Every student visa in the world asks the same three questions: are you a genuine student, can you pay for it, and will you follow the rules while you are there. What changes between countries is the paperwork, the amounts and the timing.
This guide covers the six destinations most Indian students apply to, with the figures verified against official sources — and links so you can confirm them yourself before you apply.
The five things every application needs
- An unconditional offer from a licensed or designated institution.
- Proof of funds — enough for tuition plus living costs, with a credible history behind the balance.
- English evidence — usually IELTS, PTE or TOEFL, though some routes waive it. See our test comparison.
- Biometrics and identity verification at a visa centre or through an app.
- Genuine intent — a coherent explanation of why this course, this country, and what happens after. Sometimes tested in an interview, always assessed from your documents.
Your Statement of Purpose does real work here. Visa officers read for coherence between your academic history, your chosen course and your stated plans.
United Kingdom — Student visa
- Application fee (from outside the UK)
- £558
- Healthcare surcharge (students)
- £776 per year
- Living costs — London
- £1,529/month for up to 9 months
- Living costs — outside London
- £1,171/month for up to 9 months
- Earliest application
- 6 months before the course starts
- Post-study work
- Graduate Route
UK Student visa
You will need a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) from your university before you can apply. Funds generally must have been held for 28 consecutive days.
After graduating, the Graduate Route gives you 2 years of unrestricted work rights if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, and 18 months if you apply from 1 January 2027 — 3 years for doctoral graduates either way. Our Graduate Route explainer covers this in detail.
Official source: gov.uk Student visa
United States — F-1 visa
- SEVIS I-901 fee
- USD 350
- Visa application (MRV) fee
- USD 185
- Required before applying
- Form I-20 from your university
- Interview
- Mandatory at a US consulate
- Post-study work
- OPT — 12 months, 36 with STEM extension
USA F-1 visa
The sequence matters: you receive the I-20, pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, complete the DS-160, pay the visa fee, then book the interview. Do not book the interview before the SEVIS payment clears.
The F-1 interview is short and decisive. Expect questions on why this university, how you are funding it, and your plans after graduation. Answer directly and consistently with your documents.
Official sources: Study in the States (SEVIS) · US Department of State student visas
Canada — Study permit
- Proof of funds (single applicant, outside Quebec)
- CAD 22,895 for living costs, plus first-year tuition and travel
- Additional person
- CAD 28,502 for two, CAD 35,040 for three
- Attestation letter
- PAL/TAL required for most college and undergraduate applicants
- Quebec
- Requires a CAQ instead of a PAL
- Post-study work
- PGWP, up to 3 years
Canada study permit
As of 2026, master's and doctoral applicants at public designated learning institutions no longer require a PAL or TAL. Most other applicants still do, and you must obtain it from the province before applying.
Acceptable proof of funds includes four months of bank statements, a Guaranteed Investment Certificate, scholarship letters, or a sponsor's affidavit with supporting financials.
Official source: IRCC study permit guidance
Australia — Student visa (subclass 500)
- Visa application charge
- AUD 2,500 (from 1 July 2026)
- ELICOS applicants
- AUD 2,050
- Financial capacity — living costs
- AUD 29,710 for 12 months, plus tuition and return airfare
- Partner
- Additional AUD 10,394
- Dependent child
- Additional AUD 4,449 each
- Post-study work
- Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
Australia subclass 500
The application charge rose from AUD 2,000 to AUD 2,500 on 1 July 2026 under the 2026–27 Federal Budget. The charge that applies is set by the date the Department receives your application, not the date you finish preparing it.
You will also need Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the full duration of your stay.
Official sources: Study Australia — visa charge update · Home Affairs subclass 500
Germany — National (type D) student visa
- Blocked account (12 months)
- Around €11,904, released as ~€992 per month
- APS certificate
- Mandatory for Indian applicants
- Tuition at most public universities
- None — semester contribution of €150–€350
- Baden-Württemberg (non-EU)
- Around €1,500 per semester
- Post-study work
- 18-month job-seeker residence permit
Germany student visa
The APS certificate is the step Indian students most often underestimate. The Academic Evaluation Centre verifies your academic documents, and it sits ahead of the visa in the sequence. Start it as soon as you decide on Germany.
Health insurance is mandatory and must be arranged before the visa appointment.
Official source: Study in Germany
Ireland — Study visa and permission
- Living costs to evidence
- About €10,000 for the year
- Tuition prepayment
- Substantial instalment expected before you apply
- Bank statement history
- Typically six months of stable balances
- Post-study work
- Third Level Graduate Programme — 12 months at level 8, 24 months at level 9+
Ireland student visa
Ireland expects you to have paid a significant portion of your tuition before you lodge the visa application. Funds must be genuinely accessible — fixed deposits and locked savings products are frequently rejected.
Once you arrive you must register for an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) with immigration.
Our Ireland timeline guide sets out when each of these steps should happen.
Official source: Irish Immigration Service
Why applications get refused
In our experience, refusals cluster into five causes — and four of them are avoidable.
- Proof-of-funds problems. A large deposit appearing days before you apply. Funds in someone else's name without proper sponsorship documentation. Money locked in instruments you cannot access. Build the balance steadily over months.
- Incoherent intent. A course that does not follow from your academic history, with no explanation of why you switched.
- Document inconsistencies. Names, dates of birth or qualifications that differ between your passport, transcripts and application.
- Applying too late. Missing your course start date because you left no buffer for processing.
- Incomplete submissions. Missing a required document and not responding when the authority asks for it.
Suggested timeline
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 12 months out | Shortlist countries and courses; sit your English test |
| 10–8 months out | Submit applications; begin scholarship applications; start APS if applying to Germany |
| 8–6 months out | Offers arrive; accept and pay deposits; begin building documented funds |
| 6–3 months out | Pay required tuition instalments; assemble proof of funds; lodge the visa application |
| 3–1 months out | Biometrics and interviews; arrange accommodation and insurance |
| 1 month out | Travel, arrival registration, and course enrolment |
Not sure which requirements apply to you?
AEC counsellors have handled student visa applications across all six of these countries for over 15 years. Get a document checklist built around your course, your country and your timeline.
The bottom line
Student visas are not a lottery. They are a documentation exercise with a high pass rate for well-prepared applicants and a brutal one for rushed applications.
Start early, build your financial evidence steadily, keep every document consistent, and verify every figure on the official source before you pay it.
Related reading: UK Graduate Route changes · Ireland 2026 timeline · Cheapest countries to study abroad · All destinations
