How to get education visa for Canada

How much time will it take to get my visa?

Be sure to allow extra time for your visa application. Immediately after you've been accepted to and enrolled in the university of your choice, you can already start your application for the Canadian Study permit. You should apply at least 4-6 months before your university degree programme starts.

After you've applied, you can expect that you'll wait about 35 days for the decision.

Main steps to take for the Canadian student visa

Here is what Indian students have to do to get a student visa that will allow them to study in Canada:

You can apply for visa online or on paper. If you apply on paper you will have to visit a visa application centre in India to submit your documents. Depending on your situation, after your application is analysed, it is possible you will be called for a visa interview.

Indian students maybe have to provide biometrics during the visa application process. Your biometrics are, basically, extra identification (e.g. fingerprinting and pictures) that countries use for security purposes.

You will have to attend a visa interview during the application process.

The Study permit from Canada is valid for up to course duration + 3 months. So that you can stay during your entire degree programme, you may need to renew your visa every year. If you want to stay in Canada after your degree is over, you will have to apply for a different visa, or a visa renewal through the immigration office.

How much will I have to pay for the student visa?

To apply for the Canadian Study permit, you will also have to pay a fee of 150 CAD. Depending on your situation, Canadian authorities will allow you to pay this fee online, on location at a visa application centre in India, or through a bank transfer.

Indian students won't need to get health insurance for the Canadian visa.

If you apply for a visa at an application centre, you'll have to pay a medical exam fee and a visa application service fee of 15 CAD. Unknown CAD.

What documents will I need to get for my student visa?

When you apply for your visa, one of the most important things you need to prove is that you can support yourself during your study programme. For Canada, they require you to prove that if you are going to study in any province except Quebec you can pay 833 CAD/month, or if you are going to study in Quebec you can pay 917 CAD/ either from an external source, or already in your bank account.

Indian students won't have to prove they speak English well enough to study in an international university in Canada. These language skills ensure that you can succeed in your classes and manage your way around Canada.

Indian students will need to take a medical test before arriving in Canada.

Indian students won't need to set up a Restricted Bank Account. This type of bank account restricts the amount of money you can withdraw every month, and only allows you to access it when you arrive in Canada.

Look at the Canada immigration website for more detailed visa information.

Questions that would be ask

• nationality
• age
• language ability
• family members
• education
• work experience
• income and/or net worth
• details on any job offer

The process for obtaining a Canadian student visa is as follows

You must first obtain a standardized letter of acceptance from a recognized higher education provider. Students studying in Quebec must also apply for a certificate of acceptance, known as a CAQ, from the government of Quebec. You must acquire this before you are permitted to apply for a study permit. You can get this online, by printing out a form, or by requesting a paper form from your university, which will also provide advice on this subject.

The next stage is to get a Canadian student visa application package, either from the CIC website or by contacting your local visa office, or the Canadian embassy or consulate in your home country. You may also need to obtain a temporary residence permit if you are from a designated country (find out if you need to get one here), but this will not complicate matters too much as it’ll be processed at the same time as your study permit application.

In order to get your application package you’ll need to answer a few questions about yourself on the CIC website. These questions will determine whether you are eligible to apply online for a Canadian student permit, and what documents you’ll need to provide.

If you are found eligible, you will receive a personal checklist code, valid for 60 days, which you will need in order to submit your application online. Make sure to print out the page containing your code for future reference. The page will also include an application guide, an estimated tuition fees amount, a list of documents you will need to submit with your application, and guidelines for your next steps

When you are ready to apply, create a MyCIC account, where you will enter your personal checklist code. You will then receive your personal document checklist which allows you to upload and send your documents to CIC. You’ll need a printer or a scanner to do this.

Once you have your documents and application form ready and have paid your fees, you can submit your completed application to CIC.

Some applicants may have to attend an interview at their local visa office.

Additional Canadian student visa requirements 

Some or all of the following additional Canadian student visa requirements may also apply:

• Applicants from Europe, the Middle East or Africa may need to provide biometrics (photograph and fingerprints).

• Some applicants may also need to get a medical exam and/or police check before submitting their application. You will not be able to get a study permit if you have a criminal record – you may be asked to provide a Police Clearance Certificate as proof.
• Unless you’re from the US or St. Pierre and Miquelon, you will need to prove you have a valid passport which allows you to return to your country of origin after your course is complete. Two passport-sized pictures are also required, with your name and date of birth written on the back.

• Canadian student visa requirements also include proof of funds to support yourself. At present this is deemed to be CA$10,000 (~US$7,650) for every year of your stay (CA$11,000/~US$8,400 if you’re applying to study in Quebec) on top of your tuition fees. You will also need to make sure you have enough money to pay for transportation to return home.

To prove you have this money, you can provide any of the following documents: bank statements, evidence of a Canadian account in your name if the money’s been transferred, a bank draft in a convertible currency, proof of payment of tuition and accommodation fees, a letter from a person or institution providing you with money, or proof of funding paid from within Canada if you have a scholarship or are undertaking a Canadian-funded program.

Applying through the Student Direct Stream

Canada recently introduced the Student Direct Stream, which students from China, India, the Philippines or Vietnam can apply for in order to get their study permit faster. The requirements are similar to the regular study permit, although there are stricter language requirements – you need to have an IELTS score of at least 6, or a 7 in the Niveaux the Compétence Linguistique Canadiens for French, or have graduated from a Canadian-curriculum high school. If you don’t meet the requirements for the Student Direct Stream but do meet them for the regular study permit, your application will be reviewed for the regular study permit option and you won’t get faster processing.

Next steps after applying

If and when your Canadian student visa application is approved, you’ll receive a Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction, while students from countries which require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) and/or a temporary residence visa will be issued these if required. The eTA will be linked to your passport. It is important that you travel with the passport you used when you applied for your study permit. The eTA will be valid for five years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

Present these along with your passport, proof of your finances and your letter of acceptance (and any other documents that you’ve been advised to take) to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in Canada, who will then issue your Canadian study permit and allow you access into Canada.