What is a Canadian Student Visa and How to Obtain It?

A Canadian student visa is a type of Canadian visa that allows students to study only at Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) in Canada, work while studying in Canada, or work after graduation.

In order to study in Canada under a Canadian student visa, an invitation from one of the Designated Learning Institutions (DLI) in Canada is required.

What Does a Canadian Study Permit Mean? What is the Difference Between It and a Student Visa?

A Canadian study permit is a document issued to foreign nationals who wish to study in Canada, allowing them to study at Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) in Canada.

A Canadian study permit, unlike a Canadian student visa, is not a type of visa. A Canadian study permit does not grant entry to Canada. Canadian study permit holders need a Canadian student visa, as well as a Canadian visitor visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter Canada.

What is a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI)?

In order to apply for a Canadian student visa or Canadian study permit, you must receive an invitation from one of the Designated Learning Institutions (DLI). People who want to study in Canada must study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) designated by Canada.

Students interested in studying in Canada should review the List of Canadian DLIs (Designated Student Institutions) that host international students in Canada.

Who Does Not Need a Canadian Study Permit?

Individuals who are exempt from the requirement to obtain a Canadian study permit to study in Canada are listed below.

  • If the person who will study in Canada will study for less than 6 months, a Canadian study permit is not required. If the study in Canada will last for a maximum of 6 months, only a Canadian visitor visa or a Canadian electronic travel authorization ( Canadian ETA ) is sufficient.
  • If the person who will study in Canada is a family member or staff member of a Canadian foreign representative authorized by Global Affairs Canada, they do not need a Canadian study permit.
  • A person who will study in Canada is a member of a foreign armed force or an official on official duty in Canada and does not need a Canadian study permit.
  • If the person who will study in Canada has a registered Indian Status in Canada, he/she does not need a Canadian study permit.
  • If the person who will study in Canada is a minor and has one of the conditions listed below, he/she does not need a Canadian study permit.
    • Child who will receive kindergarten education in Canada
    • If the person who will study in Canada is a refugee or a refugee claimant
    • If the parent of the person who will study in Canada is a refugee or a refugee claimant
    • The person who will study in Canada is attending preschool, primary school or secondary school and the parent of the person who will study in Canada has a permit to study or work in Canada.

What are the Canada Student Visa Application Requirements?

Application requirements for a Canadian student visa are listed below.

  • It is necessary to obtain a study in Canada invitation letter from one of the Canadian Designated Learning Institutions (DLI) that includes the following items.
    • Official letterhead of the school from which the invitation to study in Canada was received
    • Explanation of the program and degree to be obtained from the school from which the student invitation letter was received in Canada
    • The amount of tuition fee to be paid for the education at the school where an invitation to study in Canada is received
    • The start and end dates of the education to be received at the school from which the invitation to study in Canada was received
  • The applicant for a Canadian education visa must be 18 years of age or older. If the applicant for a Canadian student visa is under 18 years of age, the parent must apply for a Canadian student visa on behalf of the child.
  • The candidate who will apply for a Canadian education visa must have a clean criminal record and the cleanliness of his criminal past must be proven.
  • Applicants who will apply for a Canadian student visa must complete and sign the Visa Application Centre (VAC) Approval Form.
  • Applicants for a Canadian student visa must provide their current immigration status in Canada or other countries.
  • The candidate applying for a Canadian student visa must prove that his/her stay in Canada is temporary and that he/she will return to his/her country when the education process is completed.
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What are the Required Documents for a Canadian Student Visa?

The documents required for a Canadian student visa are listed below.

  • Canada student visa application form : Filled Canada student permit application form for Canada student visa applicants
  • Invitation letter : Invitation letter from one of the Canadian Designated Learning Institutions (DLI)
  • Passport : A passport or travel document valid for the period that includes the Canadian student visa applicant’s return to his/her home country (A passport is not required for Canadian student visa applicants living in the USA.)
  • Photo : 2 passport size (35mm X 45mm) photographs of the Canadian student visa applicant, including the name and date of birth of the Canadian student visa applicant on the back.
  • Visa Application Center Approval Form
  • Immigration status : Document showing the current immigration status of the Canadian student visa applicant in Canada or other countries.
  • Return documents : Documents that prove that the Canadian student visa applicant’s stay in Canada is temporary and that he/she will return to his/her country when the education period is completed.
  • Financial Adequacy Documents : The Canadian student visa applicant must prove that he/she has financial support to meet his/her needs during his/her stay in Canada. In Canada, meeting the needs for 1 year means having 10,000 to 11,000 CAD (Canadian Dollars). The Canadian student visa applicant can prove that he/she can cover the expenses of studying and living in Canada by the methods listed below.
    • Canadian bank account registered in the name of the Canadian student visa applicant
    • The Canadian student visa applicant must have a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) issued by a financial institution in Canada.
    • Proof that the Canadian student visa applicant has taken out a student loan from a bank
    • Canadian student visa applicant’s bank account statement for the last 4 months
    • Proof that the Canadian student visa applicant has already paid for tuition fees and accommodation in Canada.
    • A letter written by the person or institution from which the Canadian student visa applicant receives financial aid.
    • Proof that the Canadian student visa applicant has a scholarship
  • Canadian student visa applicant’s criminal record from his/her own country
  • Canada student visa letter of intent : A letter of statement from the Canadian student visa applicant explaining why the Canadian Government should grant him/her a Canadian visa and Canadian study permit.
  • Medical examination report : Medical examination reports of the Canadian student visa applicant
  • Diploma and CV : Diplomas and CV text showing the education or employment status of the Canadian education visa applicant.

All documents required for a Canadian student visa must be translated into English or French and the translation must be proven to be accurate.

If a Canadian student visa applicant plans to study in Quebec, a declaration by the translator before translating a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec into English and French and a certified copy of the original Canadian student visa application documents are required.

What are the Minimum Financial Requirements for a Canadian Student Visa?

The Canadian student visa applicant must have enough money to cover the expenses of studying and living in Canada in order to obtain a study permit and a Canadian student visa. If there are family members who will come to Canada with the Canadian student visa applicant, an additional fee is required for each family member.

There are two types of financial requirements for becoming a student in Canada and these financial funds are listed below.

  • Financial funding for students studying outside Quebec
  • Financial funding for students studying in Quebec

Below are the financial requirements for becoming a student in Canada outside of Quebec.

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People coming to CanadaAmount of financial funds required annually (in addition to tuition)Amount of financial funds required per month (in addition to tuition)
For the student$10,000$833
For the first family member$4,000$333
For each additional family member accompanying the first family member$3,000$255

Below are the financial requirements for students studying in Quebec.

People coming to CanadaAmount of financial funds required annually (in addition to tuition)Amount of financial funds required monthly (in addition to tuition)
For the student$11,000$917
For first family member (18 years or older)$5,100$425
For the first family member (under 18)$3,800$317
For each additional family member (age 18 or over) accompanying the first family member$5,125$427
For each additional family member (under 18 years of age) accompanying the first family member$1,903$159

How Much Are the Canada Student Visa Application Fees?

Canadian student visa application fees are listed below.

  • For studies shorter than 180 days, the Canadian student visa fee is 100 Canadian Dollars.
  • A Canadian student visa for more than six months costs 150 CAD
  • The long or short term fee for fingerprints (biometrics) to be given to the Canadian student visa application center is 85 Canadian Dollars, which also includes the VFS Global Canadian student visa application package service fee.

Is It Difficult to Get a Canadian Student Visa?

Obtaining a Canadian student visa is not easy in terms of the length of the process and the document collection process. In addition, since Canada is one of the popular countries preferred for education, the high volume of student visa applications makes it difficult to obtain a Canadian student visa.

If the necessary documents for the Canadian student visa application are prepared and the process is followed correctly, the possibility of visa rejection is eliminated.

How to Apply for a Canadian Student Visa?

The Canadian student visa application process is listed below.

  1. A letter of acceptance must be obtained from a school on the list of educational institutions designated by the Government of Canada. The letter of acceptance can be obtained by completing an online form or by requesting a printed form with recommendations from the Canadian student visa applicant’s university. Students applying for a Canadian student visa studying in Quebec must also apply for a Certificate of Acceptance from the Government of Quebec (CAQ).
  2. A Canadian student visa package must be requested from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website, and the Canadian Embassy in the applicant’s country.
  3. There is a questionnaire that needs to be answered to obtain a Canadian student visa from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website. The Canadian student visa questionnaire of the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website is a questionnaire that determines whether an applicant is eligible for a Canadian student visa and the documents that they need to bring for their Canadian student visa application.
  4. As a result of the Canadian student visa survey of the Immigration Bureau (CIC) website, the Canadian student visa applicant who is found suitable receives a personal personal checklist code valid for 60 days in order to check the documents that must be submitted in order to apply for a Canadian student visa. The page containing the personal checklist code should be printed to be added to the Canadian student visa application documents. On the page with the personal checklist code, the Canadian student visa application guide, the Canadian tuition fee amount and the documents that must be sent with the Canadian student visa application are listed, and the instructions for the next Canadian student visa application steps are also on the page with the personal checklist code.
  5. Canadian student visa application documents and forms are filled out and an appointment is made at the VFS Global office by applying to the VFS Global office. The VFS Global office is visited to submit the necessary documents for the Canadian student visa application and to provide biometric information. VFS Global service fees and Canadian student visa application fees must be paid and the relevant receipt must be obtained. There is a tracking number on the VFS Global receipt to track the Canadian student visa application process.
  6. When the Canadian student visa application decision is announced, the results are returned to the VFS Global office and the Canadian student visa application result can be learned via an e-mail. The documents delivered through VFS Global will be delivered back to their owner. If the Canadian student visa application result is positive, Canadian student visa applicants may be called to their local visa offices for an interview.
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For the Canadian student visa application, all or some of the additional Canadian student visa applications listed below may be required.

  • Canadian student visa applicants from Europe, the Middle East or Africa may be required to provide biometrics (photograph and fingerprints).
  • Some Canadian student visa applicants may be required to submit a medical examination report and criminal record check.

The option to apply for a Canadian study permit at the Port of Entry (POE) is only available by presenting an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to the Canadian Port of Entry for entry only when the following conditions are met:

  • Being a citizen of the United States of America (USA)
  • Must be a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) in the United States
  • Subject to residency in Greenland or Saint-Pierre and Miquelon

How Many Days Does It Take to Get a Canadian Student Visa?

Canadian student visa applications are usually finalized within 30 business days, at the latest within 90 days. The only competent authority for Canadian student visa application approvals is the Canadian Consulate.

What are the Reasons for Canada Student Visa Application Rejection?

Your Canadian student visa application may be rejected for the reasons listed below.

  • The student who will study in Canada under a student visa cannot prove that he/she has sufficient financial means to support himself/herself.
  • A student who will study in Canada under a student visa cannot pass a medical examination.
  • The student who will study in Canada under a student visa cannot convince the visa officer that his/her main purpose in Canada is to study.
  • The student who will study in Canada under a student visa cannot convince the visa officer that he/she will return to his/her country after the completion of the education period.

The recommendations listed below can be followed to avoid rejection of your Canadian student visa application.

  • To obtain a Canadian student visa, you should check whether the documents required for obtaining a Canadian student visa are missing or not under the title of documents required for obtaining a Canadian student visa.
  • A copy of the offer letter from a recognized college or university in Canada must also be included among the documents uploaded to obtain a Canadian student visa.
  • If the applicant for a Canadian student visa has work experience, he or she can submit pay slips or bank statements as proof.
  • The applicant’s entire travel history and any visa refusals must be documented in the visa file.
  • When applying online, all questions asked on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website must be answered.
  • When applying for a Canadian student visa, you should pay attention to your statement of intent and mention your academic achievements and why you want to study in Canada.

If the application for a Canadian student visa is rejected, the visa office will send a letter to the applicant for a Canadian student visa explaining why their application was rejected.

Questions about Canadian student visa application rejections can be learned by contacting the office that rejected the Canadian student visa application.

Can Those Who Reject Their Canadian Student Visa Applications Appeal?

If a Canadian student visa application is rejected, Canadian student visa applicants can appeal the rejection. There are three methods to appeal a Canadian student visa application rejection, listed below.

  • Requesting a reconsideration for a Canadian student visa refusal
  • Appealing a Canadian student visa denial in federal court
  • Applying for a new Canadian student visa

If your Canadian student visa application is rejected, getting help from the professional visa consultants at RSSCanadaImmigration.com in preparing a Canadian student visa application statement will help you create a good Canadian student visa application profile.

If your Canadian student visa application is rejected, you can apply to the higher courts by writing a judicial appeal petition. Since the judicial appeal application process is a long process, it is often preferred to re-apply for a Canadian student visa.

How Long Is a Canadian Student Visa Valid?

A Canadian student visa is valid for the duration of your studies in Canada, plus an additional 90 days. The additional 90 days granted to your Canadian studies are to prepare you for departure from Canada or to allow time to apply for a Canadian student visa extension if you are unable to complete your studies in Canada within the stipulated time.

If the person who will study in Canada will study for less than 6 months, they do not need a Canadian study permit. If the person who will study in Canada will study for a maximum of 6 months, only a Canadian visitor visa or electronic travel authorization (ETA) is sufficient.

Can Students in Canada Go Back to Their Country with a Canadian Student Visa?

The Canadian government allows students who are studying in Canada with a Canadian student visa to return to their country during school holidays. Students who study in Canada with a Canadian student visa must make sure that their Canadian visa or electronic travel permit and work permit are still valid when they return to their country during the holidays, otherwise they may have problems returning to Canada.

Can I Go to the USA with a Canadian Student Visa?

It is not possible to travel to the United States with a Canadian student visa. If an individual studying in Canada with a Canadian student visa is traveling to the United States, they must obtain a US visitor visa from their country of citizenship or they must check whether the country of citizenship of the individual who wants to visit the United States without a visa is on the United States visa exemption list.

Which Countries Can I Visit with a Canadian Student Visa?

With a Canadian student visa, you can travel to the following countries.

  • Anguilla (British territory)
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Aruba
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Bahamas
  • Bermuda (British territory)
  • United Kingdom
  • Bonaire (Dutch territory)
  • British Virgin Islands (British Territory)
  • Cayman Islands (British Territory)
  • Curacao
  • Dominican Republic
  • El Salvador
  • Armenia
  • Philippines
  • Guatemala
  • South America
  • South Korea
  • Georgia
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Jamaica
  • Canada
  • Caribbean
  • Train
  • Costa Rica
  • Cuba
  • North America
  • North Macedonia
  • Mexican
  • Nlkaragua
  • Central America
  • Middle East
  • Panama
  • Peru
  • Chile
  • Singapore
  • St Maarten
  • Taiwan
  • Turks and Caicos (British Territory)
  • Oman
  • Jordan

What Other Canadian Visa Types Are Similar to the Canadian Student Visa?

Other Canadian visa types similar to the Canadian student visa are given below.

  • Canadian language school visa
  • Canada temporary resident visa

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