How to Get a Canadian Student Visa
To enrol in college in Canada, you will need a study permit, which serves as a student visa for the duration of your stay. You do not need a Canadian study visa if your course or programme lasts six months or less. Even so, it could be a good idea to apply for a permit before you depart for Canada; otherwise, if you decide to continue your studies in another programme, you’ll have to leave the country and go through the visa application procedure.
Applying for a Canadian study permit
The Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website offers both an online and paper application for a Canadian study permit. Because paper applications frequently take nearly twice as long as electronic ones, it is always advisable to check the processing timelines well in advance. To apply online, you’ll need a credit/debit card and the ability to produce electronic copies of your supporting documents (i.e. using a scanner or camera). The visa office in your country will provide you precise instructions on the documents you need to submit, depending on where you are.
Getting a student visa for Canada entails the following steps:
The first need is a standard letter of acceptance from a respectable higher education institution. Additionally, students in Quebec are required to apply for a CAQ, or certificate of acceptance, from the provincial government. You must have this before you can submit an application for a study permit.
When you have all the necessary documents on hand and have paid the applicable fees, you can submit your completed application to CIC.
It may be necessary for some applicants to attend an interview at their local visa office.
Applicants might be asked to submit biometric data (photograph and fingerprints).
Before submitting their application, some candidates would additionally need to have a medical checkup and/or a police check.
For Canadian student visas, there are extra requirements, such as proof of financial aid. This is now expected to be CA$10,000 (about US$7,650) for each year of your stay (or CA$11,000 (around US$8,400) if you’re applying to study in Quebec), in addition to your tuition costs. Make sure you have enough money on hand to pay for your transportation expenditures back home.
Applying through the Student Direct Stream
With Canada’s new Student Direct Stream, students from China, India, the Philippines, or Vietnam can now apply to get their study visa more rapidly. The criteria are similar to those for a standard student visa, despite the stricter language requirements. You must have a minimum IELTS score of 6, a French Niveaux from the Compétence Linguistique Canadiens of 7, or have successfully completed the Canadian high school curriculum. You won’t receive faster processing if you meet the requirements for the conventional study permit but not for the Student Direct Stream. Your application will still be evaluated in this case.
