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How to get Canada Student Visa?

Canada is witnessing a steady increase in the number of international students shifting to the country. Though an excellent academic record stands as the basis on which admission to Canadian universities is approved, a Canadian student visa is yet another important document that every international student must obtain from the Canadian High Commission to study in the country. It is not a difficult task to obtain the visa if you have all the necessary documents and if you satisfy all the criteria. If you are thinking about studying in Canada, it is important to know about the requirements, eligibility etc. What is equally important to know is the reasons behind the rejection of student visa by the Canadian government. You can read further to know more about it.

Types of Canada Student Visa


There is only one Canadian visa type that students can apply for to get admission to a Canadian university. However, there are three categories which you should know about. They are given below.

  • SDS: The Student Direct Stream (SDS) offers express entry to Canada quickly and directly. The visa application process will also be quicker. Several SDS colleges in Canada offer almost all top courses and specialisations.
  • Non-SDS: Non-SDS is the general category for all types of visas for studying, working and residing in Canada. Those who missed their chance to apply through SDS can choose Non-SDS. You are not required to show the bank balance in your home country if you apply under this.
  • University Category: The university category is different from Non-SDS in that you need to have an IELTS score of at least 6.0, which is not a requirement for Non-SDS.

What is a Canada Study Permit?

It should be noted that one study permit can differ from another. A study permit is the permission to study in the country, and almost all international students will require it. However, there are a few exceptions to this. You do not require a study permit if your course duration is equal to less than six months. After you get the study permit, you can enrol in Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs). A DLI is an educational institution that is approved by the territorial or provincial government to admit international students.

Canada Student Visa Fee


The Canada student visa fee comes to CAD 150, which may be equal to around INR 8946. This is based on the current exchange rate, and you should note that this rate is bound to change after a few days. As such, it is essential that you check the exchange rate at the time of application to know the exact rate in Indian Rupees. 

This application fee can be paid both online and offline. All the major online payment methods are accepted. If you plan to pay offline, you can do it with a Demand Draft (DD). You also have the option to pay the fee in cash at the Visa Application Centre (VAC). VAC accepts only cash payments. If you pay the fee at the VAC, you may need to pay an additional service charge which can change depending on the region. You should keep the receipt safe after payment. You will also have to pay an additional biometric fee of CAD 85. The table below shows the types of Canadian visas and their average fees.


Type of Visa

Average Fee (in AUD)

Temporary Resident Visa

AUD 100

Study Permits

AUD 150

Work Permits

AUD 155

Permanent Resident Travel Document

AUD 50

Canada Student Visa Requirements


It is evident that you need to satisfy a few requirements to get a Canadian student visa. If you do not satisfy at least a single one of these requirements, your visa application may even be rejected. Thus, it is important to know the requirements in detail. They are listed below.

  1. You should be accepted by a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
  2. You need a clean criminal record and a police clearance certificate to prove it.
  3. You should prove that you have enough funds in your home country to support your educational and living expenses.
  4. You must have a medical certificate proving that you are medically fit.
  5. You must be fully vaccinated with COVISHIELD/AstraZeneca, Bharath Biotech Covaxin etc.

Documents Required for Canada Student Visa

You must submit a few documents to apply for a Canadian student visa. It is important to apply for the visa early so that it gets approved on time. The documents required for a Canada student visa are explained below.

  • Acceptance letter from a recognised DLI: An acceptance letter from a recognised DLI is one of the most important documents you need to apply for a Canadian student visa.
  • Passport: You need a valid passport, the expiry date of which should not fall during your stay in Canada. However, you also have the option to renew your passport if it expires during your study in Canada.
  • Proof of funds: You need to prove that you have enough funds to cover your entire tuition and living expenses in Canada. Canadian Immigration expects a student to have CAD 10,000 every year.
  • Immigration Medical Examination (IME): You need to prove that you are medically fit to move to Canada and study there. You should book an appointment, visit the listed doctors, and get yourself tested a week before the start of your visa application.
  • Passport-size photographs: If you apply offline, you must have two passport-size photographs. For an online application, the size of the digital copy should not exceed 4MB. Other requirements include
    • The photograph should not be older than six months.
    • The size should be at least 35mm*45mm.
    • Your name and date of birth must be written on the back of each photograph.
    • You should have a neutral facial expression with no headgear except for religious reasons.
    • The photograph should have a plain background.
  • Statement Of Purpose (SOP): An SOP is an essay that states the purpose of studying the course in Canada. A well-written SOP will enhance your chances of getting shortlisted for your preferred course.
  • English proficiency test scores: You need to attend any English proficiency test like IELTS, TOEFL etc. and get an acceptable score.

How to Apply for a Canada Student Visa?


It will be helpful for you to know about the steps you should follow to apply for a Canada student visa. It is essential that you do not make a mistake so that there is no chance of your visa being rejected.

The Canada visa process is listed in detail as follows.

  • Do the research: You can first research the best courses available in your preferred stream and choose one.
  • Prepare for the exam: You can start preparing for the English proficiency test you are attempting.
  • Arrange the necessary funds: You should know and arrange the required funds in detail.
  • Apply to the universities: It is always advisable to apply to more than one university to get admission to at least one.
  • Get admission: You should check your email regularly to confirm your admission to the university.
  • Check the visa processing time: You should check how long it takes to get a student visa approved and apply early.
  • Choose how to apply: As mentioned above, you can apply for a Canadian student visa online and offline. Determine which mode you are following. 
  • Pay the visa application fee: You can pay the visa application fee both online and offline. Determine your preferred method of payment and pay the fee.
  • Submit the application: You should upload all the necessary documents and submit the application.

Canada Student Visa Processing Time


The standard Canadian visa processing time is around 12 weeks. However, it may change considerably depending on your application. If there is any confusion or error in the submitted application, it may take longer. As such, it is always better to apply early, so there is enough time to get the student visa. You can arrange for all the necessary documents and everything else during that time frame.

Stay Back in Canada and Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)


Canadian government offers the option to stay back after your studies there.

The rules pertaining to the same are given below.

  • Your course duration should be at least eight months.
  • If you opt for a one-year program, you can stay back for one year.
  • If you pursue a two-year program, you can stay back for up to three years after your course completion.
  • You should apply for the post-study work permit within 180 days of the completion of your course.
  • If your course duration is less than two years, you can stay back for the number of days equivalent to your course duration. For instance, if your course duration is 10 months, you can stay back for 10 months.

PR in Canada


Obtaining a Permanent Residency (PR) is one of the primary reasons behind an international student planning to study in Canada. The country has some immigration-friendly policies, which make the entire process easier. You must follow a few criteria to qualify for a PR. The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has employed Canada's PR point-based system to check how eligible you are to get a PR.

The following table shows the distribution of points according to this system.

Factors 

Points 

Adaptability 

10 points

Age 

12 points

Arranged Employment

10 points

Education 

25 points

Language Proficiency

28 points

Work Experience

15 points

If you are a student planning to pursue higher education in Canada, AECC has partnered with Canada's top universities to assist you in every step of the international education process. We will guide you on every step of your studying abroad.

FAQ

How long does it take to get a Canadian student visa in India?

Ans. In India, obtaining a Canadian Student Visa takes approximately 7 weeks. However, if you use Student Direct Steam, you can get your visa in as little as 20 days. The length of the process is usually determined by the number of applications that the IRCC approves or rejects.

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