Student guide to Canada

Study Permit (not technically a visa) issued via IRCC. Apply with Letter of Acceptance from Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) required since 2024 — provinces have caps. Financial requirement: CAD $20,635/year + tuition (Quebec $30,000+). Biometrics typically required. Off-campus work allowed up to 24 hours/week during term as of late 2024.

International students considered "deemed residents" for tax purposes after 183 days. File T1 General even if no income (eligibility for GST/HST credit, Climate Action Incentive). Canada-India tax treaty prevents double taxation. Most universities offer free tax workshops in February-March.

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (CAD $50,000/year for 3 years, doctoral, ~166 awards/year). Trudeau Foundation Scholarships (humanities/social sciences PhD). Ontario Trillium Scholarships. UBC International Leader of Tomorrow. Mitacs Globalink Research Internship for short-term research stays.

Major banks: TD, RBC, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC. International student banking packages (often $100+ welcome bonus) are common. Scotiabank StartRight is popular for newcomers. Open online before arrival; finalise in branch within 30 days. Get a SIN (Social Insurance Number) from Service Canada within first week.

On-campus residence offered primarily to first-year undergrads. Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal have tight rental markets — start search 2-3 months before arrival via Places4Students, PadMapper, Kijiji. Most leases require post-dated cheques (or PADs); first + last month rent at signing. Roommate culture standard for grad students — average $700-$1,200/month per room in major cities.

Provincial health insurance varies — BC and Alberta cover students from day 1; Ontario has 3-month wait so universities provide UHIP ($756/year as of 2026). Quebec has RAMQ for QU students from countries with reciprocal agreements. Dental and pharmacy not in basic coverage — university supplementary plans ($300-500/year) bridge gap.

IELTS Academic 6.5+ or TOEFL iBT 90+ standard for English-medium programmes. French-medium programmes (UdeM, ULaval, UQAM) require DELF B2 / TEFAQ / TCFQ. Bilingual programmes increasingly common at McGill and Ottawa.

Indian/South Asian grocery widely available in Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, Surrey, Calgary, Edmonton. Halal certification standard at most universities. Average grocery: CAD $250-$400/month. Costco memberships popular for bulk.

Canada consistently ranks among top-10 safest countries globally. Campus safety apps (UBC AlertReady, UofT Campus Safe, McGill SecurityApp) standard. Winter cold (December-March) is the bigger practical concern than crime — invest properly in winter clothing.

Massive Indian-origin diaspora — 1.6M+ in Canada. Brampton, Surrey, Calgary have major Indian populations. Embassy in Ottawa + 5 consulates. Cricket leagues, Diwali celebrations, gurudwaras and temples in every major metro. Alumni: IIT Alumni Canada, IIM Alumni Canada, BITSAA Canada all active.