Canada is one of the most popular countries for foreign nationals to study and settle in. With world-class institutions offering quality education in a conducive environment, students can thrive both academically and personally.
If you are an international student who has secured admission to a Canadian institution, your next step is to apply for a study permit, also known as a Canada student visa. This permit grants you entry into Canada to study and work. Your primary family members, such as your spouse and dependent children, can also apply. Your spouse may even work in Canada with an open work permit, and your dependent children can attend elementary or high school with a study permit.
It is highly recommended that international students intending to study in Canada begin their application process early. The process takes around six months to secure an offer or acceptance from a Canadian institution and another four months for the Canadian government to approve the study permit.
Eligible Criteria To Apply For A Canada Student Visa
- You must have an offer or letter of acceptance from an institution in Canada
- You must be a law-abiding citizen with no criminal record and acquire a police certificate to back it up
- You must be medically fit (Medical examination results to back it up)
- Show sufficient proof of funds to cater for all expenses throughout your stay in Canada.
- Show proof to an office that you will return to your home country upon the expiration of your Canada study permit.
Documents Required To Apply for a Canada student visa.
- Passport Photo of Student Visa Applicant
- Proof of English Language proficiency
- Letter of offer or Acceptance
- International Passport
- Proof of Funds
- Medical Examination results
- Partly or fully paid Tuition
- Study Plan
- Degree certificate and Academic Transcripts
How To Apply For a Student Visa In Canada
The first step in applying for a student visa in Canada is to determine your eligibility by using the official online portal. This will quickly tell you if you qualify for a study visa or permit.
It’s important to note that if you fit into any of the following categories, you do not need a student visa to enter Canada:
- You are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada
- You have a family member who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- You are a member of a foreign armed force on official duties in Canada
- You are a foreign national registered as an Indian under the Indian Act
If any of these apply to you, you will be allowed to enter Canada without applying for a visa.
Please note that your student visa doesn’t work like a normal visa. You can apply for a standard visa to get every single benefit.
Apply For Admission To A Canadian University
All applications for a Canada study permit must be completed and submitted online, except for special cases, such as individuals with disabilities who are allowed to apply on paper.
Before applying, make sure you have everything you need, such as a camera or scanner for soft copies of your documents, and a valid debit or credit card for payment.
Study the application guides available here, which will give you a detailed understanding of the application process.
Find out the fees to be paid, including the visa fee, biometrics fee, and, in some cases, medical examination fee, police certificate, English test, and any extra services you may need.
Once you have gathered all the required documents and know the fee, create an account on the IRCC portal. If you are using the portal for the first time, you will receive a code via email to complete your account sign-up.
Once you have created an account on the IRCC portal and studied the application guide, you can proceed to complete the application form online. Be sure to fill out the form carefully and accurately.
After filling out the form, you can upload all required documents. Check out the list of required documents here, which includes supporting documents for your Canada study permit application.
Once you have uploaded all the required documents, you can proceed to make payment with either a credit card or prepaid card from Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, or UnionPay.
After making payment, submit your application and wait for the Canadian government to process it. You can check the status of your application on the IRCC portal.
Conclusion
After completing and submitting your application, you must book an appointment for your biometrics immediately. Your application will then be assessed to ensure that all required documents were uploaded and submitted. If any document is missing, your application will be considered incomplete and returned without processing.
If any documents are missing, you may be requested to upload them, go for a physical interview with Canadian officials in your home country, or provide additional information.
Once your application is fully completed and processed, you may or may not be granted a study permit. If approved, your study permit will be either mailed to you or given to you at the port of entry upon arrival in Canada.
It’s important to note that the processing time for a study permit application can vary, so it’s best to apply as early as possible to ensure that you can begin your studies on time.
