How To Get Study Visa In Canada
I understand that you want to settle in Canada, but you do not know the process of getting your Study Visa, with so much information on the internet about this subject it can be very confusing and overwhelming. The good news is Iam sharing a clear process to get a study visa on this page.
We all know that Canada is a country which pursues multiculturalism and diversity. I am sure you have heard so many good things about Canada. Most especially, people are now trying to get into Canada to study. Studying abroad is not a new trend but it is one that is becoming increasingly more popular with young people seeking a higher education in their chosen field.
The study visa can be a frustrating segment of the Canadian immigration process to chart. Foreign students, who come to study in Canada, are in fact temporary residents of Canada until the completion of their program of study. As such, they must meet the requirements for a temporary resident visa that every other temporary resident must meet, apart from some additional steps as well as some special conditions that apply only to foreign students.
How To Get Study Visa In Canada
Anybody can apply for a Canadian study visa and not necessarily be a student from outside of Canada. Whether you’re looking to go back to school or want to take courses here, here’s what you need to know about the Canadian study visa.
As you may know, Canada is extremely desirable academic destination for international students because of its great higher education system.
Canada is a sovereign state in North America, the northernmost country in the world. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering 9.98 million square kilometres (3.85 million square miles), making it the world’s second-largest country by total area and the fourth-largest by land area. Its common border with the United States is the longest land border in the world.
Every year, over 130,000 international students choose to study at Canadian universities. In addition to a high-quality education system, Canada also provides numerous possibilities and a vibrant culture.
Research, scientific publications, and international collaborations are three of the main aspects that Canada and its academic institutions focus on.
But how difficult is it to get the student visa, also known as a Canadian study permit, for Canada? Figuring this out will play a crucial role when you decide where you want to study. So, what do you have to do to get your student visa for Canada, and how difficult is it?
Let’s discover together!
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.