global runs the Visa Application Centres in India as the Government of Canada's exclusive service provider. For visitor, work and super visas, see our Canada visa guide for Indians.

What is the current study permit processing time from India?

IRCC publishes country-specific times. These are the figures for applications from India in the same data release:

All four figures carry the same date: IRCC data last updated October 14, 2026. The biometrics fee of CAN$85.00 per person is charged on top of each application fee. Applications from India are handled by IRCC's visa office in New Delhi.

A processing time says nothing about the outcome. IRCC's April 30, 2026 note to a parliamentary committee puts the refusal rate for new study permit applications at 59% for all nationalities in January-December 2025 (52% in 2024). IRCC does not publish an India-only figure on that page, and the rate is not a prediction for any one applicant.

Does the 7-week figure predict your own wait?

Treat it as a guide, not a promise. IRCC told a parliamentary committee in April 2026 that its posted times are backward-looking and do not reflect actual processing times. In other words, 7 weeks describes how long past applications took, not how long yours will take.

IRCC also states that applications needing more information take longer. For a study permit, extra steps can include a police certificate or a medical exam if IRCC requires them. Upload every item on the personalised document checklist the IRCC Portal generates, and check whether the visa office needs anything additional.

What must be ready before you submit the application?

1. Letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI), uploaded to your online application.
2. Provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) in most cases. The province issues it through your DLI, usually after you accept the offer and pay part or all of the tuition. Quebec requires a CAQ instead.
3. Proof of funds for first-year tuition, return transportation and living costs. For applications on or after September 1, 2026, the living-cost minimum outside Quebec is CAN$23,448 for one person and CAN$29,192 for two.
4. Police certificate and medical exam, if IRCC requires them.

Accepted proof of funds includes a GIC from a Canadian financial institution, a Canadian bank account in your name, bank statements for the past 6 months showing the source of funds, an education loan, a scholarship, or receipts for paid tuition or housing. For programs longer than a year, you must also explain how you will pay for the full duration.

Where do biometrics fit into the timeline?

After you apply online, IRCC sends a Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL). Since February 24, 2026, VFS India appointments require you to upload that letter when booking through its Appointment Management System. Booking is free; the CAN$85 biometrics fee is paid online to IRCC and covers fingerprints, photo and moving your documents between IRCC and the VAC.

IRCC lists ten VACs in India: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune. Book as soon as the letter arrives. Later, passport submission at a VAC needs a prior appointment, and decision envelopes can be collected at the VAC or returned by courier for a fee.

What does the process cost, apart from the wait?

The VFS charges took effect on 1 May 2026 and are paid at the VAC by cash or UPI. VFS has announced new service charges from 1 November 2026, but the amounts were not published as of 15 October 2026. IRCC fees are published in CAD only, so no official rupee figure exists for them.

Which rule changes affect your 2026 timeline?

• January 22, 2025: students changing schools need a new PAL/TAL before applying.
• January 1, 2026: master's and doctoral degree-granting programs at public DLIs no longer need a PAL/TAL, which removes one step for many postgraduate applicants.
• February 24, 2026: VFS biometrics appointments require the uploaded BIL.
• September 1, 2026: the single-applicant living-cost minimum rose from CAN$22,895 to CAN$23,448.

Watch the PAL/TAL date too. Letters for the 2026 cap year are valid until December 31, 2026 unless they show an earlier date, and the letter must be valid when you apply. You also need a new PAL/TAL after an approval or a refusal, so a refused applicant cannot reuse the old letter.

What should you check before you click submit?

• Your passport is valid for at least 6 months from the date you plan to travel.
• Your PAL/TAL, if you need one, is valid on the date you apply.
• Your funds cover first-year tuition, return travel and the living-cost minimum for your family size.
• For a program longer than a year, your file explains how you will pay for the full duration.
• Your study plan shows the officer you will leave Canada when the permit expires, one of IRCC's stated requirements.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or get in touch here.

Frequently asked questions

Is a GIC mandatory for a Canada study permit from India?

No. IRCC lists a guaranteed investment certificate from a Canadian financial institution as one accepted proof of funds. Others include an education loan, a scholarship, a Canadian bank account in your name, 6 months of bank statements showing the source of funds, or receipts for paid tuition or housing.

Does a master's student at a public university need a PAL?

Not from January 1, 2026. Master's and doctoral degree-granting programs at public designated learning institutions are exempt from the PAL/TAL requirement. Most other study permit applicants still need one.

Can I reuse my PAL if my study permit is refused?

No. IRCC says you need a new PAL/TAL after an approval or a refusal, and since January 22, 2025 also when changing schools. The letter must be valid on the date you apply.

How much money must I show for a Canada study permit?

For applications on or after September 1, 2026, the living-cost minimum outside Quebec is CAN$23,448 for one person, plus first-year tuition and return transportation. The amount rises with family size, for example CAN$29,192 for two people.