Student Visa to Canada: After you have been accepted to an accredited university in Canada, You may need to apply for a visa for students before becoming an overseas student. In Canada, students are known as “study permits,” Below, you’ll find all you need to know about applying for one.
Canada can be considered one of the top study-abroad destinations. Due to its world-class institutions, diverse culture, and warm and welcoming citizens and international students, the number of students studying in Canada is growing annually, reaching 300.000 by 2023. It is possible to find hundreds of Canadian Master’s degrees and Bachelor’s programs open to international students on our website. Canada is third in the rankings, following the United States and the United Kingdom.
Student Visa to Canada: While Canada is as welcoming as it has to offer, there are guidelines that every student should follow while studying in Canada. The country’s government will require a study permit for those who plan to stay for more than six months. Knowing what you can expect during applying is the best method to ensure all goes well before you depart.
Student Visa to Canada: Study permits are the term that is used in Canada to describe student visas. Study permits allow you to remain in Canada. However, you will require Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a visitor’s visa to enter the country. After your study permit is accepted, you will receive an electronic travel authorization immediately.
These are the steps you must follow to obtain a student visa to Canada and some tips on proof of language proficiency and specific requirements for each country.
Student Visa to Canada
1. Get your acceptance letter from a Canadian university
You must apply for and be accepted by a Canadian university before applying for a Canadian student visa. To be eligible for a student visa, the university you choose must be a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), a school the local government has recognized to accept international students.
Student Visa to Canada: If you cannot select the right program, you may utilize StudyPortals. StudyPortals tools for searching for a program and school that matches your criteria. To search, pick the degree type you’re looking for, such as Bachelor’s, Master or Ph.D. Enter your subject of study, then “Canada,” and hit search.
The duration of your student visa will be valid for may be subject to change based on the conditions stipulated in your acknowledgment letter. If you’ve received an offer that is conditional – meaning that you have to complete additional courses before beginning your main course – your visa is valid for the period of these pre-requisite courses, plus one year. After the visa expires, you’ll be able to obtain a fresh one.
2. Verify if you require a student visa
Many people do not require a student visa. Some agreements exist between Canada and a few countries, allowing students to skip obtaining a permit. If you’re still determining if you’ll need an academic permit to stay in Canada, Find out by filling out a short survey about your circumstances.
In other words, you don’t require a Canadian student permit if you:
- Your study program lasts six months or less;
- You are a member of the family or employee of a foreign representation accredited through Global Affairs Canada (GAC);
- You belong to an international armed force with official duty in Canada;
- You’re a Registered Indian. registered Indian Status within Canada;
- It is a case of a temporary residence and asylum seeker who is taking French classes in language and culture in Quebec.
If neither of the exemptions above applies to you, then you can go ahead with your application and start applying for your permit to study.
To find out if you require an academic visa (student visa), look up the Student Visa tab on our Canada country page. Select the country you are from.
3. Collect all the required documents
Student Visa to Canada: Gather all the required documents for your permission before submitting the online application. By the Canadian government, you’ll require the following documents.
- The original copy or electronic copy of your acceptance letter from the DLI;
- Identity proof (a current passport, travel documents, or two passport-sized images from recent times);
- The proof of funds must prove that you’ll be able to finance the course of your study (enough to pay for the cost of tuition and expenses of living and an amount of at least 10,000 dollars CAD for each year of studying);
- The letter describing the reasons you chose to study in Canada and demonstrating your knowledge of the responsibilities you have in your role as an international student
- It is a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ). If you plan to study in Quebec;
- A Custodian Declaration, if you are younger than seventeen years of age;
- The receipt that you received for the payment of the $150 fee for a study permit.
The Canadian government might require additional documents based on the country of your origin. Visit their website for any additional requirements.
4. Start your application
Student Visa to Canada: After you have all the necessary documents, such as your acceptance letter from the DLI, You can start the online application process for an academic permit. In your application, you’ll have to:
- Learn the instructions to ensure you are aware of the steps in the process
- Create an account online and log in (you will make use of this account to settle charges, make your application, and verify the status of your application);
- Fill in the online forms by providing your complete personal information (name address, address, background, and educational background);
- Upload the documents you need (acceptance of letter, proof of identity, evidence of funds, letters of explanation, etc.));
- Make your payment at the close of the application.
- Check your application’s status regularly to see any changes or additional requests.
Student Visa to Canada: Interviews are not a mandatory part of the Canadian student visa application process. But, based on the officer’s evaluation of your application, it is possible to be called to an interview. If this happens, you will receive an email with the date, time, and location.
If your visa application gets accepted and your student visa is approved, it is valid for the duration of your studies and for 90 days. This extra time to plan to leave Canada or to apply for an extension of your visa if you want to remain.
5. Perform biometrics and pass the medical examination
If you’re seeking to apply from outside Canada and still need to provide your biometrics, you must take your fingerprints and photograph from an accredited Visa Application Centre. You’ll need to pay an additional $85 CAN (in addition to the $150 cost for a study permit) and schedule an appointment with an official biometrics collection site.
Sometimes, there may be a way to get exempt from this obligation. To confirm that you are exempt, take a short survey and determine if you must provide biometrics to apply.
Student Visa to Canada: Residents of certain countries must also have a medical exam performed by a panel-approved doctor to submit their application. You can look here to determine what you must submit for medical examination.
6. Get started early. It can take months to get your permit to study.
The Canadian government states that it could take as long as thirteen weeks to process your permit to study application to be approved. Therefore, ensure you know the waiting time and start the application four to six months before departure!
The time to process your visa will depend on several aspects. The most important factors are the kind of application you submit (online or on paper). If you have submitted all of the documents required, how easy is it to check your details, and how long will it take for you to respond to any inquiries on their part?
If you’re not willing to wait for a lengthy period, then you can apply via this stream, the SDS, or Student DirectStream (SDS), which will be processed within 20 calendar days. You can apply to apply for this stream if you reside in any of these countries:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Brazil
- China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- India
- Morocco
- Pakistan
- Peru
- Philippines
- Senegal
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Vietnam
But, in addition to the documentation required by the standard studying permit, to be eligible for the Student Direct Stream, you must possess a guaranteed Investment Certificate of $10,000 CAN and proof of your proficiency in the language obtained via IELTS. (scoring scores of 6.0 or more in each of the skills) or the Test devaluation of French (TEF) (scoring 7.0 or more in each skill).
7. Demonstrate your English proficiency
There is no requirement to show proof of your English proficiency when you apply to obtain a permit for study via the regular stream. But, Canadian universities require your competence in English. If you’ve previously earned an education from an English-speaking country, you might be exempted from this requirement.
If you are from a country where English is not spoken, it is required to submit evidence of a recognized test of proficiency in English. Every university and program requires various minimum scores based on the test. Make sure to check the page of your program before choosing which test to take.
The most frequently accepted tests include:
Specific Requirements for a Country
Student Visa to Canada: The process and requirements will vary based on the country you are from. For instance, if you’re from the United Kingdom or the USA, The instructions described below will apply to you. However, you are not required to take a medical examination.
The applicants from the UK must pay the additional $7 CAN eTA and take up to 21 days following final approval before receiving their permit. Applicants from the USA will not have to pay additional fees but must wait up to 35 days before receiving their permit.
If you’re applying from Nigeria, you’ll need to pay the $85 Canadian fee to obtain your biometrics. You will also have to pay the costs of transport to London for your medical test. After your application is completed and accepted, you can wait up to 112 calendar days before receiving the permit.
If you’re looking for more specific details, you can visit this page and choose the country from which you are born initially to learn more about the procedure for applying according to the country you reside in.
There is more information regarding the study permit and the student experience within Canada through their official website for international students.