Once you receive a study offer from a Canadian college or university, the next thing is to start working on getting a Canadian Study Permit and Visa. This article will provide you with all the information you need on how to apply for a Canadian study permit and visa, including Canadian student visa rules, fees, and student visa requirements. This information will aid in the easy application for a study permit and student visa.
Note that if your study would last longer than six months, then you’ll need to get a Canadian study permit.
A visa will only allow you to travel to Canada and spend a maximum of six months. In this particular post, I will explain the easy steps involved in processing and getting a Canadian study visa/permit and its requirements as well. So sit back and enjoy this exposition.
Do I need to apply for a Canadian study permit?
If you are not a citizen of Canada or a permanent resident, you might need to apply for a Canadian study permit.
Important note: Several newly made regulations for international students are now implemented with full force. If you have a plan to study in a short-term course or program for 6 months or even less, you won’t need a study permit. You may be able to do this while holding just a visitor visa. But, you may apply for an official study permit if you opt to.
It is a very good idea to officially apply for a study permit in Canada if you think you might want to take up another program after you have completed the first one. If you have a study permit already, you can even apply to extend your study permit from within Canada so long as you are currently enrolled in a school. However, if by chance you don’t have a study permit, then, you will have to apply outside of Canada, with few exceptions.
If you plan to study in a course or program for more than 6 months, you need a Canadian study permit.
Can I apply for a study permit while visiting Canada?
In Canada, you can switch from a visitor visa to a study permit. In this way, visitors who want to study long courses can apply for a study permit.
Is an interview required for a Canadian student visa?
There are usually no interviews for study permits. An interview may be required if the visa officer decides to do so. However, a medical examination is mandatory to obtain a student visa.
How much is the Canadian student visa fee?
The Canadian student visa fees are listed in Canadian dollars. The information below includes Canadian student visa fees and fees associated with other types of Canadian permits and visa
| Permit/Visa | Fee |
| Study permit (including extensions) | CAD150 |
| Work permit (including extensions) | CAD155 |
| Work permit – maximum fee for groups of performing artists and their staff | CAD100 |
| Visitor visa – single entry or multiple entry (including extensions) | CAD100 |
| Visitor visa – maximum fee for family | CAD500 |
| Visitor record (including extensions) | CAD75 |
Canada student’s visa requirements for international students
Some or all of the following additional requirements for a Canadian student visa may also apply.
Student visa Canada requirements include:
- Applicants from Europe, the Middle East or Africa may need to provide biometric data (photos and fingerprints).
- Some applicants may also need a medical exam and/or police check before submitting their application. You cannot get a study permit if you have a criminal record. You may need to provide proof of police approval as evidence.
- Unless you are from the United States, or Saint Pierre and Miquelon, you must show that you have a valid passport to return to your country of origin after completing the course. Two passport photos are also required, the back of which shows your name and date of birth.
- One of the Canadian student visa requirements is proof of funds to support yourself. It is currently to be CA$ 10,000 (~ CA$ 7,650) for each year of your stay (CAN $ 11,000 / US $ 8,400 if you are applying to study in Quebec). You also need to make sure that you have enough money to pay for transportation back home. To prove that you have this money, you can provide one of the following documents: bank statements, bank check in a convertible currency, proof of a Canadian account on your behalf when the money has been transferred, proof of payment for tuition and accommodation, proof of funding provided by Canada if you have a scholarship or are running a funded program from Canada or a letter from one person or institution that provides you with money.
How can I apply for a Canadian permit and visa for my Study?
- This can be taken in two ways either online and on paper.
- The online application is the faster and recommended method of study permit application. To apply, you will need a credit/debit card and to create electronic copies of your well-arranged supporting documents by snapping names or scanning them.
- The type of required documents to be submitted would depend on the country, but in numerous cases, the following documents are mostly demanded:
- To apply for a Canadian study permit, an acceptance letter obtained from a recognized university, college, or institution in Canada is required. This is a typed letter with the school logo issued to a student who has been offered to pursue a course of study by a particular institution. This admission letter can be sent to the prospective student online or by post. It will contain information like the field or course of study, tuition fees, length of study program, etc.
- This content can be downloaded from the website here or collected from any Canadian Embassy or Consulate in your country.
- If you opt to download this content online, you will need to be asked a few questions about yourself on the website.
- This particular question will determine whether or not you are eligible to apply for the Canadian study permit online.
- If after the questions, you are found qualified, you will be given a private checklist code which is valid for only 60 days. This particular checklist code will be required when you want to submit your online application.
- Print out the particular page containing the code for future reference.
- The next thing is for you to submit your application online and this is how to go about it.
- Create a myCIC online account and then enter your checklist code, and you will receive a private document checklist that will allow you to upload and send your not-required documents to CIC. Once you have done this, your uploaded documents and application forms are ready, and have also paid your required fees, you can then submit your online application to CIC.
Canada Student Visa Rules
Here are some of the Canada student visa rules as required by the Canadian government. Some countries may be exempted from these rules, and some other countries may need to abide strictly by them.
Biometrics
Applicants from a good number of countries may need to provide a photograph and fingerprints to apply for a Canadian study permit.
Medical examination/police check
Some prospective students may be asked to do a medical fitness test and/or police check before they are allowed to submit their application for the Canadian study permit.
Since these aforementioned requirements vary by country, it’s paramount that you contact the nearest Canadian embassy in your country and find out your country’s homogeneous requirements before you submit your online application.
Proof of funds to support yourself
In addendum to the aforementioned documents, you will also be required to provide proof that you have enough funds to aid your study to be able to apply for the Canadian study permit. A minimum of C$10,000 is required each year of your study in Canada on top of your required tuition fees.
Proof of the availability of this money can be in the form of a statement from your Bank, evidence of a Canadian Bank account opened in your name if the money has been transferred to that account, bank draft in a currency converting form, proof of payment of tuition fees and accommodation fees too, including proof of funding if you have a scholarship backup.
Once you obtain your visa, a letter of introduction and sorts will be sent to you including a temporary residence visa that’ll allow you to travel to Canada.
Upon your entry to Canada, present these received documents together with finance proofs, passport, and every other document to a border control agency located in Canada and you will be offered a Canadian study permit visa which will allow you to live including study for the duration of your academic program.
Frequently Asked Questions about How to Apply for a Canadian Study Permit and Visa
What is a Canadian Study Permit?
A Canadian study permit is a document issued by the country’s government for international students to study at designated learning institutions. Bear in mind that a study permit is not a visa. As an international student, you may also need a visitor visa or an eTA (electronic travel authorization) to gain entry into Canada.
Who Needs a Study Permit?
You need a study permit if your preferred program lasts over six months and you are studying at a designated learning institution. Exceptions are short-term courses (specifically courses that take less than six months to complete), family members of foreign representatives, and some military personnel
What are the requirements for a study permit in Canada?
You must be enrolled at a designated learning institution (DLI), prove you are financially capable of paying for your education, have no criminal record, and obtain a police certificate if required. Students are also required to be in good health and must prove to an officer that they will leave Canada once their study permit expires.
Is Canada’s study permit easy to get?
Canada is one of the most preferred study-abroad destinations, so its study permits are in high demand. Several applications for a study permit get rejected, so we recommend getting your application ready to avoid common mistakes that cause applications to be rejected.
How long does it take for a Canada student visa to be approved?
According to EduCanada, it can take about three months for a student to get a study permit. EduCanada strongly recommends that students apply for their study permit once they receive their letter of acceptance from a Canadian college or university.
