Tuition Deposit Rules for International Students Applying To Canadian Universities

International students from Asia and Africa often encounter tuition deposits as a key step after admission to Canadian universities. A tuition deposit is an upfront payment that confirms your intent to enroll, and it is typically applied toward your first-year tuition rather than being an extra fee​.

Below is a guide explaining how these deposits work, common amounts and timelines, and why they are crucial for securing admission and meeting visa requirements.

How Tuition Deposits Work for International Students

Typical Deposit Amounts and Timelines

Deposit amounts can vary by institution and program. In many cases, Canadian universities require a deposit in the range of CAD $1,000 to $2,000 for international students​. For example, Carleton University and the University of Manitoba require $2,000 for their admission deposit​. A few universities have larger confirmation deposits, e.g. Mount Saint Vincent University requires $6,000 CAD for students coming from abroad​, whereas others might require around $1,000 CAD as a minimum, for instance, University of Regina and University of Winnipeg.

The timeline to pay your deposit is usually short. Often, you must pay within a few weeks of receiving your offer or by a fixed deadline for the intake term​. Universities will inform you of the deposit due date in your offer letter or portal. It’s critical to pay by the deadline because failure to do so can result in your admission offer being cancelled (lapsed)​ . In practice, if you’re confident you’ll attend, it’s best to pay the deposit as soon as possible using payment platforms like Vavita that allow local-currency payments like Pakistani rupees, handling the foreign exchange and transfer to the university on your behalf​.

Securing Admission Documents: LOA and PAL

Two important documents for international students in Canada are the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) and the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL).

The LOA is issued by the university confirming you have been admitted to a specific program and start date, and the PAL is a newer requirement introduced in 2024 – a letter from the provincial government confirming that you have an allocated study space in that province​. Both documents are now typically required when you apply for a Canadian study permit.

Paying the tuition deposit is usually a precondition for the university to issue your LOA and PAL. In fact, under new regulations, universities must collect a deposit before issuing the PAL​. Once you accept your offer and pay the deposit, the school will initiate the process to generate your provincial attestation letter, which will accompany your acceptance letter​. Schools often provide these documents electronically a few days after the deposit is received – for example, within about 2–10 business days, you should see your official LOA and PAL in your student portal or email​.

Deposits and Visa Financial Proof Requirements

In addition to proof of acceptance (LOA/PAL), Canadian immigration requires proof that you can financially support your studies. Tuition deposits factor into this visa requirement by demonstrating that you have already paid a portion of your education costs. When applying for a study permit, you must show sufficient funds for tuition and living expenses. As of 2024, a single student needs to show about CAD $20,635 for living costs, plus the funds for the first year of tuition and travel​. Your paid tuition deposit and any further tuition pre-payment count toward the tuition part of this requirement.

For students from certain countries, there is an optional faster visa process called the Student Direct Stream (SDS). SDS applications require even more upfront proof of funds: you must show that full first-year tuition is paid and purchase a guaranteed investment certificate (GIC) for the required living expense amount​. If you are eligible and choose to apply through SDS, which is available to residents of certain countries such as India, China, Pakistan, Morocco, Senegal, & Vietnam, you may end up paying tuition beyond just the deposit, potentially the entire year’s fees in advance to get a receipt for the visa. 

Under the regular study permit process (non-SDS), most students pay the minimum deposit and then show proof (bank statements, scholarships, sponsor letters, etc.) for the remaining tuition and living funds. 

Either way, keep official receipts of any tuition payments you make. Include those with your visa application to clearly document what has been paid.

Conclusion

Using a trusted service like Vavita can help make sure your deposit arrives safely and is correctly attributed to your student account, which is crucial for getting your LOA/PAL without delay.