Canada Study Application Fee Waiver — Eligibility
Who qualifies, and how a pending IELTS or PTE is handled
Who Can Claim the Fee Waiver
The Canada application fee waiver is open to a wide range of Indian students. Whether you have finished 12th, hold a diploma, a bachelor's degree or a master's, you can claim the waiver and apply to up to 3 participating institutions for the September 2026 or January 2027 intake with the institution application fee waived. Future Link Consultants is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, licence R506940.
Eligibility for the waiver is about being able to apply free — admission itself is still decided by each institution against its published academic and English requirements. Below is who qualifies and how common situations, like a pending IELTS or PTE, are handled.
Eligibility at a Glance
| Your situation | Eligible for the waiver? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Completed 12th (higher secondary) | Yes | Diploma and undergraduate programmes fit best |
| Diploma holder | Yes | Advanced diploma or degree pathways available |
| Bachelor's degree | Yes | Post-graduate certificates and master's pathways |
| Master's degree | Yes | Further PG certificates or specialisation programmes |
| IELTS or PTE pending | Yes | Start now; conditional, Duolingo or MOI options may apply |
| Already in Canada, new programme | Yes | Onshore applicants are eligible for a new programme |
Being eligible to claim the waiver is separate from admission. Each institution assesses your academic and English profile against its own requirements.
IELTS or PTE Pending? You Can Still Start
A very common question from Indian students is whether they can begin without a language score. You can. Many students start counselling and shortlisting while their IELTS or PTE is pending. Depending on the institution and programme, conditional admission, Duolingo English Test, or a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter may be accepted in place of a standard score. Requirements vary, so confirm current English requirements with your counsellor.
Onshore applicants — students already in Canada — can also use the waiver when applying for a new programme, such as a college-to-college transfer or a post-graduate certificate after a bachelor's. Future Link's Scarborough (Toronto) office handles in-Canada applicants, and the document set differs, so mention your status on the call.
The waiver covers the institution application fee only. Tuition, the tuition deposit, GIC, biometrics, the study-permit fee and any third-party charges are separate and payable as normal. Meeting the waiver criteria does not guarantee admission or a study permit — each institution and IRCC assess your application on its own merits. Claim before 30 September 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check Your Eligibility and Claim
12th, diploma, bachelor's or master's, with IELTS or PTE pending — you can likely claim the waiver. Apply to up to 3 institutions free through Future Link Consultants (RCIC R506940). Claim before 30 September 2026.