Canada Student Visa – A Complete Guide To Apply
A Canada student visa is required to attend a study program that lasts more than six months in Canada. If you wish to study in Canada, you must learn what a study permit Visa in Canada is, what you can accomplish, and what you must do and have with you when entering the country.
A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Visitor Visa is an official record in your passport that indicates airlines allow you to board a plane and Canadian authorities to enter Canada at the port of entry. The TRV shows that you have met the requirements of admission into Canada as a visitor, student, and worker. So, you must apply a TRV application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which will issue this document before coming to Canada.
Temporary residents Refusals overview:
If an applicant is found to be ineligible, the application will be refused, and the student visa refusal will be made at one of the following times:
- After examination of a written application, without the candidate having an in-person interview,
- Following an interview with the visa applicant
If it is evident from a review of the application that the applicant is ineligible and more information would not affect a denial decision, the applicant should never be asked to attend an interview.
Applying for a Canada student visa is the most stressful aspect of your plan to study in Canada. A study permit is not a visa and does not allow you to travel to or enter Canada. While some countries are visa-exempt, most international students need a Canada Study permit to pack their bags and board the plane. If accepted, IRCC will issue your visitor visa with your study permit.
Applicants must pay close attention to and adhere to the specific IRCC visa officer requirements; otherwise, they may have difficulty entering Canada in time for their study program. As one of the eligibility requirements of a Canadian student permit, you must prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your study permit expires.
The IRCC officers issue student visas to those candidates whom they consider genuine and who provide the required supporting documents accordingly. Therefore, it is critical to understand why a student may be refused. Here is a list of the most important tips to remember before applying for a Canada student visa to make it easier.
Help You To Get Your Student Visa Approval
Canada welcomes more than 400,000 students from foreign jurisdictions each year. Once you get accepted at a designated learning institution (DLI), a university or a college in Canada, you need to apply for a “Canada Study permit,” also known as a “Canada Student Visa,” before you come to Canada as an international student. Below, you will learn everything you need to apply for one.
How To Apply For A Canada Study Permit
Step 1: Understand Student Visa Requirements
The key to a successful visa application is that all students develop a clear and uniform understanding of application requirements.
What is Canada Study Permit?
The study permit is a document that the IRCC issues, allowing foreign nationals to study temporarily at designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada. Most foreign nationals need a permit to study in Canada and should apply before they travel to Canada.
If you are outside Canada, you will also require a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to enter the country. Once your permit has been approved, the IRCC will issue either a tourist visa or an eTA (not both).
If you are inside Canada, you must apply for your study visa as soon as you receive your permit.
Who doesn’t need a study permit in Canada?
A foreign national is exempt from the permit requirement in the following situations:
- Minor children already inside Canada by themselves or on a visitor status
- Family members and members of the private staff of accredited foreign representatives
- Members of the armed forces of a country designated for the Visiting Forces Act
- Short-term courses (less than six months in length)
- Registered Indians
Who is eligible to apply?
You can come to Canada to study if you:
- Are enrolled at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
- Demonstrate you have adequate money to pay for your tuition fees, living expenses for yourself and any accompanying family members and return transport to your home country.
- Obey the law, have no criminal record, and get a police certificate (if required)
- Are in good health and get a medical exam (if required), and
- Prove to the IRCC officer that you will leave Canada when your immigration status expires.
Step 2: Choose your study program and Institution
Finding out if an institution is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) is the first step in selecting one. International students can only be admitted via DLIs.
What is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)?
As previously stated, enrollment in a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) is required to receive a Canada student visa. DLIs are higher education institutions that have received the provincial or territory government’s approval to accept foreign students.
There are many colleges and other educational institutions that are not certified DLIs. However, all primary and secondary schools in Canada are, by default, DLIs. You shouldn’t apply there since, even if you get accepted, you won’t be able to attend.
You may continue studying there until your permit expires if the institution loses its DLI designation while enrolled. If your permit expires before you finish your degree, you must enrol in a new DLI to be eligible for a new study permission.
To apply to study in Canada, you must complete a particular main course. The academic system in Canada allows for course change, but it is best to weigh your alternatives in advance and select a major in which you have a genuine interest.
Every international student must demonstrate English or French language ability to be admitted to Canada. The definitive test for determining English language proficiency is IELTS (Check IELTS requirement for canada student visa), while some universities will also accept results from tests like the TOEFL exam.
It’s essential to contact the universities on your shortlist, request their application packets, and submit them well in advance. A dozen universities to choose from can be favourable, but you must consider the application fee, which ranges from $100 to $250.
What is the Letter of Acceptance (LOA)?
Your school must send you a letter of acceptance. Include your letter’s original or electronic copy with your study permit application.
Conditional acceptance and prerequisite courses
If this is the case, IRCC will only issue your permit for the length of those courses plus one year. Once accepted into your main program, you’ll need to apply for a new student permit to extend your stay as a student.
You must take prerequisite classes if you have received a conditional acceptance letter. These might include courses in French or English as a second language. These must be finished before you may begin your primary study program.
If so, the IRCC will only grant you a permit good for the duration of those courses plus an additional year. You must apply for a new student visa to extend your stay as a student after being admitted to your primary program.
Who doesn’t need an LOA?
If you’re a family member of someone who has a study or work permit application that’s been approved in writing before you come to Canada, you don’t need a letter of acceptance.
Step 3: Gather the documents
In sections where you are required to provide multiple documents, combine them into one file before posting. The maximum file size is 4MB; you might need to reduce the file size. If your documents are not in either English or French, they must be submitted with an official translation into either language, along with an affidavit from the translator.
Create your document checklist for study permit outside canada
The supporting documentation you must provide with your permit application varies depending on your citizenship country and other criteria. If you’re applying online, take the following steps:
One: Create an IRCC secure account if you do not have one already. You will be asked to provide answers to a series of questions.
Two: After completing the questionnaire, you will be directed to a screen called “Your document checklist,” which outlines the documents you need to provide.
Three: You might need to add any documents necessary by the visa office in your country in addition to the checklist given by the IRCC. Obtain the complete list of required documents from the visa office of your home country. Visit the IRCC website, choose your country, and “Visa office instructions” can be found by clicking “Get documents” after that (the second link). This will open a PDF containing the specifications for your visa office.
Gather your required documents
Gathering the required documents might sound like an unnecessary formality; however, getting a handle on Canadian study permit requirements is crucial for your approval.
Proof of financial support
It is crucial to demonstrate that you have enough money to pay for one year in Canada, which is equal to the following:
- Your first year of tuition fees, as indicated in your letter of acceptance, and
- Minimum bank balance for Canada student visa: A minimum of CAD$10,000 for your first year of living expenses (plus CAD$4,000 for an accompanying family member and CAD$3,000 per additional member)
You must demonstrate your ability to support your immediate family while in Canada. You can provide evidence of adequate funds with the following:
- Proof of a Canadian bank account in your name if you’ve transferred money to Canada
- Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution
- Proof of a student or education loan from a bank
- Your bank statements for the past 4-6 months
- A bank draft that can be converted to Canadian dollars
- Proof you paid tuition and housing fees
- A letter from the person or school giving you money, or
- Proof of funding paid from within Canada, if you have a scholarship or are in a Canadian-funded educational program
Passport
Give a copy of your bio-data page, which contains information on your name, date of birth, passport number, signature, and expiration date, as well as a copy of each page of your passport that bears visas, stamps, or other markings from different countries. Most visa offices require copies of your current passport and all previously held expired passports; make sure to read your visa office’s instruction manual for the specifics of what they require.
Photo
Verify that your photo complies with the requirements of the application method you’re utilizing. On your document checklist page, you can find the digital photo specification.
Documents specific to your visa office
To avoid delays or refusal, submit the required documents listed on your document checklist page in your IRCC secure account, plus any visa office-specific documents.
Letter of Explanation
A letter of explanation helps explain other circumstances or submit further supporting documentation for your application. You must include an explanation and supporting documentation with your application to convince the officer that you have ties to your home country and will depart Canada before your authorized stay expires. For information on how to write a letter of explanation, see the tips below. This letter helps the visa officer understand your goals and motivation to study in Canada. It explains why you wish to study in Canada and that you understand your responsibilities as a student. Your letter of explanation might explain the following:
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Write a thorough study plan (SOP) that is concise, clear, and tailored to your background to address why you want to travel to Canada to study. Your visa office may require this and include specific points to address.
Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)
If you want to study in Quebec for longer than six months, you need a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) issued by the Québec Government. If your application for a CAQ got approved by the ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), but you’re still waiting to get the CAQ, you can apply for your study permit with the MIFI approval letter.
Custodian declaration (Minor children)
You must submit the Custodianship Declaration form with your application if the minor needs a custodian. It has two papers, which must be notarized before being submitted with your student visa application. The custodian in Canada must sign the first page, and the second page must be signed by the minor’s parents or legal guardians in the child’s country of origin.
Supporting Documents
For information on regional requirements, consult the visa office guidelines for your country or region. You might need to provide evidence of your immigration status in the country from where you are applying if you are not already residing there.
If IRCC needs your documents for a submitted application, they will contact you to make the request. If IRCC contacts you for additional documents, you will have 30 days to provide them.
Complete the application immigration forms
Your application immigration forms are an essential part of your permit. Incomplete or inaccurate information can negatively impact the result of your application. You need to download the most recent form from your online portal, fill it out and validate your form at the end.
Step 4: Submit the online application
Apply as soon as you get your Letter of Acceptance. Apply online through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. Generally, you must apply for a permit before you come to Canada.
Some students can apply for a Canada Student Visa from inside Canada or when they arrive in Canada at the port of entry if:
- They are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or residents of Greenland or St. Pierre and Miquelon; they may apply upon arrival in Canada.
- They are already in Canada and dependent on a study or work permit holder.
- They have completed a course or program of study that is a prerequisite for their enrolment at a DLI; they also can apply inside Canada.
- Some other circumstances make some applicants eligible to apply inside Canada.
The application fee is $150.
Step 5: Submit biometrics, police certificate and medical exams
Some students must submit biometrics Canada, police certificate or medical exams.
Biometrics Canada
You must personally submit your biometrics (fingerprints and a photo) to the closest biometrics collecting location outside of Canada if you apply for a study permit from outside Canada once you submit your permit application. An $85 application fee must be paid at the time of submission.
Some students might have to leave their home country or, in rarer circumstances, seek a visa to enter another country to submit their biometrics.
Your application won’t be completed until the IRCC visa office receives the biometrics. The time it takes to submit your biometrics is not factored into the processing period for your permit.
If you provided biometrics in the past ten years or if you are a U.S. citizen, you are exempt.
Medical Exam
You require a medical exam when applying for a study visa if you:
- Have spent more than six months in a designated country or territory within the 12 months before your application. If you spent more than six months in Canada the previous year, this does not apply to you because Canada is not a designated country or territory.
- Want to work in some jobs in Canada that put you in close contact with people, such as those in hospitals or elementary schools?
If the above situation applies to you, you must have a medical exam done by a panel physician the IRCC has approved. The doctor will automatically provide IRCC with the complete results. Then, you have two options:
- Before submitting your initial study permit application, get a preliminary medical checkup and attach your e-medical report to the application. This choice is advised because it will save you time.
- An alternative is to wait for a visa officer to send you a request for a medical checkup while you first apply for your permit. The processing of your application may be delayed as a result.
Police Certificate
When you apply as a student, IRCC may ask you for a police certificate.
Step 6: Study permit approval or refusal for Canada
If IRCC approves your application
If the IRCC accepts your Canada Study Permit application, they will issue you an introduction letter for the port of entry (This letter is not your permit). You will receive your permit at the port of entry when you arrive in Canada or by mail if you are already there, and it states that you are permitted to study in Canada.
If IRCC refuses your application
They’ll send you a letter explaining why they refuse your application. Usually, it happens when you don’t:
- Show proof that you have enough money to support yourself while studying in Canada
- Convince the IRCC visa officer that your primary purpose in Canada is to study or
- Convince the IRCC visa officer that you’ll leave Canada at the end of your study program.
Canada student visa processing time
Due to several reasons, including the volume of applications IRCC receives, the type of visa application submitted, the applicant’s place of origin, whether the application is complete, and how quickly IRCC officers can verify visa applications, the processing period for a Canada student visa may take longer. It usually takes 4-8 weeks.
Step 7: Get your TRV/eTA
After your permit has been approved for the first time, you will automatically be issued one of these documents to travel to Canada:
- Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), or
- Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
If you are from a TRV-required country, you must submit your passport to have your TRV (Also known as a VISA) inserted.
U.S. citizens and permanent residents are exempt from requiring a TRV or an eTA.
Step 8: Prepare for your arrival
When you arrive in Canada, you’ll meet a border services officer who will ensure you meet some basic requirements. To enter Canada, you must have the following:
- Passport
- Letter of introduction
- Letter of acceptance
- have letters of reference or any other documents the visa office told you to bring
- Proof of funds Canada Student Visa for your stay
- No criminal or immigration-related convictions
When you arrive in Canada, show the Canada Border Services Officer (CBSA) your letter of introduction and ask for a study permit. Ensure the information on your permit is accurate and that it says you “may work” or “may take employment” before leaving the officer’s desk. Please politely ask that these words be added if they are missing. If not, you won’t be able to work on your study visa for several months while you apply for a correction.
Step 9: While you study in Canada
To maintain your student status, you will need to meet all the following requirements:
A-Keep a valid permit or have maintained status (formerly 'implied status')
Your permits become automatically invalid in one of two ways, whichever comes first:
- The expiry date on the permit, OR
- Ninety days after written confirmation of program completion, it first becomes available.
You must stop studying and working immediately if you don’t apply to extend your study permit before it expires.
B-Actively pursues studies
International students with study visas must actively pursue their education in Canada. Exchange students and applicants for refugee status are two students that are exempt from this rule.
C-Make reasonable progress towards completion.
You must also maintain your enrollment and go forward with your studies reasonably, according to IRCC. During your time in Canada, you can switch majors, programs, or, in certain situations, universities. An officer may ask for more details to confirm your objective in coming to Canada to study.
D-Respect any conditions listed on your permit and
F-Stop studying if you no longer meet the requirements
Canada Student Visa FAQs
There is no predetermined period in which you must arrive in Canada before beginning your study program. You must simply show up to have enough time to be ready before beginning your study program. Before beginning your studies in Canada, you are not permitted to work on or off campus.
Study permits automatically expire on the date indicated on the study permit or 90 days after written certification of program completion becomes available, whichever occurs first.
You must stop studying and working immediately if you don’t apply to extend your study permit before it expires.
Suppose your application for a Canada study permit has been accepted, and you change your intended place of study. In that case, you must submit a new application for a study permit and a new acceptance letter. Additionally, you must pay all applicable fees for your new study permit application.
A foreign national is exempt from the study permit requirement in the following situations:
- Minor children already inside Canada by themselves or on a visitor status
- Family members and members of the private staff of accredited foreign representatives
- Members of the armed forces of a country designated for the Visiting Forces Act
- Short-term courses (less than six months in length)
- Registered Indians
A study permit typically has a processing fee of 150 CAD. The cost of the biometric plus any other third-party testing, including medical exams, raise the initial processing cost.
The study permit does not allow the students to enter Canada because it is not a visa. In addition, they might require either an electronic travel authorization (eTA) or a visitor visa (study visa), but not both. You will receive one with your study permit if the IRCC approves your initial application.
Yes, you might apply if:
- You will study full-time and would like to work on campus,
- You will study full-time as an exchange student and would like to work on and/or off campus, OR
- You might extend your studies after your original course/program ends
As soon as you receive an acceptance letter from a Canadian institution or university, we advise you to apply for a study permit. Depending on the country where you are applying, it may take up to three months to receive a Canada student Visa.
Getting an acceptance letter from a Canadian university may make it appear like the challenging part is finished. But the reality is that obtaining a Canada student Visa might be far more difficult than you imagine. About 35% of all applications for study permits are turned down, according to figures from the IRCC.
Yes. As long as your extension application was made before the end of your permitted stay, you may remain in Canada as a temporary resident until IRCC makes a decision on your new permit application.
The visa officers will refuse your application if they do not satisfy that your intention to study in Canada is genuine. This may occur if you fail to include a statement of purpose that explains why you want to study in Canada and how your study program will help you reach your professional objectives.
In Canada, there are often no interviews for study permits. If the visa officer so decides or in the case of inadequate visa application materials, an interview may be necessary.
There is no age limit specified to get a Canadian student visa.
A study permit’s validity period is equal to the length of the program of study plus 90 days after program completion or the applicant’s passport’s expiration date, whichever comes first.
20 hours a week are the maximum you can work. You violate the terms of your study permit if you work more than 20 hours per week. If you do this, you risk losing your student status and having future requests for a study or work permit denied. You might even need to leave the country.
There is no specific age limit, but there are a few factors to consider when applying as a mature student to be successful.
For a course or study program lasting six months or less, you do not require a study permit if you currently reside in Canada. If you plan to take classes for more than six months, you must obtain a Canada student visa.
A visa is not what your study permit is. You might also require an eTA or a visitor visa. The IRCC will provide you with your study permit if they approve your initial application.
You can request to have your study permit changed if it does not explicitly specify that you may work or accept employment in Canada, but you are qualified to do so. Completing a co-op or internship work placement is a requirement for some educational programs in Canada.
- Student’s Background Matches the Selected Program.
- Financially Stable Students.
- Age of Students.
- Level of Education the student is Applying to.
- Education GAP.
- When to Apply.
How Can We Help You To Get A Canada Study Visa?
At Arnika Visa, if you want to apply for a Canada Student Visa, we can assist you from filing the immigration forms to guiding you through supporting documents; we take care of it all. We can advise you professionally regarding the required personalized supporting documents to increase the chance of your seminar visa approval and, finally, submit your study visa application to IRCC on your behalf as an authorized representative. Here are the details of our professional services offering to get you the conference visa:
- Student Visa Guidance: We know the Canadian study visa application details and how to increase your chance of visa approval. So, we guide you professionally from the first step until you enter Canada. Our highly knowledgeable RCIC provides one-on-one consultations during your visa application preparation. Plus, you will receive End-to-End customized and personalized guidance and support at all stages of the visa process and ongoing email and phone support (Q&A answered) on documents preparation by the RCIC’s expert team (Terms & Conditions apply under the communication policy section of your retainer agreement).
- Choice of the Study Program & Registration: In cases where the selected study program does not align very well with the applicant’s educational or employment background, the chances of visa refusal are increased. For example, someone with a bachelor’s in physics and four years of experience working as an educator who wants to attend a hotel management study program could be questioned. So, we will guide you to match the selected program to your background.
- Private Secure Cloud-Based Online Data Collection and Document Sharing and Management: Clients can see online the secured case we present for their application. They can review the forms and supporting documents before submitting their application to the IRCC.
- Travel Plan: We draft the purpose of your travel to Canada as per your educational and experience profile, which should be consistent with your temporary stay, given the details you will provide in your application. The IRCC officer wants to ensure you don’t want to facilitate your entry to Canada by utilizing a Canada study visa.
- Financial Plan: We draft your financial plan per your available funds and all financial resources to address the visa refusal reason for the insufficient financial resources for your travel to Canada. The financial plan should be consistent with your temporary stay, given your current financial situation, which does show that you are financially established in your country of residence.
- Supporting Documents: Our RCIC has read all IRCC application packages or forms, Visa offices outside Canada’s instruction guide, and a federal court decision on student visa refusal claims, so he is well-informed about all essential documents before applying for a Canadian student visa. We provide you with a Detailed Personalized Visa Documents Checklist and Guidance, which is way beyond the IRCC visa office requirements around the globe, including consulting on required and optional supporting documents and drafting and finalizing all supporting documents by the RCIC’s expert team.
- RCIC’s Tailored Submission Letter: Our RCIC (Mr. Reza Eslami, R710241) will draft you a Tailored Submission Letter addressing the IRCC’s visa Office to support your study permit applications.
- Immigration Package Preparation and Submission: We prepare the complete Immigration Visa Application, including the IRCC Immigration Forms Completion and application Submission and authorized representation, to the IRCC on your behalf.
- The Port of Entry Support: Before granting permission for a foreign individual to enter Canada, border services officials (CBSA officers) must ensure you have met all admissibility requirements. If needed (Border Services officers’ questions), Our RCIC provides you with the Port of Entry Support upon arrival.
These days Canada visa applications are more than just filling out the forms and showing enough funds to cover your expenses. Accordingly, preparing a solid application from the beginning will place a step forward and strong precedent even to prevent an application from being judicially reviewed (JR).
These days, in most immigration programs, the Canadian Immigration Authorities (IRCC) do not hold an immigration interview with an applicant (Foreigner national). Instead, the Immigration Officer shall exercise Due Diligence in assessing an application (Verification of Supporting Documents). It means they accept or refuse the visa application after a details examination of the documents, particularly the supporting documents, along with your explanations. Thus, you need to prepare supplementary documents in addition to the immigration forms to obtain the best achievable and favourable result from IRCC Canada.
The IRCC visa officers know when the applications are well-prepared, which means they would follow through all the stages, including Judicial Review (JR) at Federal Court, so they would think twice before making a study permit refusal decision. It has been widespread that ghost consultants file study visa applications, although it is illegal since they have no license. By doing so, you miss the second chance to be accepted at the Federal Court level, as the visa application wasn’t prepared in a way to address all legal IRCC officers’ concerns. Thus, Arnika Visa recommends seeking legal guidance from an Expert RCIC to have a better chance of successful visa applications.
Hi, I need help with my brother’s student visa application to come and study. I’ve been PR here in Canada for almost ten years. I am married with two children. I applied for my brother’s visitor visa three times (I used 1 GCKey application and two new IRCC portals), but all got refused. He is a business owner with enough financial proof to support his travel; he submitted assets like house titles, cars and motorcycles. I provided him with my invitation letter, bank statement for three months, PR IDs, Payslip for three months, T4 for 2022, marriage certificate and birth certificate. The reason for refusal on the third time was the IRCC officer wanted to be more satisfied that he would leave Canada at the end of his stay (study). Also, the other family ties were not cleared even though I submitted my two siblings’ birth certificates. I’m so anxious to apply for the fourth time because I don’t want my brother to get refused again. Plus, I want him to come and visit here with us to support him emotionally for the recent passing of my father. Please let me know if I’m missing some documents that could help him to get approval. Thanks
Consider including a detailed itinerary of his visit and a letter from his business indicating his leave. Attach proof of strong ties to his home country, like business ownership documents, community ties, social ties, etc. Finally, consider an expert RCIC’s advice on the refused application to find the real reason for his refusal and how to justify it in his next student visa application.
I was rejected three times for a study visa, and now we only have the last refusal letter; my applications are with the student recruitment agency. Is there anything that can be done?
With your latest refusal letter, we strongly suggest a thorough assess the reasons for the refusal with an RCIC who is an expert on rejection. They may consider a strategic resubmission, address any issues raised, or explore appeal options if applicable. They can find the most effective path forward for your case.
I was rejected three times for a study permit, and now we only have the last refusal letter; my applications are with the student recruitment agency. Is there anything that can be done?
With your latest refusal letter, we strongly suggest a thorough assess the reasons for the refusal with an RCIC who is an expert on rejection. They may consider a strategic resubmission, address any issues raised, or explore appeal options if applicable. They can find the most effective path forward for your case.