🇨🇦 Study in Canada: The 2026 Journey, Step by Step
The full 2026 student journey to Canada: LOA, PAL, C$23,448 in funds, a study permit at the airport and 24 hours of work a week. What visa officers check, what to pack to cut first-month costs, and how much part-time work really covers.
At a glance: the 2026 numbers
| What | Canada |
|---|---|
| Document you need from the school | Letter of Acceptance (LOA), plus a PAL/TAL if your program needs one |
| Living costs to show | C$23,448 (IRCC living-funds figure for one person (from 1 September 2026)) |
| Work in term | 24 h/week |
| Minimum wage | C$17.95 an hour |
| Plugs and voltage | Type A/B plugs, 120 V |
| Cash to declare | C$10,000 or more |
Step 1–10: the journey in order
Timings count back from your course start date. Start earlier if you need a scholarship or an education loan: both add months.
What the visa officer is looking for
✅ A study plan that adds up
Why this program, why this school, why Canada and not home, and how it builds on what you studied or did before. A random jump (B.Com to a diploma in culinary arts) needs a clear explanation.
✅ Money with a history
First-year tuition plus C$23,448, held long enough to look like your family's real savings. Large recent deposits are a leading refusal reason unless explained with a property sale deed, loan sanction letter or similar.
✅ Ties and honest intent
The officer must be satisfied you will leave when your status ends. Canada allows "dual intent": planning PR later is fine, as long as you will obey the temporary rules now.
✅ Genuine, verified documents
An LOA that matches IRCC's DLI record, a PAL if required and test scores that meet the school's minimum.
✅ A clean, disclosed history
Declare every past refusal in any country. Hiding one is misrepresentation and can bring a five-year ban.
Before you leave: pack to cut your first-month costs
The first month abroad is the most expensive: deposits, bedding, a phone plan, transport cards and kitchen basics all land at once. Packing the right things from home, and leaving the wrong ones behind, saves real money and trouble at the border. Canada runs on 120 V. Phone and laptop chargers are dual-voltage and work with a plug adapter; Indian 230 V mixers, irons, kettles and induction cooktops do not.
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| ✅ Bring: Thermal base layers, gloves, woollen socks | cheaper at home, and you need them from week one |
| ✅ Bring: Pressure cooker and one heavy pan | cooking at home is the biggest saving; stovetop cookware works on any cooker |
| ✅ Bring: Ground, sealed spices and masalas | declare them as food on arrival |
| ✅ Bring: Prescription medicines in original packs | carry the prescription; keep to a few months' supply |
| ✅ Bring: Spare glasses or contact lenses | eye tests and frames cost far more without insurance |
| ✅ Bring: Passport photos and certified document copies | needed for SIN, bank and school forms |
| ✅ Bring: Type A/B plug adapters | for dual-voltage chargers |
| 🛒 Buy there: A winter coat and insulated boots | rated for your city; local shops and secondhand stores stock the right warmth |
| 🛒 Buy there: 120 V kitchen appliances | kettle, rice cooker, iron |
| 🛒 Buy there: Duvet and pillows | too bulky to fly |
| ⛔ Never pack: Meat, fresh fruit or vegetables | refused or fined if undeclared |
| ⛔ Never pack: Undeclared cash of C$10,000 or more | seizure and penalties |
| ⛔ Never pack: 230 V heating appliances | they will not run on 120 V |
💵 Declare cash of C$10,000 or more to the CBSA when you land. Use a forex card or a low-fee multi-currency account for most of your money, and carry only enough cash for the first few days. Full Canada customs rules →
Paying your fees by working, within the rules
| Rule | Canada in 2026 |
|---|---|
| During term | Up to 24 hours a week |
| Breaks | Full-time during scheduled breaks (up to 180 days of breaks a calendar year) |
| Minimum wage | C$17.95 an hour (Ontario minimum wage from 1 October 2026 (British Columbia: C$18.25 from 1 June 2026)) |
| Legal maximum in term | C$12,924 a year (24 h × 30 weeks) |
Worked example. A realistic plan is fewer hours than the legal maximum, because shifts are not always available and grades matter. Here is what 15 hours a week in term and 35 in breaks earns:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Term: 15 h/week × 30 weeks × C$17.95 | C$8,078 |
| Breaks: 35 h/week × 12 weeks × C$17.95 | C$7,539 |
| Gross earnings a year | C$15,617 |
| Tuition (example: a master's at a large Ontario university) | C$45,000 |
| Living costs (IRCC living-funds figure for one person (from 1 September 2026)) | C$23,448 |
| Share of living costs covered | 67% |
| Share of tuition + living covered | 23% |
The pattern is the same everywhere: part-time work can cover much of your living costs, but rarely tuition. Plan to pay tuition from savings, a loan or a scholarship, and use wages for rent, food and the second year's buffer. Never go over your hour limit: breaching visa conditions can lead to cancellation and refusals later.
Other ways to bring the bill down
- Entrance scholarships from your university, usually automatic on admission
- Co-op programs: paid placements, and since 1 April 2026 most post-secondary students no longer need a separate co-op work permit
- Summer full-time work in a scheduled break, often the single biggest earner
- On-campus jobs: no weekly hour limit
Try your own numbers below. The legal-maximum button fills the most you are allowed to work.
Your first two weeks after landing
| Task | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Social Insurance Number | Service Canada; needed before your first pay cheque |
| Bank account | student packages usually have no monthly fee |
| Health cover | provincial plan or your school's plan, depending on province |
| Phone and transit pass | student transit passes are often included in fees |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the steps to study in Canada?
1) Pick a program and check it leads somewhere. 2) Book your English test. 3) Apply and get your Letter of Acceptance. 4) Get a provincial attestation letter if you need one. 5) Put the money in place. 6) Apply online and give biometrics. 7) Book flights and a first place to stay. 8) Collect the permit at the airport. 9) SIN, bank, phone, health cover. 10) Start work, within the limits.
What do visa officers look for in a Canada student visa application?
A study plan that adds up: Why this program, why this school, why Canada and not home, and how it builds on what you studied or did before. A random jump (B.Com to a diploma in culinary arts) needs a clear explanation. Money with a history: First-year tuition plus C$23,448, held long enough to look like your family's real savings. Large recent deposits are a leading refusal reason unless explained with a property sale deed, loan sanction letter or similar. Ties and honest intent: The officer must be satisfied you will leave when your status ends. Canada allows "dual intent": planning PR later is fine, as long as you will obey the temporary rules now.
Can I pay my tuition by working part-time in Canada?
Only partly. Working 15 hours a week in term and 35 in breaks at C$17.95 an hour earns about C$15,617 a year before tax, roughly 67% of the C$23,448 living-cost figure. You must show the first year's funds before the visa is granted, so wages are for later years and living costs, not for getting the visa.
How many hours can international students work in Canada?
Up to 24 hours a week during term. Full-time during scheduled breaks (up to 180 days of breaks a calendar year).
What should I pack to save money when moving to Canada?
Bring: thermal base layers, gloves, woollen socks; pressure cooker and one heavy pan; ground, sealed spices and masalas; prescription medicines in original packs; spare glasses or contact lenses. Buy there: a winter coat and insulated boots; 120 V kitchen appliances; duvet and pillows.
Do I need a SIN before I start working in Canada?
Yes. You need a Social Insurance Number from Service Canada before you are paid, and your study permit must carry the condition that allows work. Apply in your first week.
Sources
Figures on this page were checked against these sources on 31 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official site before you apply.