Latest updates
Student immigration rules move constantly. These are the changes we verified in our most recent research pass, each with its source.
This page is only as current as its last review
Every entry below carries the date it was checked. Immigration rules can change the day after a review, so treat this as a prompt to check the official source rather than as a live feed.
From 1 January 2026, students starting master's and doctoral programmes at a public designated learning institution no longer need to submit a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter with their study permit application. Most other applicants still do.
IRCC requires a single applicant studying outside Quebec to show CAD 22,895 for living costs, in addition to first-year tuition and travel. This figure is reviewed every September, so budget above the minimum rather than exactly at it.
Eligible students may now work up to 25 hours per week during study, up from the long-standing 20-hour limit. Guidance published before this change — including advice you may hear from students who travelled earlier — is out of date. Check the conditions stated on your own visa.
GOV.UK publishes living-cost requirements of £1,529 per month for study in London and £1,171 outside London, for a maximum of nine months. The 28-day fund-holding rule continues to apply strictly.
An increase in the subclass 500 visa application charge to AUD 2,500 for most applicants has been widely reported by Australian migration practitioners, with a reduced charge for ELICOS and non-award courses and for eligible ASEAN passport holders. We were unable to verify this against the Department's own pricing table during our research pass — confirm before budgeting.
Immigration and visa rules change often, and a stale figure can cost a student an application. Every update on this page is checked against the relevant government or test provider’s own publication before it appears here, and each carries the date it was reviewed. Always confirm the current position on the official source before you act on it.
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