Canada vs Australia Student Visa for Indians: Funds and Fees

All figures are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. Neither government publishes an INR amount, so convert at your bank's rate when you pay. Country detail sits in our Canada and Australia guides, and every destination is on our India visa hub.

How do the visa fees compare?

On application charges alone, Canada is far cheaper. The bigger numbers sit in the funds you must show, which is where most Indian families plan their loans and deposits.

How much money must you show for living costs?

Australia asks for evidence of money only if its Document Checklist Tool requires it for you. When it does, the amounts below apply. Canada asks every study permit applicant for proof of funds covering first-year tuition, return transportation and living costs.

Canada's figure rose on 1 September 2026; applications from 1 January 2025 to 31 August 2026 used CAN$22,895 for one person. If your programme runs longer than a year, IRCC also asks you to explain how you will pay for the full duration.

Can parents' income replace a bank balance?

In Australia, yes. Instead of savings, you can show that your parents or partner earned a personal annual income of at least AUD 87,856 in the 12 months before you apply (AUD 102,500 if family members come). It must be shown with official government documents such as tax assessments. Bank statements and employer letters are not accepted for this route, so think ITR acknowledgements, not salary slips.

Canada's list in our record has no income-only alternative. Instead it accepts several forms of proof, and you can combine them:

• A guaranteed investment certificate (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 or a scholarship.
• Receipts for paid first-year tuition or housing.
• A letter and proof of funds from a sponsor.

Australia adds a rule Indian applicants often miss: genuine access to funds. You must show how deposits were built up, for example through transaction history or salary patterns. A single-day bank balance certificate does not show this.

Can family members come with you?

This is now the sharpest difference. From 2 October 2026, most Australian Student visa applications must be lodged outside Australia and most applicants can no longer include family members. Exemptions include PhD students, DFAT or Defence-sponsored students and holders of fully funded foreign-government scholarships. So the partner and child amounts above matter only if you fall in an exempt group.

Canada's funds table is built around family size, from 1 person up to 7 and beyond. IRCC fees are charged per person, so price each family member's permit or visa separately.

How do grant rates and processing times compare?

• Australia: Home Affairs reports a Student visa grant rate of 59.5% for Indian citizens applying outside Australia in October–December 2025, counted as grants divided by grants plus refusals (79.9% in the same quarter of 2024). Primary applications from Indian citizens granted in that quarter took a median 23 days, with 75% within 36 days.
• Canada: IRCC gives a 59% refusal rate for new study permit applications in 2025 (52% in 2024), across all nationalities; it does not publish an India-only figure on that page. Its processing-times data for study permits applied for from India shows 7 weeks, updated 14 October 2026.

The two numbers measure different things, one a grant rate for Indians and one a global refusal rate, so they do not predict your own outcome. They do show that both countries refuse many applications, which is why proof of funds deserves care.

Which 2026 changes should you factor in?

• 1 January 2026, Canada: master's and doctoral degree programmes at public DLIs no longer need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL).
• 1 July 2026, Australia: the Student visa charge became AUD 2,500.
• 1 September 2026, Canada: the single-applicant living-cost minimum rose to CAN$23,448.
• 2 October 2026, Australia: offshore lodgement and the family-member limit took effect.

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Frequently asked questions

Is a GIC compulsory for a Canadian study permit?

No. A GIC from a Canadian financial institution is one accepted proof of funds. IRCC also accepts a Canadian bank account in your name, 6 months of bank statements showing the source of funds, an education loan, a scholarship or paid tuition receipts.

Can I use an education loan for an Australian Student visa?

Yes. Home Affairs lists deposits, loans or scholarships as evidence of financial capacity, plus evidence of genuine access to the money, such as the loan terms and disbursement.

Do Indian students need a PAL for Canada?

In most cases, yes, issued through your DLI and submitted with the application. From January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral programmes at public DLIs are exempt, and Quebec requires a CAQ instead.

Can I pay the Australian or Canadian visa fee in rupees?

Home Affairs charges in AUD and IRCC in CAD; neither publishes an INR amount. Your card is charged in rupees at your bank's exchange rate on the day.