Canada study visa gives international students the ability to study in the country. If you are planning on pursuing an academic goal in Canada, getting a study visa is a priority, because, without it, the Canadian government wouldn’t allow you to do so.
If you want to know everything about studying in Canada, check out our complete guide right here. In this article, we would be going through everything you need to know about a Canada study visa.
Canada has over 250,000 applicants that come to the country for a chance of studying at any of its prestigious universities.
We would break down everything you need to know in order to apply for and get a Canadian study visa.
- Canada Study Visa
- Why get a Canadian Study Visa?
- Are you eligible for a Canada study visa?
- Canadian study visa requirements
- Application procedure for a Canadian Study visa
Canada Study Visa
A Canada study visa is a document that gives an international student the leverage of studying in Canada without any opposition from the government.
There are some universities in Canada that offer visa sponsorship to international students, more on this is a different article.
Being granted a Canadian study visa helps you complete your 4-5 years bachelor’s degree or your 2-year master’s degree in Canada.
After which you would be required to leave the country if other arrangements are not made. But one thing you need to understand is that this visa is given upon a number of conditions namely:
- You must have been offered admission to any of the Canadian universities
- You must meet all the necessary requirements for a study visa
- You must not be away from the country for more than 3 months at a stretch.
- You would be required to leave the country at the completion of your studies
Why get a Canadian Study Visa?
Canada study visa otherwise known as a study permit is meant solely for international students and not Canadian citizens.
It’s important to have because this could not just help you study in the country but also help kick-start your journey to getting a resident permit and thereafter a Canadian green card.
Many international applicants have taken this route to immigrate to Canada by studying for their master’s degree and thereafter applying for a temporary work visa.
If you are thinking of immigrating to Canada, this could be one of the easiest routes to take.
Are you eligible for a Canada study visa?
Checking your eligibility status before applying for a Canada study visa is important as it would save you a lot of time and money.
To be eligible for a Canada study visa, you must have fulfilled all the criteria below:
- You must be above the age of 18 years
- You must have been accepted to any of the Canadian universities and can provide a valid acceptance letter
- You must not have any criminal record
- Must and signed and filled the Visa Application Center Consent Form
- Would be required to leave the country after your studies is over
Canadian study visa requirements
These are documents that would be tendered in the course of your study visa application. These are:
- Proof of funds
- Police Report
- Travel History
- Photographs that meet the Canadian photo requirements
- Declaration letter of intent
- Medical reports
First on the list is the proof of funds. If the Canadian government is going to approve your studies in the country, they have to know you are capable of sponsoring yourself.
Except in a different scenario whereby you have been accepted into a scholarship program. The average tuition fee for an international student is $20,000 CAD which is about $15,000 USD.
Most scholarship programs can offer a fully funded scholarship to international students. If you need a scholarship, contact the university admission board and ask for any scholarship options.
It would also be helpful to know that some universities in certain cities in Canada are cheaper than other cities in Canada.
For example, studying in Toronto is more expensive than studying in a city like Quebec. In some cases, the difference might not be significant, while in other cases it might be.
Application procedure for a Canadian Study visa
In this section, we would explain how to apply for a Canada study visa. Note this application can be done both inside and outside the country.
Another way you could do this is at the Port of Entry. This would require that you travel to Canada and make the application there. Note, you can only make use of the Port of Entry route if you are already a citizen of the United States.