Canada Student Visa: The Key Points

Canada is known to be one of the finest study abroad destinations for international students. The country has attracted nearly 5 lakh international students to take up higher studies. Being an International student, you would need to obtain a Canadian study permit to pursue higher education in Canada. It works as a Canada student Visa for the duration of their stay in the country. The international students do not need a Canadian study permit if their course or program lasts for a duration of six months or less.

Once you hold a study permit, you ought to remain registered and make reasonable and timely progress towards completing your course. Along with your study permit, you also need to have a Resident Visa (Temporary) or TRV to enter Canada.

Please note that

• A study permit is a document that allows you to study in Canada
• A TRV is a visa that allows you to enter in Canada

The essential points to be noted while applying for Canadian Visa:

• A student permit is a document which allows international students to study in Designated Learning Institutions (DLI) in Canada
•  Students should apply for the Canada student VISA before travelling to Canada
• A student permit is valid till the length of the course/program in the Canadian university plus an extra 90 days
•  Students must re-apply for VISA extension if they cannot finish up their course within the VISA deadline
• If you finish your studies early, your permit will stop being valid 90 days after you complete your studies
•  If the candidate's school has wants them to take a few courses prior to the enrolment into the main program (conditional acceptance), authorities will issue their study permit for the duration of these courses
•   If students plan to leave Canada during a college break (such as the summer, or winter holidays and spring break), they may need to show proof that they are enrolled in the school when they return to Canada
• As multiple documentation is involved in the application process for Canada Student Visa, it should be carefully done. While applying for the visa, certain documents are necessary primarily. Here are the key steps and aspects for Canada Study Visa Requirements.
• Go through the below points carefully.

1.       Designated Learning Institute of Canada’s acceptance letter for admission: Students should apply for their course of interest to a college/ university that is listed as a Designated Learning Institute with the Canadian government. Based on your academic documents submitted to an institute the acceptance letter for your admission is issued.

2.       Proof of fees paid for the course to the institute: Once the offer letter is issued, the tuition fees are to be paid. Students can pay the fees through wire transfer with the available funds. Students can apply for Overseas Education Loan to pay the fees. The loan papers should be well-preserved to submit during the time of visa application.

3.       GIC (Guaranteed Invested Certificate): In order to show that the student can take care of his monthly living expenses, the student should make an investment in a Canadian bank of C$10,000. The student receives a certain amount every month from the C$10,000 in equal amounts for 12 months. This ensures the student can pay for his monthly expenses for a year.

4.       Medical exam: A medical test is to be given for those with temporary visa for travel, study and work in Canada.

5.       Police certificate: This certificate would provide information of any criminal record for the student.

6.       English Proficiency Exam: Canada being an English-speaking country, needs the applicants to provide a test of IELTS of minimum 6 bands in each of the modules (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking)  

There are two ways of submitting your application:

• Paper application – submit all the relevant documents at the VFS Canada Centre
• Online for Direct Student Stream – submit all the scanned documents while applying online

Once the application is submitted, the student should take the biometrics test. After successful validation of documents and biometrics, the student receives an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization). You can then send the passport to the VFS Centre for stamping.

Here you go, you are ready to fly and fulfil your dreams now!

Read more:

How to apply for Canada Student Visa?

IELTS Score Requirement for a Canada Student Visa