Whether you need to pay full tuition before applying for a study permit depends on which visa category your application falls under.
What group members clarified:- Student Direct Stream (SDS) applicants typically need to pay one full year of tuition upfront, plus purchase a GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate) of CAD $10,000. SDS is available to applicants from a specific list of eligible countries.
- Non-SDS applicants don't need to prepay a full year's tuition. Instead, they generally need to show six months of tuition paid plus a bank statement demonstrating sufficient funds to cover the remaining costs and living expenses.
- Whether you qualify for SDS depends on your country of residence, not just your nationality — check the current IRCC list of SDS-eligible countries, since scholarships or partial tuition waivers only reduce the amount you need to demonstrate, not the requirement itself.
Because SDS eligibility and fee thresholds can change, verify the current requirements on the IRCC website before finalizing your payment plan.