Do you desire to travel to Canada for studies? This article will help you because we will be discussing how to apply for student visa in Canada and the easy steps on how to apply now! Canada has the highest quality of education across the globe and has also been classified as a country with the best universities. Up to 450,000 foreign students has been given Canadian student visa.
If you are in the category that wants to be among those that will be given a student visa in Canada, we will show you how to start the process here.
5 Easy Steps On How To Apply For Student Visa In Canada
There are so many ways you can apply for a Student visa in Canada. The primary requirements on how to apply for student visa in Canada will be enumerated below. The following are the five (5) steps you need to know.
Get Admission To Study By A Canadian Designated Learning Institute (DLI)
One of the ways to apply for student visa in Canada is to be accepted or admitted by Canadian DLI-approved colleges. DLI means that the government has designated some universities or colleges to allow admission for international students. If you are accepted by any other college that is not approved by DLI, you will not be eligible for a student visa in Canada. Canada is well known for a large number of good educational institutions and some of these institutions are listed among the top 5 DLI approved colleges in Canada.
It is the primary responsibility of the applicant to do the following to become one of the international students in Canada. It requires written proof that the applicant must submit as part of their study permit.
- You must be accepted in one of the approved colleges by Designated Learning Institutions in Canada.
- You must pass the medical examinations to show that you don’t have any health issues that will put excessive pressure on the healthcare system in Canada.
- You must pass the police background check to prove that you don’t have any serious criminal offences.
- You must have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
- You must show that you have sufficient funds to transport you to and from Canada, and take care of yourself while you live and study in Canada.
- You must have proof to show that you must leave Canada once your study permit expires except if you gain further permission to stay back in Canada for some reason.
Arrange Your Documents
This is one of the steps on how to apply for student visa in Canada. You must be able to gather and arrange the necessary documents needed before you start your international application process. These documents will also help to prove that you have met all the criteria necessary to get admission to colleges in Canada. Below are some of the documents that must be gathered.
Proof Of Acceptance
You are expected to submit an acceptance letter. This is a document to show that a college approved by DLI in Canada has accepted to admit you for studies. You must submit a soft copy or physical copy of the acceptance letter when submitting your application.
Proof Of Identification
For your application to be valid, you must have an internationally recognized identification document like a passport. It is also better to use an international passport when you are unsure of what the Canadian government considers a valid identification document. You can visit their website for a complete breakdown of what a valid travel document is and the exemptions that can be made.
Proof Of Finances
The Canadian government will always require a student applying for a student visa to show proof that he/she can take care of his/her expenses while in Canada so as not to become a financial liability to the government. There are different ways to prove that you have sufficient funds to live and study in Canada. Canadian government accepts the following as proff of finances:
- You must show evidence that you have a student loan from a bank.
- You must show your bank statement for at least four(4) months period.
- In case you have paid your tuition and housing fees, you must show proof of payment.
- You must show a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from any financial company in Canada.
- You must show a letter from your financial sponsors if you have any.
- You must show proof that you are under a scholarship or you have financial aid.
- You must show a bank draft that can easily be converted to Canadian Dollars.
- You must guarantee that you have a Canadian bank account if you have transferred money to Canada.
If you can provide all the financial documents, it means you have met the criteria needed. On the other hand, if you are not sure if your financial records are valid, you can go to the Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) to sign up for evaluation. Once you sign up, an expert will be available to analyze your document to ensure you know what it means to have a valid and invalid document.
Other Documents
You must provide other documents as how to apply for student visa in Canada. Other documents will be required by the Canadian government for some groups of applicants. There is a need to include a letter of explanation, which will specifically explain what you want to study, the type of work you want to move to Canada to do etc. You are expected to understand your responsibility as an international student in Canada.
If as a student you are applying to study in Quebec for a period longer than six (6) months, you will need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) from the ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI). The instructions on how to apply for the above will be given to you by the School.
For a student who is under eighteen (18) years of age, you will need to get a notarized
Custodian Declaration from a custodian who lives in Canada. The parents, guardian or custodian of the minor must sign the declaration form.
The government of Canada may request further documentation depending on your country of origin or situation. If this documentation is required, you will be given a thirty (30) days period to send in the necessary documents.
Ensure you have all the required documents available. You must have a good camera or scanner to produce soft copies of your documents, and a debit or credit card to be used in paying for application fees.
Also Read: Highest-Paid Unskilled Jobs In Canada- See The List Here!
Complete The Application
This is one of the ways how to apply for student visa in Canada. There is a handy application instruction manual provided by the Canadian government that shows you how to complete each field or your application form. You need to answer a few questions before you will be allowed to upload your forms online. Based on your answers to the questions provided, the Canadian government will create a custom document list for you.
Pay The Fees
This is one of the five (5) easy steps on how to apply for student visa in Canada. Be sure you know the exact fees you are expected to pay and that you have paid all before you think of uploading your application. The application fees that must be paid per person are as follows:
As A Student
The amount of funds required per year, not including tuition is CAN$ 10,000, The amount of funds required per month on top of tuition is CAN$ 833.
For Family Member
The amount of funds required per year without including tuition is CAN$ 4,000, The amount of funds required per month on top of tuition is CAN$ 333.
For Every Accompanying Family Member
The amount of funds required per year without including tuition is CAN$ 3,000, The amount of funds required per month on top of tuition is CAN$ 255.
Submit Your Application
This is one of the steps on how to apply for student visa in Canada. Once you have followed every other step above, the next step is to submit your application to the Canadian government. The Canadian government mandates every applicant to apply online via the Canadian government web portal. The only group of applicants that can be allowed to apply on paper are applicants that are non-national residents, applicants with a disability that can prevent them from going to apply online, stateless persons and refugees.
When Is The Best Time To Apply
In case you’re a prospective international student that lives outside Canada, you must have applied for your Canadian student visa before you think of entering Canada. It is always advisable to apply for a student visa in Canada when you have received your acceptance letter. The Canadian government will always recommend that applicant apply around June to give enough room for their application to be processed before the beginning of a new term. If you are applying in the paper, you can submit your application to Visa Application Centre.
After Submitting Your Application
The next thing to do after submitting your application is to wait or the Canadian government to go through your application and check if you submitted all the necessary documents required. If you have not submitted all, your application will be returned to you. This means there will be no record to show that you submitted any application until you have sent in a complete application. To avoid unnecessary delay in your application process, submit the documents required.
Is It Possible For International Students To Survive Successfully In Canada?
Canada is a country known to be open to accommodating international students and foreign workers. This act helps their economy to grow and fill in the gaps that exist in the Canadian labour force. Canada mixes people from different walks of life and cultures.
Due to their open arms, there are many DLI-approved colleges in Canada with with massive centres and scholarships, especially for international students. Multiple financial ads and funding programs exist that will help students to study and work in Canada.
What Is The Age You Must Attain To Be Able To Apply For Student Visa?
Ther is no age limit place for international students that you must attain before applying for a student visa in Canada. The most important factor to be considered is if you can be accepted to study in any of the DLI approved institutions.
Can A Study Permit Be Lead To A work Permit Or Permanent Residence?
If you are an international student searching for how to extend your stay in Canada, you can apply for a work permit through the Post Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) after your period of studies is over.
Moreover, if you desire to reside permanently in Canada, you can apply for permanent residency through the Canada Experience Class (CEC) program under the Express Entry Immigration Program. The program allows immigrants who have lived in Canada for over twelve (12) months to have the opportunity to gaiining permanent residence in Canada. This is possible provided their contribution to Canada through work or cultural impact is sufficient.
What Is The Standard Of Education In Canada Compared To Other Countries?
There is a high standard of education in Canada. Some of the schools like the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto are among the top 20 Universities in the world. Other schools like McGill University are internationally acclaimed for specific departments of high-quality experiential learning programs which help to prepare students for their chosen careers.
Can You Work With A Study Permit?
You can be allowed to work and study in Canada with a study permit. Also, the Canadian government allows international students in Canada to work on part-time basis which will, in turn, help them fund their lifestyles, We have provided information in this article that will give you an idea of what part-time positions are available in Canada.
Conclusion
Do you have the desire to join other international students in Canada? You can go ahead and apply for it. This article has discussed how to apply for student visa in Canada and make the process as easy as you can think. If you have more questions or you will like to be evaluated before you put together your application, contact an RCIC and get your process to study and work in Canada started.