If you are planning on starting an educational journey in Canada, then you will need a Canadian student visa. In this article, we are going to look at what it takes to obtain a Canadian student visa, including the application process, requirements, cost, and a few faqs for your lingering questions.
What is a Canada Student Visa?
A study permit is a document that allows international students to study in some designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada. You should note that there is a difference between a study permit and a visa. In addition to the study permit. You will need a visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to enter Canada.
Who Needs a Student Visa?
If you are an international student and want to pursue your high institution studies in Canada, then you will need a visa or an eTA in addition to a study permit or visa.
However, there is a certain category of people who may not need a study permit in order to study in Canada. This category of people includes:
- Individuals whose duration of study is less than 6 months
- Family or staff members of a foreign representative to Canada accredited by Global Affairs Canada.
- Citizens of another country with a Registered Indian Status in Canada.
Eligibility Requirements for a Canadian Student Visa
Before thinking about applying for a Canadian student visa, you need to check the eligibility requirements to see if you fit in.
The following conditions need to be fulfilled for an individual to be eligible:
- A valid acceptance letter from a designated learning institution
- A clean criminal record
- A completed and signed Visa Application Center (VAC) Consent Form
- Copies of current immigration status
- Proof of temporary stay in Canada, and a plan to return to home country after graduation
Required Documents for a Student Visa for Canada
There are certain supporting documents that you will need to gather before you start the Canadian Student visa application process.
These are the documents you will need to apply for a study permit:
- A valid passport
- Two passport-sized photographs
- Medical Certificate of Examination
- Proof of financial strength to cover your study expenses
- Acceptance letter from a designated learning institution
- Identification document
- Proof of financial support
In the addition to the above necessary documents, you may also need to submit the following optional documents:
- A letter of explanation
- A Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)
- A custodian declaration for minors
Cost of Canadian Student Visa
The cost of a Canadian student visa is $150 (USD). However, this fee is subject to change from time to time. It is recommended that you check the current visa cost before applying for your Canada Student Visa.
How Can I Apply for Canada Study Visa?
You can apply for a Canadian Student visa online. In general, you will need to apply for a visa before entering Canada. However, you can still apply for the visa from within Canada. In addition, you will still be able to apply at the port of entry upon arriving in Canada.
Let’s go through the step-by-step procedure for the Canadian student visa application.
Step 1: Create an IRCC Account
Step one is a simple one. Simply create an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) account on the Canadian Government Website. Kindly choose the “GCKey” option on the website.
In addition, you will be required to supply a username, password, and email address. An email verification code will be sent to the email address you supplied.
Step 2: Start the Application
In this step, you will fill out the study permit application form. In that regard, you will need to answer a bunch of questions such as your passport number, expiry date, travel information, duration of the course, and other relevant information as will be required.
Step 3: Upload Required Documents
Here, you will upload the necessary supporting documents like your passport, digital passport-sized photographs, and letters from your institution.
Step 4: Pay your Visa Fee
Finally, you are to pay for the visa application fee using either a credit card or a debit card. Visa fee payment can be done securely and safely online.
You are Done!
By going through the above steps, you are on your way to achieving your dreams in life by obtaining that Canadian degree.
Congratulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canadian student visa easy to get?
International students applying for a Canadian student visa may think that the hard part is over once they receive an acceptance letter from the school. However, the process of getting a Canadian student permit is as hard as one could imagine. According to information on the IRCC website, a whopping 30 percent of all applications get rejected.
How long is Canadian student visa?
As soon as you receive an acceptance letter from your institution of learning, you should go ahead with the application process. This is because it can take up to 3 months before you get the study permit. This duration however depends on the country where you are applying.
Is Canada cheap to study?
Surely, there are cheap and affordable universities in Canada. Tuition fees for Canadian institutions range from 550 to 30,000 CAD/per year. The most expensive programs are courses in Medicine, Engineering, and Social Sciences.
