Canada Student Visa: Eligibility, Documents, Fees & Application

International students require a valid Canada student visa to be able to live and study in Canada for the duration of their course. So, to enter the country, the students must have a temporary Resident Visa provided by VFS Global Services that is the designated Visa Application Center for Canada Study Visa.

Students from abroad must possess a study permit as well in order to study and work in the country. In certain cases, the study permit may expire before the completion of the course. In such a situation, the international students should apply for a renewal of the study permit at least 30 days before the current permit expires.

All details regarding the Canada Student Visa are covered below including the Canada study visa requirements, eligibility, documents required, and the application procedure.

Canada Student Visa Application Process

International students should apply for a Canada study permit to be able to pursue higher education in any of the numerous universities in Canada. A valid Canada study visa is required to be able to live and study in Canada for the duration of the course. International students should also meet the requirements of the Canadian Immigration Act and Regulations under normal circumstances. A Canada study visa should be applied at least 4-6 weeks prior to the start of the respective masters programs in Canada. International students should have received their Letter of Acceptance from the respective Canadian university before starting the Canada study visa application process. The step-by-step procedure for Canada student visa processing is listed below:

1. International students should first confirm the Canada study visa requirements of eligibility and documentation. The student should have an admission offer from a Canadian university to be able to apply for a Canada study permit.
2. The applicant should decide the method of application i.e. online or offline application.
   • For an online application, the student needs to scan all the supporting documents and should have a valid credit card for payment of the application fee.
   • For offline application, the student needs to download the application kit and complete the application using the document checklist.
3. The applicant should submit the VFS Consent Form along with the Canada study visa application form. This is for availing VFS services and assistance for the Canada student visa filing process.
4. The international student should pay the non-refundable application processing fee of $150 in addition to the VFS Global service charges along with the completed application. A biometric fee of $85 should also be submitted by the student.
5. The final step is to submit the application form along with the supporting documents at the nearest VFS office. The student gets back a receipt that contains the unique tracking number that can be used to track the progress of the Canada student visa application online.
6. Once the application is approved, the student gets a Temporary Resident Visa and a Letter of Introduction to be used to obtain a Canada student permit.

Eligibility Criteria to Apply for Canada Student Visa

International students can apply for a Canada study visa soon after receiving their Letter of Acceptance from the Canadian university/ DLI. International students should have a Letter of Introduction, a valid passport, and all other supporting documents to be able to get a Canada study visa. The immigration officer issues the Canada study permit only if the student meets all the eligibility requirements. International students should have valid financial proof that proves that he/ she has enough funds to support their education in Canada for the duration of the program. The Canada student visa requirements for international students in Canada are given below:

• The international student should have applied for any course at a Canadian university/ designated learning institute (DLI) and should have an acceptance letter from the university which is required for the visa application.
• The student should have a valid passport and also financial proof of adequate funds to pay for the tuition fee and living expenses.
• Proof of a background check and a police certificate confirming no criminal record should also be submitted.
• Clinical records should be submitted in addition to a medical certificate to prove good health along with all medical examinations if required.
• The student should also convince the visa officer that he/ she will return to their home country after the completion of the course.

Canada Student Visa Documents Required

International students are advised to apply for a Canada student visa soon after receiving the acceptance letter from the respective university/ institution. The Canada study permit should be applied at least 4-6 months before the start of the course and is valid for 3 months after the duration of the course. International students are required to have all the required documents with them before starting the Canada study visa application process. There is no age limit to apply for a Canadian student visa. However, the immigration officials may reject the visa if the applicant is not able to explain clearly the need and relevance of a study at a higher age after a gap of a few years.

Sr. No.	Document Required	Details
1.	Valid passport	●International students are required to have a valid passport to obtain a Canada study permit. ●The passport validity should cover the intended stay for the duration of the course.
2.	Acceptance letter from the Designated Learning Institution (DLI)	●The student should have an acceptance letter from the respective Canadian university/ institution in which he/ she has gotten admission. ●The DLI should be a reputed Canadian institution that is recognized by the Immigration Department.
3.	Financial proof	●International students should show proof of funds to cover tuition fees and living expenses. ●International students need an estimated $10,000 per year to sustain themselves in Canada. ●Students should also show enough funds to afford the return trip to the home country.
4.	Passport size photographs	●Every offline application required 2 passport-sized photographs of the applicant in the prescribed standards. ●A digital copy of the photograph is required for online applications in the same dimensions.
5.	Immigration Medical Examination (IME)	●International students have to mandatorily undergo Immigration Medical Examination (IME). ●Students are advised to undergo the medical tests at least a week before the start of their Canada Visa Application.
6.	English Language Proficiency Test Scores	●English proficiency test scores are not mandatory but are strongly recommended at the time of the visa application. ●TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic scores are accepted.
7.	Statement of Purpose	●Students should have an essay explaining the purpose of the Canada visit and the reason for choosing a particular educational institution. ●This is not a mandatory requirement.
8.	Valid credit card	●A credit card is required to pay the application fee of $150 for an online application. ●Debit cards are not accepted.

Student Direct Stream

The Canadian Government started the Student Direct Stream to ensure that visa applications from certain countries can be processed faster. Unlike the general visa process, which may take up to 2-3 months to complete, SDS allows international students to receive their student visas within 4-6 weeks. Most applications received via SDS are processed within 20 calendar days if students meet all the eligibility requirements.

SDS has similar criteria to apply for student visas, although the language requirements are more stringent. If applicants could not qualify for the Student Direct Stream method, their applications will be reviewed for the regular study permit option, and they won't be able to benefit from expedited processing. The countries listed below are eligible for the Student Direct Stream Method:

• India 
• China 
• Morocco 
• Pakistan 
• The Philippines 
• Senegal
• Vietnam

Documents Required to Apply through Student Direct Stream (SDS)

The following documents are required for students who wish to apply for a Canada student visa through the Student Direct Stream:

• A candidate must provide their latest secondary and post-secondary educational transcripts.
• Acceptance letter from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
• Medical examinations are required for students staying more than six months.
• Candidates must present proof of a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of at least 10,000 CAD.
• It is mandatory to submit the evidence of tuition payment for the candidate's first year of study.
• Students from abroad need to prove language proficiency by taking an IELTS, TEF. A minimum score of 6.0 is required on the (IELTS) and a minimum score of 7 on the Test d'Evaluation de Français (TEF).

Stay Back Period in Canada and Post Graduation Work Permit 

International students who wish to stay back in Canada after graduation for seeking employment opportunities need to apply for a post-graduation work permit. A PGWP is valid for a period of 8 months to 3 years. The work permit's validity depends on the duration of the study program. The following table shows the duration of the work permit in relation to the duration of the study program:

Duration of Study Program	Duration of Work Permit
Less than 8 months	Ineligible
8-24 months	The validity of the work permit lasts for the duration of the study program.
24 months or longer	Up to 3 years

Work Authorization for Students

International students who wish to work while studying in Canada must keep the following points in mind:

• An international student must be above 18 years of age to be able to work in Canada.
• Foreign students may work up to 20 hours a week during university semesters without a work permit. While on full-time breaks such as winter or summer holidays, they are allowed to work full-time.
• Students who have been approved to pursue an internship or co-op program by their Canadian academic institution can apply for a co-op work permit.

Student Visa and Dependents

On a Canadian student visa, an individual's spouse and children can join him or her in Canada. During the period when the student visa of their partner is valid, the spouse can apply for an open work permit and even work as an employer in Canada. The spouse, however, will need to apply for a separate study visa if they wish to study in Canada.

In addition, dependent children can accompany student visa holders to Canada. It is possible for the children to remain in Canada as long as the study visa of the parent is valid. They may even obtain an education in the country if either of their parents is working or studying. The child must be under 22 years of age. The term dependent also applies to children over 22 years of age who are unable to support themselves because of medical conditions or disabilities.

Canada Student Visa Fee

International students must note that there are several costs involved in obtaining a Canadian student visa. These fee details have been tabulated below:

Types of Fees	Cost
Study Permit Application Fees	CA$150
Work Permit Including Extensions	CA$155
Visitor Visa (Single or Multiple Entry)	CA$100
Biometric Fees	CA$85

Processing Time for the Canada Student Visa

The processing time relates to the amount of time CIC takes for processing a visa application. As such, there is no stated time for processing an application for a Canada study visa. The status of the application (both online and on paper) can be viewed by the applicants through their MyCIC accounts. In contrast, if students obtain visas through Student Direct Stream (SDS), it can take up to 20 calendar days for visas to get processed.

Top Universities in Canada

Canada is home several reputed universities that have been globally recognized by top ranking agencies. Below you will find the top colleges in Canada, along with their latest global rankings:

University	Times Higher Education 2022	QS Rankings 2022
University of Toronto	18	26
The University of British Columbia	37	46
McGill University	44	27
University of Montreal	88	111
University of Alberta	125	126
McMaster University	80	140
University of Calgary	201-250	235
University of Waterloo	201-250	149
Western University	201-250	170
Dalhousie University	251-300	272

Upcoming Intakes of Canadian Universities

There are three major admission intakes offered by the top colleges in Canada. Following are the 3 major inakes:

• Fall: Starts in September and continues until December
• Winter: Starts in January and continues until April
• Summer: Starts in May and continues until August

Candidates must apply well in advance since it becomes harder to obtain admissions and scholarships closer to the deadline. It is recommended to apply six to nine months before the start of the academic session.

Conclusion

Applying for a study visa in Canada is one of the most important requirements for international students to pursue their higher studies in Canada. Students are required to have a valid study permit before entering Canada for their studies. International students should fill the application with all the right information and avoid false information for the risk of getting their Canada student visa rejected. Applying for a Canada study visa online makes the processing time shorter and students can get the status of the application online without any hassles.