The visa process starts with the school's document
To apply for a student visa you first need the document the school gives you. In the US this is Form I-20, and in the United Kingdom it is the CAS number. In Canada, most students need a provincial approval letter as well as the acceptance letter. Then each country asks you to show the money to cover tuition and living costs.
The fees and amounts below are the figures on the official pages as of October 2026. Because these figures change often, we suggest you check the official page again on the day you apply.
US: F-1 student visa
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance and Form I-20 | A SEVP-approved school registers you in SEVIS and sends Form I-20. |
| SEVIS I-901 fee | $350 for F-1 |
| DS-160 form | Filled in online. You take the confirmation page to the interview. |
| Visa application fee | $185 |
| Interview | Required, except for limited exceptions. You book the appointment at the US mission in the country where you live. |
New students can be issued an F-1 visa up to 365 days before the program starts. You can enter the US at most 30 days before the program start.
The US Department of State asks F, M and J visa applicants to set the privacy settings of all their social media accounts to "public". This rule is also in the announcement updated in March 2026. While studying, you can work at most 20 hours a week on campus during term.
United Kingdom: Student visa
| Item | As of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Visa application fee | £558 (since 8 April 2026) |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | £776 for each year of the visa length |
| Monthly living money | £1,529 in London, £1,171 outside London, for up to 9 months |
| Decision time | Usually 3 weeks for applications from outside the United Kingdom |
To apply you need an offer from a licensed school and the CAS number the school gives you. You can apply for the visa at the earliest 6 months before the course starts.
As well as living costs, you need to show the first year's tuition. The money must stay in the account without a break for 28 days. The bank document must also be dated no more than 31 days before the visa application. A student studying at bachelor's level or above can work at most 20 hours a week during term.
Germany: national visa (type D)
To study at a university in Germany, you go with a national visa. For the visa you show at least €992 per month, which is €11,904 per year. This amount stayed the same in 2025 and in 2026.
- Blocked account (Sperrkonto): The money is usually shown with this account. According to Germany's missions in Türkiye, you choose yourself which institution to open the account with.
- Declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung): A person living in Germany officially declaring that they will cover the costs is also accepted.
After you arrive in Germany there are two procedures. You register your address with the municipality within two weeks. You apply for the residence permit while the visa is valid and within 90 days of entry.
While studying, students from outside the EU can work 140 full days or 280 half days a year. Because the appointment place, visa fee and document list can differ by mission, we suggest you look at the current list of the mission you will apply to.
Canada: study permit
| Item | As of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Study permit fee | CAD 150 |
| Biometrics fee | CAD 85 per person |
| Money to show (outside Quebec, single student) | For applications after 1 September 2026, CAD 23,448 per year. Tuition and travel costs are not included |
Canada has put a cap on new study permits, with a target of 155,000 people for 2026. So most applications require an approval letter (PAL/TAL) showing that the province has set aside a place in its quota. Students accepted to a graduate degree program at public institutions are exempt from this letter. Students going to Quebec first get a CAQ from the province.
During classes you can work at most 24 hours a week off campus. There is no hour limit during scheduled breaks.
Different rules for short programs
You do not always need a student visa for summer school or a short language course. In the United Kingdom, with Standard Visitor status, you can attend courses of up to 6 months at an accredited institution. In Schengen countries, courses of up to 90 days within 180 days fall under a short-stay Schengen visa. If the course is longer than 90 days, a national long-stay visa is needed. For short programs, you can see our Summer page.
Checklist before you apply
- Has the school's document (I-20, CAS, or acceptance and PAL) reached you?
- Does your passport's validity cover the whole school year?
- Has the money in the account stayed there without a break for the required time? For the United Kingdom this is 28 days.
- Are the translations of your Turkish documents into the required language ready?
- Is your English exam result still valid on the day you apply? IELTS and TOEFL results are valid for 2 years.
Document lists can change depending on the mission and the student's situation. We suggest you always check the list one last time on the official page of the country.
Related pages
Last checked: 23 October 2026. Rules and fees may change; we check the current situation together before you apply.
Let's talk about this for your student
In the first meeting we will work out together how this information fits the student's situation.