Canada Student Visa: A Complete Guide

A Canada student visa is issued by the Canada Immigration Department, which permits international students to enter the country for a particular period. International students require a valid Canada student visa to enrol in a university or course. Also, the students who get permission to attain a visa can apply for colleges on the Designated Learning Institutions list. 

The points below will inform you about the Canada student visa requirements:

• You must get a seat in one of the Designated Learning Institutes (DLI). 

• You need to show proof that you have enough funds to pay for your tuition fees, cost of living, etc.

• A police verification certificate is required. You must not have any criminal record registered in your name. 

• Health checkups and medical records must be clean. It must show that you maintain a good health.

• English Proficiency Test score is mandatory.

While applying for a Canada study visa, you require an acceptance letter from a university. Also, you must start applying for a visa before the deadline. So, in that case, you must have all the required documents to apply for the Canada student visa.

You need to have a valid passport to obtain a Canada student visa. A passport validity must cover the time of your stay in the country. If the passport is expired or about to expire, renew it before the application deadline. For example, if you are choosing a two-year degree program, your passport must have validity that covers the time duration of your course.

To acquire a Canada student visa, an acceptance letter from a Designated Learning Institute is required. However, if you plan to move to Quebec, you require a CAQ certificate, which the Quebec Government issues.

You must present proof of your finances while applying for a Canada student visa. So, the given list of documents is enough to show that you are capable of paying tuition fees and all the other expenses.

• Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) with the specified amount. 

• Student loan documents

• ITR for last two years

• Bank statement for the past 4 months

• Bank draft

• Proof of tuition fees and accommodation expenses paid

• Letter of the financial institute or bank that provided you the funds

• Canadian bank account

• Proof of scholarship awarded or Canadian-funded program 

Canada student visa applicants are required to submit two passport-size photos that cannot be older than 6 months. Some specifications for uploading an online visa application picture are:

• The size of the images cannot be above 4MB.

• The image should be on a white background.

• The image dimension cannot exceed 35mm x 45mm.

A Statement of Purpose is a personal statement defining your academic history and entailing your personal and professional goals. This is an optional document, but it plays a significant role in securing your admission and application acceptance.

Every country has different immigration policies for international students. So, to get a Canada student visa, the authorities will require you to undergo a mandatory immigration medical exam. Students must visit the empanelled doctors at least a week before the visa application process starts.

The scores are attached to the documents submitted to the desired university. Therefore, taking the exam before applying for the visa will allow a better evaluation of your communication ability. Further, proficiency tests like TOEFL, IELTS, etc., are mandatory in most universities.  

The process to apply for a Canada student visa is mentioned below:

• Processing Time: The Canada student visa processing time is 8 weeks. But to know the exact time to process the Canada student visa and to track your application, you can go through the official website of the Canadian Consulate.

• Applying for the visa: There are three ways to apply for a Canada study visa: Online, Offline (paper application) and at a port of entry.

Before applying for the visa online, you must check the eligibility criteria for the application. You can start an online application by following the few steps if you are eligible.

• Create an IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) account.

• Complete the application and fill in all the details online.

• You must have scanned copies of all the documents and upload them online.

• Pay fees of CAD 235 for visa and biometrics fees through a credit card. 

The application kit comes with the instruction manual. So, after downloading the kit, read the manual carefully. Reading the instruction guide will provide essential instructions on how to complete your application for a Canada student visa.

You are allowed to apply offline only under two circumstances:

• If you have a disability that is not letting you apply online

• If you have a document that proves you are a non-national resident, refugee, etc. 

The following list of people can apply at a port of entry:

• US citizen

• US Permanent Resident (or lawful permanent resident of the U.S.)

• Greenland resident

• Ukrainian nationals (or their family members)

• Saint-Pierre and Miquelon resident

Note- Ensure the VFS consent form is filled out and attached to your application form. You need this to get guidance from the VFS service to process your visa. The processing fee is non-refundable.

• Submit the application and other required documents: Visit the VFS office, pay the service charges, and give them the documents to receive a receipt. The receipt has a tracking number that will help you track the application online.

Once your application is selected, you will get an email from the Canadian government requesting your passport. Submit the passport, and you will receive the temporary visa and a letter of introduction.

Also, Read: Applying for a Study Permit in Canada - Do's And Don'ts 

Canada student visa application forms are available online and offline. The online Canada study visa fees can be paid through a credit card, and offline visa fees are paid through a demand draft. Here is the breakdown of the cost of a Canada student visa. Refer to the table below:

Note- The exchange rate is fluctuative, so check the same while you apply for the Canada student visa.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) takes approximately 6 to 8 weeks to process a visa application. You can see the status of your application on your MyCIC account. Moreover, if you are applying for an SDS visa, the Canada student visa processing time after the biometric will be 20 calendar days.

If your Canada student visa expires before you finish your course, you should apply at least 30 days before its expiration date. It can be renewed by applying visa extension.

Also, Read: Benefits for International Students in Canada

When you apply offline for a Canada student visa, you send the documents straight to the Canadian embassy in India. You can post or courier the documents to the addresses mentioned below.

VFS centres are a medium between the Canadian Embassy and the visa applicants. VFS centres are available in almost all the major cities so you can find the nearest centre from the table below.

Note- Apply for the Canada student visa at least 3 months before the departure date.  Also, prepare all the vital documents in advance. It will reduce the time to process the application.

In summary, a Canada student visa allows you to enter the country, and you can enrol in a university listed under the Designated Learning Institutes. Generally, taking English proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL, etc., which help the officials measure your linguistic abilities, is advised. Once everything is done, you must pay the Canada study visa fees, which are CAD 150 and biometric fee of CAD 85. The blog shares all the information that will assist you in applying for the  Canada student visa.

We wish you luck and hope you have insightful details on acquiring a Canada student visa. If you’d like to know more about the Canada study visa and study in Canada, contact our expert counsellors at any branch of Meridean Overseas Education Consultants (MOEC), who’ll help you in every step of your study abroad journey. Visit our website for free online counselling, or contact us at application02@meridean.org or 1800-1230-00011 for personalised support.

Q: Are Canadian study permits and visas the same?

A: A Canada study visa is the visa stamp on the passport whereas Canada study permit will be received once student land in canada. You can enter Canada if you have a student visa. And study permit is required for the enrollment in the university.

Q: Where Should I Apply for a Canada student visa?

A: For an Indian student to study in Canada, they must apply online and provide biometrics at the closest Visa Application Center. If you are applying on paper, you must deliver the application in person to the closest VFS, which will then transfer it to the Canadian Embassy in India or send the application form and supporting documentation directly to the nearest Canadian embassy or consulate.

Q: What are the prerequisites for a student visa to Canada?

A: The requirements for obtaining a Canada student visa include being accepted into a course at a recognised educational institution, proving that you have the money to pay for your tuition at the Canadian institution, the cost of living for you and any accompanying family members, a clean criminal record, test results in English, a letter of explanation, payment of the application fee, and more. To reduce the possibility of rejection, students must fulfil the conditions for a student visa to Canada. If you meet all requirements set forth by the IRCC and submit all required documentation in the correct order, the processing period for a Canada student visa is almost six weeks.

Q: Is it necessary to submit English proficiency test scores for getting a student visa?

A: You must submit documentation of your English language ability, such as test results from the PTE, TOEFL, or IELTS if you are a national of a nation where the language is not your first language. If you are applying for an undergraduate diploma, make sure your IELTS score is at least 6.0; if you are applying for a undergraduate and postgraduate degree and diploma, make sure your score is at least 6.5 and no band less than 6.

Q: How can I stay in Canada after finishing my education?

A: You must apply for a post-study work permit once your studies are over. Your work permit's validity period will be determined by how long you are enrolled in school. To be eligible for a work permit, you must be enrolled in a program lasting at least eight months and the should complete the program.