International Student GIC Program | Royal Bank of Canada

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Open an RBC Student Banking account
Get an RBC Student GIC

Open an RBC Advantage Banking account for Students online

Be financially ready for Canada before you arrive

Transfer up to $75,000^~

Open online in under 15 minutes ^º

Setting Up Your New RBC Student Bank Account

How to get started in 3 easy steps from your home country.

Apply online

Open your RBC Advantage Banking Account for students in under 15 minutes.^º

No program or handling fees apply.

Apply Now

Must be from an eligible country and arriving in the next 12 months.

To qualify, you must:

Be a legal resident living in one of the eligible countries
Be at least 13 years of age (14 years if settling in Quebec)
Have a valid passport
Have a confirmation of admission from your Canadian school in a PDF or JPEG format

Hong Kong
China
India
Philippines
Vietnam
Antigua & Barbuda
Costa Rica
Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
Trinidad & Tobago

Transfer your money

Once opened, you can send up to $75,000^~ to fund your new account in Canada and get the proof of funds you need for your visa requirement.

Activate your account

Visit your local branch after you land as confirmed in your appointment email. Activate your account and start banking.

Start your studies in Canada with proof of funds in place

Begin your studies with your finances in place

Transfer up to $75,000^~

No program or application fees

Choose your GIC after you arrive

Get Your Student GIC in a Few Simple Steps

A GIC for international students can help provide you with the proof of financial support required for your Canadian study permit application.

Start the process from your home country and choose a GIC upon arrival.

Apply online

Open your RBC Advantage Banking Account for students in under 15 minutes.^º

No program or handling fees apply.

Apply Now

Must be from an eligible country and arriving in the next 12 months.

Hong Kong
China
India
Philippines
Vietnam
Antigua & Barbuda
Costa Rica
Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
Trinidad & Tobago

To qualify, you must:

Be a legal resident living in one of the eligible countries
Be at least 13 years of age (14 years if settling in Quebec)
Have a valid passport
Have a confirmation of admission from your Canadian school in a PDF or JPEG format

Once activated, choose one of the following options – whichever is best for you:
- Invest in a GIC with guidance from an advisor at competitive available rates
- Invest some of your funds into a GIC and use the rest as needed.
- Start using all your funds immediately
If you are choosing option a or b, please refer to Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) - RBC Royal Bank for further details.

Transfer your money

Review the IRCC proof-of-funds requirement to decide how much to send before applying.

Once funds are received, you’ll get a Confirmation of Deposit that you can submit with your study permit application.

Activate your account

Visit your local branch after you land as confirmed in your appointment email. Activate your account and start banking.

An RBC advisor will help you activate your account and select your GIC.

Support For Every Step of Your Financial Journey

From study permit planning to your move to Canada, RBC helps you get ready early and feel confident about your finances.

Security

Bank with confidence

Transfer and manage your funds knowing you’re banking with one of Canada’s most trusted financial institutions⁴.

Cost savings

Your money goes further

Your student bank account comes with $0 monthly fee¹ and unlocks even more perks to help you save on everyday banking costs.

Convenience

Bank on campus, near home or on the go

Enjoy easy access to your money, with over 4,000 RBC branches and ATMs across Canada.

Digital banking

Built for digital-first student life

RBC Online Banking and the RBC Mobile app² make it easy to manage your money anytime – wherever student life takes you.

Rewards

Get more from your everyday banking

Enroll your account in the Value Program and earn Avion Rewards³ points when you shop online or in-store with your debit card.

Studying in Canada

There’s more to student life than what’s taught in the classroom. Before you arrive, get practical tips for living, studying and working in Canada.

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How to Find the Best Bank Account for International Students?

To help you find the best student account for your needs, here are a few things to consider.

Learn More

Advice For Your First Months in Canada

Hear from international students who have been through the same journey.

Learn More

To Do: Your First Month in Canada

Find out what tasks to cover off once you arrive.

Learn More

Calculate Your Student Budget

Use our Student Budget Calculator to figure out how much you may need to get through the school year.

Learn More

Our Advisors Are Here to Help

Let us answer any questions you may have.

Need help in your language? Our phone services are available in up to 200 languages.

Call us:

Toll-Free: 1-866-756-1107

Collect: 1-506-864-2275

Connect online with our team of newcomer advisors

Find Your Local Branch

Frequently Asked
Questions

I’m planning to study in Canada soon. Can I open a bank account before I arrive?

Yes, you can open a Canadian bank account with RBC before arriving in Canada. This lets you set up your account online and transfer money ahead of time, so you can access funds as soon as you arrive. Ready to get started? Open an account online before you arrive.

Can I open a Student GIC with RBC?

Yes. You can enroll in the RBC Student GIC program without any handling or setup fees. Open an account while you are in your home country. At your post-arrival branch appointment, an RBC advisor will:

Help activate your account, and
Help you open your GIC, if eligible

Can I use the funds I transfer to my RBC account as proof of funds before arriving in Canada?

Yes, once you wire funds into your account, you will receive a confirmation of deposit by email that can be used as proof of funds for IRCC purposes.

What international student perks does RBC offer?

The RBC Student Advantage is a banking solution designed for international students. It includes a chequing account with no monthly fee for full-time students, plus access to a credit card with a limit of up to $2,000 and up to 12% cashback for the first three months – no credit history required.

What is Avion Rewards and how can I join with my first RBC bank account?

Avion Rewards is RBC's loyalty program where you can get cash back, savings and Avion Rewards points that don’t expire¹⁰ which you can use for almost anything including:

Flights or other travel rewards like hotels, car rentals, and more.
A wide selection of gift cards and merchandise
To help you pay your bills, mortgage, credit cards, loans, and more
To send Interac eTransfers to friends and family or to pay for products and services

When you open an eligible RBC Personal Banking Account online before arriving in Canada and meet the eligibility criteria, you are eligible to join Avion Rewards and take advantage of the RBC Pre-Arrival Avion Points Offer which has up 30,000 Avion points valued up to $700 in travel value⁸ once you land and activate the bank account and complete the minimum deposit requirements.

To learn more about Avion Rewards, visit https://www.avionrewards.com/(opens in a new window).

How do I qualify for the RBC Pre-Arrival Avion Points Offer?

To qualify for the RBC Pre-Arrival Avion Points Offer, you need to complete the following

Be an eligible client
Open an Eligible Personal Banking Account at pre-arrival self-serve during the promotional period ( Jul 27th 2026 to Nov 2nd 2026)
Enroll Eligible Personal Banking Account into the Value Program on or before activating your account at a Royal Bank branch in Canada
Complete the following:
Receive an additional 15,000 Avion points when a minimum deposit of $2000 is made into the Eligible Personal Banking Account within the earlier of:
- 12 months and 20 days of account opening date OR
- Within 20 days of activating the account in Canada.

Make sure all requirements are completed within the specified timelines outlined in the Newcomer Pre-Arrival Account Opening- Avion Points Offer T&Cs

When will the RBC Pre-Arrival Avion Points Offer be fulfilled?

You will receive the Avion points in your Avion Rewards Account within 60 days after completing the qualifying criteria.

For more answers, visit our pre-arrival FAQs

~

Subject to applicable foreign exchange regulations, capital controls, and other transfer restrictions in your country of origin.

º

The application takes approximately 10-15 minutes. To avoid delays, make sure you have:

Your passport
Your immigration or study/ work documents ready before you begin
Ensure your name and birth date details match the government-issued document and ID

Legal Disclaimer1)

Monthly fee will be waived for the first twelve months upon account opening of the RBC Advantage Banking account or RBC VIP Banking account. Thereafter the monthly fee will be charged: monthly fee of $12.95 for the RBC Advantage Banking account or monthly fee of $30.00 for the RBC VIP Banking account. For RBC VIP Banking account, $10,000 CAD must be deposited into the account within 20 days of account opening to qualify for the promotional offer, and offer expires October 31, 2026. Other account transaction fees may apply. Monthly fee waiver for the first twelve months may be replaced with any in-market offer that applies to the RBC Advantage Banking or RBC VIP Banking account. Available only to newcomers; please see the eligibility requirements in above note *. Offer may be withdrawn or amended at any time without notice. See complete terms and conditions (PDF opens in new window) that apply to this promotional offer. The monthly fee waiver for newcomers is offered as part of the Commitment on Low-Cost and No-Cost Accounts from the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC).

Legal Disclaimer2)

RBC Online Banking is provided by Royal Bank of Canada. RBC Mobile is operated by Royal Bank of Canada, RBC Direct Investing Inc. and RBC Dominion Securities Inc. RBC Mobile Student Edition is intended for clients under the age of 22. RBC Online Banking is operated by Royal Bank of Canada.

Legal Disclaimer3)

When you enrol your eligible RBC personal bank account into the RBC Value Program, you will be eligible to earn Avion points within the Avion Rewards Program as an Eligible Personal Banking Client, and any such points earned will be deposited into the Avion Rewards account tied to your enrolled account. Purchases from your account refers to using your RBC Client Card to pay for items at a merchant or service provider with the amount electronically debited directly from your enrolled account or using your RBC Virtual Visa Debit for purchases online. Avion points are governed by the Avion Rewards Terms and Conditions available on our website, or a copy may be provided to you by contacting us. For complete details on the Value Program, please see the Value Program Terms & Conditions

Legal Disclaimer4)

Our guarantee to you: We will reimburse you for monetary losses to your Account(s) resulting directly from the following unauthorized transactions on your Account(s) using Digital Banking or Mobile Payments (collectively, Unauthorized Transactions):

transactions that occur after you notify us that you believe that any of your Passwords may have become known by someone, or that you noticed unusual, suspicious or fraudulent activity on any of your Accounts;
transactions where it can be shown that you have been a victim of fraud, theft or have been coerced by trickery, force or intimidation, so long as you report the incident to us immediately and cooperate and assist us fully in any investigation;
transactions resulting from negligent conduct by us, our employees or Third-Party Service Providers;
Interac^‡ Online Payment transactions resulting from negligent conduct by any Third Party participating in Interac^‡Online Payment; and
any failure, error, malfunction, or technical problem of our system or equipment or that of any Third-Party Service Provider or any Third Party participating in Interac^‡ Online Payment.

Your responsibilities: Despite the above, we are not responsible for and we will not reimburse you for losses to your Account(s) if:

you do not comply with any of your obligations under this Agreement or you do not comply with any instructions we may provide to you in connection with Digital Banking or Mobile Payments;
you engage in any fraudulent, criminal or dishonest acts related to Digital Banking or Mobile Payments;
you access Digital Banking or Mobile Payments via a Device that you know or reasonably should know contains software that has the ability to reveal or otherwise compromise any of your Passwords, Personal Verification Questions or an e-Transfer Question and Answer;
you carry out the transaction, including if the transaction is a result of any mistake, error, omission, inaccuracy or other inadequacy of, or contained in any data or information that you give to us;
you share any of your Passwords or Personal Verification Questions; or
you consent to, contribute to or authorize a transaction in any way.

Exceptional Losses: In no event, even if we are negligent, will we be liable for any loss of data, or any indirect, consequential, special, aggravated, punitive or exemplary damages, in whole or in part, (including any business interruption, loss of profits, data, information, opportunity, revenues, goodwill or any other commercial or economic loss), caused to you, regardless of the cause of action, even if we were advised of the possibility of such damages. For full details regarding the protections and limitations of the RBC Digital Banking Security Guarantee, including your responsibilities in ensuring the safety and security of your transactions, please see your Electronic Access Agreementand your Client Card Agreement for personal banking clients, and the Master Client Agreement for business clients. This guarantee is given by Royal Bank of Canada in connection with its Online and Mobile Banking services. Formerly known as the RBC Online Banking Security Guarantee.

5)

Travel value of up to $700” is based on the Air Travel Redemption Schedule available to RBC Avion Visa Infinite, RBC Avion Visa Platinum, RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege, RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege for Private Banking, RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business, or RBC Avion Visa Business cardholders (“RBC Avion Cardholder”), whereby 30,000 Avion points can be redeemed for two (2) round-trip short-haul flights within or to an adjacent province/territory or within or to an adjacent U.S. State in economy class, with a maximum ticket price of $350 each (based on the Air Travel Reward redemption starting at 15,000 Avion points for a round-trip short haul flight to an adjacent province/territory or within or to an adjacent U.S. State in economy class with maximum ticket price of $350). All applicable taxes, service fees, and surcharges are the responsibility of the traveler. For more details, including information on redeeming for first class and business class seats, visit: https://www.avionrewards.com/travel/index.html(open in a new window). If you are an RBC Avion Cardholder, please note that the 30,000 Avion points will be awarded to your Avion Rewards Core Account. To be able to redeem your Avion points for travel based on the Air Travel Redemption Schedule, you will need to transfer them to your respective credit card Avion account.
If you are not an RBC Avion Cardholder, different redemption rates apply depending on the type of product(s) you have and your Avion Rewards Tier. Avion points can also be redeemed for travel, gift certificates/cards, brand name merchandise, and more. For more details on redemption options and redemption rates, visit https://www.avionrewards.com/travel/index.html(opens in a new window). All rewards are subject to availability and may change without prior notice. For general redemption terms, conditions and restrictions that apply to the Avion Rewards program, please visit: www.avionrewards.com(open in a new window) or call 1-800 ROYAL 1-2 (1-800-769-2512).

6)

The Promotional Offer

Provided you fulfill the Qualifying Criteria set out in Section 2 below, the applicable Avion Points will be deposited into your Rewards Account as follows:

Responsive Table Example
Eligible Personal Banking Account	Avion Points
RBC Advantage Banking account	30,000 Avion Points
RBC Advantage Banking account for Full-Time Students	30,000 Avion Points

(each such item individually referred to as the “Reward”)

2. How to Qualify for the Promotional Offer

To qualify for this Promotional Offer, you must:

Be an Eligible Personal Client as defined in Part A
Open an Eligible Personal Banking Account during the Promotional Period.
Enroll your Eligible Personal Banking Account into the Value Program on or before activating your account at a Royal Bank branch in Canada and
Complete the following milestone allocations:
- I. First Allocation (15,000 Avion Points): Activate your account in person at a Royal Bank branch in Canada within twelve (12) months of account opening by providing necessary identification and immigration documentation.
- II. Second Allocation (15,000 Avion Points): Fulfill the activation requirement above and make a minimum deposit of $2000 into the Eligible Personal Banking Account within the earlier of:
  - 12 months and 20 days of the account opening date, or
  - 20 days of activating the account in Canada.

This offer may not be combined or used in conjunction with any other Personal Banking Account offers unless otherwise indicated. Royal Bank of Canada reserves the right to withdraw or amend this offer at any time without notice, even after acceptance by you. Other conditions apply. For full details including defined terms, visit Newcomer Pre-Arrival Account Opening- Avion Points Offer T & Cs

7)

Activate your account in person at a Royal Bank branch in Canada within twelve (12) months of account opening by providing necessary identification and immigration documentation.

8)

Fulfill the activation requirement above and make a minimum deposit of $2000 into the Eligible Personal Banking Account within the earlier of:

12 months and 20 days of the account opening date, or
20 days of activating the account in Canada.

9)

Rewards Account” means a Banking Rewards Account (as defined under the Avion Rewards Terms and Conditions) tied to the Eligible Personal Banking Account that Royal Bank opens and maintains for the crediting and debiting of Avion Points

10)

As long as your RBC Royal Bank credit card account remains open. However, Avion Rewards will be forfeited twelve (12) months after: (i) you voluntarily close your RBC Royal Bank credit card account (“Account”), or (ii) RBC closes your Account for any reason other than for cause. For complete details, please visit: https://www.avionrewards.com/terms-and-conditions/index.html(opens in a new window)