How To Get Student Visa For Canada
This article will provide you the details how to get student visa for Canada. With 2016 new changes regarding Study permit, an instructional guide will help you to get the education visa for university or college programs in Canada.
Ever wonder how to get student visa for Canada? More and more people are deciding to study for their post-secondary education in Canada. It’s a great place to live and it’s perceived as the best country in the world according to a 3 year study conducted on global image (Mercer report). So, let’s not waste much time and discuss this topic – how to get student visa for Canada. For a long period of time, Canada has been one of the popular destinations for international students. A more striking fact is that over half the international students in North America enroll in Canadian Institutes. These students from different countries pay their own tuition fees and also provide abundant revenues for their host economy.
If you are aspiring to study in Canada and seeking student visa for Canada, then simply step by step guidelines provided at Studentvisa.net will make it simple for you. Using their user-friendly website, you could get valuable information about the process, application forms for all kinds of visa as well as real time discussion with other students and advisors. Make sure you do not miss any information since there is so much that you should know to make sure you get the best student visa for Canada.
How To Get Student Visa For Canada
Get the Student visa for Canada is not easy this you know. The Canada Student Visa Requirements are very stringent and the change in rules is frequent. It is not the same when you apply a few years back.
Canada is a country of national and cultural mosaic. The nation has a long history of accepting immigrants from around the world starting from the cities in the east to the west coast. If you are an international student and think to study in Canada, then it’s an excellent choice for you. You’ll be exposed to different cultures, enjoy their food, travel around their stunning landscapes and explore historical landmarks.
1. Apply at a Canadian university and get your acceptance letter
If you’re still not sure where you want to study in Canada, you will have to decide before you can start your student visa application process. After being accepted at a Canadian university, you’ll get an acceptance letter that will be required for the visa application.
Here are some Canadian universities we recommend:
- University of Toronto
- York University
- University of Manitoba
- Thompson Rivers University
- University of Winnipeg
2. Check if you need to apply for a student visa in Canada
You can use the official Canadian study permit tool to find out if you need a study visa or permit. You don’t need a study visa if one of the following situations applies to you:
- You are a family or staff member of a foreign representative in Canada, who is accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada.
- You enrol in a study programme that lasts less than six months.
- You are a member of foreign armed forces from the Visiting Forces Act.
- You are a citizen of another country, but you have an Indian status registered in Canada.
Remember that the study permit/visa does not act as a regular visa, which allows you to enter or travel to Canada. For that, you will need a travel visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
3. Start your application for the Canadian student visa
As soon as you got the acceptance letter from the university, it is time to proceed to the next step: applying for a student visa, which is locally known as a study permit.
The first steps to obtaining your student visa:
- Apply online for your Canadian student visa, on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website before you arrive in Canada.
- Send the visa application documents by post if you have a limited internet connection or cannot submit the documents online.
- Provide an acceptance letter from a designated learning institution (a university recognized by the Canadian government).
- Deliver proof of sufficient financial resources to support your studies in Canada (tuition fees and living expenses).
- Present proof confirming you have no criminal record.
- Submit clinical records that state you are in good health; submit complete medical examinations if required.
According to recent visa regulations, if you have a family member working or applying for a work permit in Canada, the application for your study permit will be processed in two weeks. You may renew or extend your study permit if:
- you wish to continue your studies
- your programme has an extension
- you change your university
The study permit expires 90 days after your studies are finished (after you receive a notification of the programme completion). You can still stay in Canada to travel and explore or you can apply for a work permit, which allows you to take a full time or part-time job, or even be self-employed.
Useful tip: check out if your home country is on the list of biometrics requests for the study permit application.
4. Prepare all the required documents for the student visa in Canada
- Filled-in student permit application form
- The original letter of acceptance from the university
- A valid passport/travel document, which also allows you to return to your home country. If you live in the USA, this is not necessary.
- Two recent passport-size photographs, with specifications of name and date of birth on the back
- Proof of financial support during your study programme. This means proving you have between 10,000 and 11,000 CAD per year for living in the country.
- A letter of intent
- If you plan to study in Quebec, you will also need a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec, English and French translations of your document, a statement from the translator and a certified copy of the original documents
- Proof that you paid the study permit fee (150 CAD)
5. Language requirements for studying in Canada
Proof of English language skills is not included on the list of required documents for a Canadian student visa. But unless you come from an English-speaking country, Canadian universities will require you to submit proof of English language proficiency. Accepted language tests include:
- IELTS Academic
- TOEFL iBT
- PTE Academic
- C1 Advanced
6. Biometrics appointment and interview
Depending on your nationality, you might have to show up at a Visa Application Centre in your country to have your biometrics taken. The biometrics fee is 85 CAD. This fee is in addition to the regular visa application fee (150 CAD). Some countries are exempt from this biometrics requirement, so their citizens won’t need to visit an application centre at all.
Depending on your individual situation, you might also be called for an interview. Local visa application centres will charge a small fee for using their services.