Is first year fee mandatory for all types of student permit applied online?

[archit.shah]

I am planning to apply for student permit from India next week. I am applying for visa with an admit letter from University of Waterloo, it is not a part of SPP program.

I have been told by an IDP consultant that all applications made online now require us to pay first year fees. And therefore I should go for offline procedure. Is this true? I could not find this information anywhere on the website.

I know the Student Direct Stream process requires first year tuition fees. But does this mean I cannot apply online for regular student visa with only first term fees?

 

[AstronomyNut]

No, it's not mandatory but it is listed as one of the types of Proof of Funds you can provide. But it makes your case stronger and shows you are very serious about your education (which is what they want to to see). I am speaking from personal experience and this is generally true for all countries. I had applied for a student visa for another country years ago but was refused. I then applied again after paying the first year's tuition fee and was approved. I know a similar case for Canada as well.