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Since 1 September 2026 a single student needs CAD 23,448 for living costs plus first-year tuition, which is about PKR 4.59 million before tuition. The Islamabad visa office also asks for 12 months of bank statements, a police certificate and an explanation of any study gaps.
Written by NextMovePath editorial teamLast updated:
| IRCC processing time from Pakistan | 7 weeks (Study permit (applying from outside Canada))IRCC's current estimate, as of September 28, 2026. Source: IRCC processing times |
|---|---|
| Living funds (single student, outside Quebec) | CAD 23,448 per year plus tuition and travel (about PKR 4.59 million)Source: IRCC: Study permit, proof of financial support |
| Bank statements the visa office asks for | 12 months before you apply, with explanations for large depositsSource: IRCC: Islamabad visa office instructions, study permit (IMM 5829) |
| Police certificate | From each country where you lived 6 months or more since age 18, including PakistanSource: IRCC: Islamabad visa office instructions, study permit (IMM 5829) |
| Degree and certificate attestation | HEC for university degrees and transcripts; IBCC for SSC and HSSCSource: HEC Pakistan: Degree attestation |
| Government fees | CAD 150 study permit + CAD 85 biometrics (about PKR 46,000)Source: IRCC: Fee list |
For applications from 1 September 2026, IRCC requires CAD 23,448 for a single student’s yearly living costs outside Quebec, plus first-year tuition and travel. Each family member coming with you adds CAD 6,318. At CAD 1 = PKR 195.68, the living amount alone is about PKR 4.59 million.
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Statements from the 12 months before you apply, documents explaining any recent large deposits, and proof of where the money comes from, such as a notarized letter of undertaking from your parent or sponsor with their financial documents. If tuition is already paid, include the receipt.
Canadian schools set their own admission rules, and many ask Pakistani applicants for attested documents. HEC attests degrees and transcripts online through its e-services portal after your university verifies them. IBCC attests SSC and HSSC certificates and issues equivalence for foreign qualifications such as O and A levels.
IRCC itself asks for copies of your previous education documents. Attestation matters most for admission and for any later credential assessment for PR.
Yes. The Islamabad study instructions ask for a police certificate from each country or territory where you have lived for 6 months in a row or longer since age 18. In Pakistan this is a Police Character Certificate or Police Clearance Certificate from the provincial police.
Most students need a provincial attestation letter (PAL) from their school. Master’s and doctoral students at a public institution are among those exempt. The Student Direct Stream, which Pakistan was part of, ended on 8 November 2024. All Pakistani students now apply through the regular process.
The Islamabad instructions ask applicants with gaps in their study history for employment letters or an explanation of what they did. Account for every period since school with evidence, such as job letters, pay slips or course certificates. Unexplained gaps make officers doubt the study plan.
These are the grounds IRCC officers most often write in refusal letters for this kind of application. They are typical grounds, not statistics. Fix them before you apply, not after.
Tell us where you are in the process. A member of our team will tell you what is missing or weak in your Pakistan application, before IRCC does.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules, fees and document lists change often. Confirm current requirements on canada.ca or with a licensed Canadian immigration representative (RCIC or lawyer) before you apply.