Student visa by country
Compare Student visa requirements and application process by destination country. Select a country below.
Student visa at a glance
| Destination | Visa required | Processing | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | 34–210 days (source) | 2,000 AUD (source) |
| Canada | Yes | 30–42 days (source) | 150 CAD (source) |
| India | Yes (source) | Varies — verify officially | Varies — verify officially |
| United Kingdom | Varies — verify officially | 15–21 days (source) | 558 GBP (source) |
| United States | Yes | 30–180 days (source) | 185 USD (source) |
Requirements depend on nationality and can change — verify on the official source.
Countries
Frequently asked questions
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How long do student visas typically take to process?
Student-visa processing varies widely: the United States 30–180 days, the United Kingdom 15–21 days, Canada 30–60 days, Australia 4–8 weeks for Subclass 500. Each regime publishes its own service standard, which is why the structured fields here are recorded as Varies.
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How much do student visas cost?
Student-visa fees vary across destinations: United States MRV 185 USD plus SEVIS I-901 350 USD, United Kingdom 524 GBP plus IHS, Canada 150 CAD plus biometrics, Australia 1,830 AUD for Subclass 500. The structured fee field is recorded as Varies for that reason.
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Can I bring my family on a student visa?
Some destinations allow dependants on student visas (Canada Study Permit allows Open Work Permits for spouses; Australia Subclass 500 allows accompanying family members; the United States F-2 allows dependants but bars their employment). Other regimes have tightened dependant eligibility for non-research postgraduate programmes.
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Can I work while studying on a student visa?
Most student visas allow part-time work — typically up to 20 hours per week during term and full-time during designated breaks — though the specific cap and the type of work allowed varies by regime. Unauthorized work outside the allowed envelope invalidates future stay extensions in every major destination.
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What happens after I graduate?
Several destinations offer post-study work pathways: the United Kingdom Graduate Route (two years), Canada Post-Graduation Work Permit (up to three years), Australia Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate visa, two to four years), and US OPT (12 months, with STEM extension to 36 months). Each pathway has its own application process and timeline.
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How is sufficient funds demonstrated?
Most regimes require evidence of funds covering at least one year of tuition plus published cost-of-living figures, in the form of bank statements, fixed deposits, sponsor’s affidavit of support, or scholarship documentation. Single recent deposits without a salary or business source are routinely flagged as window-dressing.
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What happens if my student visa is refused?
The refusal letter cites the specific clause grounding the decision — most commonly genuine-student or financial-capacity grounds — and the visa fee is generally non-refundable. Reapplication requires meaningful changes to the underlying file; the same supporting documents resubmitted unchanged are routinely refused again on the same grounds.