To study in Canada, you will need to obtain a Canadian study permit that will serve as a Canadian student visa for the duration of your stay. If your course or program lasts six months or less, you do not need a Canadian study permit. Even so, it may be a good idea to apply for a permit before you arrive in Canada anyway otherwise, if you want to continue your studies in another program, you must leave Canada to apply for a study permit through a Visa Office.
Once you have a Canadian study permit, you can apply for renewal from within Canada if you decide to continue your studies. For full-time students enrolled in an accredited higher education institution, a study license allows you to work on-campus part-time. You can work outside the campus as part of your program, work as a co-op or intern, become a permanent resident of Canada, or find a job after graduation.
Applying for a Canadian Study Permit
You can apply for a Canadian study permit online or through a paper application and obtain it from the official website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Usually, paper applications take twice as long as online applications, and I recommend you to check the processing times in advance. To apply online, you will require a credit or debit card and the ability to create electronic copies of your documents (i.e. using a scanner or camera). Your country’s visa office will give you specific instructions on what materials to provide; This may vary depending on your location. If you need assistance, you can get help from your nearest Visa Application Center (VAC).
Requirements to obtain a Canadian Student Visa:
Acceptance Letter: When you are collecting documents for your visa, the first thing you must accomplish is the acceptance letter from the university or college you are going to study aboard. You must obtain this before applying for a study permit. You can get this online by filling a form or requesting a paper form the university you are going to study, which will also give you guidance on this subject. You should include this letter (original or electronic copy) with the study permit application. Go through the link “Proof of acceptance” for more details.
Form and Instructions: As I mentioned before you can apply for a study permit through online or by paper. It is better to choose the online method because it is faster in process, and that’s the recommended method by the website officials. You can go through this link “How to apply for study permit“. To get the instructions to provide the correct information.
After you fill these two questions, you will get the suitable instructions for you.
If you are you from China, India, Philippines, Vietnam, Senegal or Morocco, you can quickly set up your applications using Student Direct Stream.
If you are applying from outside Canada, you should follow the below steps,
- Preparing what you need:
- A scanner or camera to create soft copies of your documents
- A valid credit or debit card
- Read the instruction guide:
- Read the instruction guide before completing your application. This guide will help you to complete out the form.
- Prepare your answers for the online tool:
- Before uploading your form, you required to answer some few questions. This is to create a personalized document checklist for you.
- Know your fees –
- Fees include:
- Processing fees of the application $150 (CAD)
- Biometrics fees $85 (CAD)
- Fees include:
Letter of Explanation: In this letter, you should explain why you need this relevant program and your interest in that program. And, you need to provide proof of your past educational achievements that related to the programming that you are going to apply. You should also provide the English translation of proof documents if they are in other languages.
This letter helps them to understand you and your goals. Even if you don’t have to get a study permit for your program, you must still include this letter when applying for a study permit.
Proof of Sufficient Funds: You must prove that you have enough funds to support yourself even for a year, this is a requirement for a Canadian student visa. Minimum funds needed to support yourself as a student at present is CA$10,00 per year outside Quebec and it cost CA$11,000 per year in Quebec. You can find more details about the living cost here “ Financial support”. And also, you need to have sufficient money for flights to fly back home.
To proof your funds, you can provide any of these bank documents: bank statements, proof of a Canadian account in your name if the money’s been transferred, proof of payment of tuition and accommodation fees, a letter from a person or institution providing you with cash.
Ties to Back Home: You must show them that you will go back home after finishing your studies. And, you must show family, job and property ties. Writing a personal letter will help in this case. Property valuation by certified evaluator if you use. If you take leave from the job, take a letter from the employer to show that you have a job to go back.
Police Report: Some applicants may require a police certificate before submitting their application. If you have a criminal record, you will not be able to obtain a student permit. You can ask for a police clearance certificate as evidence. If you have been lived another country, apply asap, because it may take a long time for the process. Visit page “How to get a police certificate” and select your country or territory for the guidelines and instructions.
