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Students applying from Saudi Arabia, both Saudi citizens and expat children, use the Riyadh visa office study checklist. It expects parents’ employment letters certified by the Saudi Chamber of Commerce and several months of bank history.
Written by NextMovePath editorial teamLast updated:
| IRCC processing time from Saudi Arabia | 4 weeks (Study permit (applying from outside Canada))IRCC's current estimate, as of September 28, 2026. Source: IRCC processing times |
|---|---|
| Living costs you must show (1 person, outside Quebec) | CAN$23,448 per year plus tuition and travel, about SAR 62,200 at September 2026 ratesSource: IRCC: Study permit proof of financial support |
| Bank statements (Riyadh checklist) | 4 to 6 months for you or your parents; IRCC now asks for 6 months with source of incomeSource: IRCC Riyadh visa office: Additional document checklist, study permit (IMM 5847) |
| Non-Saudi students | Copy of iqama and of exit and re-entry visaSource: IRCC Riyadh visa office: Additional document checklist, study permit (IMM 5847) |
| Visa application centres | Riyadh, Jeddah and Al KhobarSource: IRCC: Find a visa application centre |
For applications from September 1, 2026, a single student outside Quebec must show CAN$23,448 for one year of living costs, plus first-year tuition and travel. At about SAR 2.65 per Canadian dollar, living costs alone come to roughly SAR 62,200. Each accompanying family member adds more.
If you have no scholarship, the Riyadh checklist recommends employment letters for you or your parents showing position, salary, service length and contract dates, certified by the Saudi Chamber of Commerce, and bank statements going back four to six months. Add proof of any tuition or housing already paid.
Include a letter from the sponsoring organization with your name, date of birth, program and level of study, the institution, and the names of any accompanying family members it covers. A scholarship letter that leaves out family members can hold up their applications.
The Riyadh office lists the questions: why this program in Canada, your education goal, why not study at home, what local options you researched, how it helps your career, and your ties. It also asks how you or your parents will pay, and whether siblings are studying abroad.
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 Saudi Arabia 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.