Canada is a global leader in education and tops the list of study abroad destinations for countless students in the world. It is home to some of the leading research universities including the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia. This article is primarily for the international students who have received admission into a recognized Canadian university and are preparing to move to the country for pursuing their higher education. Keep reading to get a clear picture of the Canadian Student Visa Application process.

1. What's a Study Permit and a TRV?

To study in Canada, you will need a Study Permit which is similar to a Student Visa in Canada and a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). You can apply for the student permit online through Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website or by contacting your local visa office.

Please note that Study Permit is not a Visa but a document that will allow you to officially study in the second-largest country in the world, Canada. On the other hand, a Temporary Resident Visa provides you the permission to enter the country. You will receive this after your Study Permit is approved.

2. Do you really need a Student Visa?

The following candidates are exempted from having a student visa, but they will still need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to reach Canada -

a) Family or staff member of a foreign representative in Canada, who is accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada.
b) Enrolled into an educational programme that lasts less than six months.
c) Member of foreign armed forces from the Visiting Forces Act.
d) Those who have a Status Card registered in Canada.

3. Application for a Study Permit

 a) Regular Method

You need to get a student visa application package from the CIC website. Here, a number of questions will be asked to you, which will ascertain whether you are eligible to acquire a study permit. The documents that you will need to submit will also depend on this process. If you meet the eligibility criteria, a personal checklist code will be sent to you which will be valid for 60 days. Additionally, you will receive an application guide and details of tuition fees and a list of the documents required. The study permit fee for international students is CAD150.  The documents required can vary depending upon the guidelines of the Visa Application Centre near you. Common documents required for getting a Study Permit include:

a) Acceptance Letter from an education institution in Canada 

b) Passport

c) Proof of Funds

Prove that you will be able to pay for your tuition fees and living expenses while studying in Canada. Provide evidence of being able to pay between 10,000 and 11,000 CAD per year for living in the country. You will be asked to submit documents like:

    i. Bank Statements

    ii. Proof of Payment of tuition and accommodation fees

    iii. Supporting documents in case you received a scholarship 

    iv. Documentation of a student/education loan from a financial institution

    v.  A letter of sponsorship from the person or institution providing your funding

Additional Requirements

The additional requirements vary from country to country. The most common of them are as follows:

i. Completing a medical exam which will prove that you are in good health.

ii. A Police Certificate that affirms you will not be a threat to the security of Canada. You will not be given the study permit if you have a criminal record.

iii. Providing proof of English Language Proficiency by appearing for a standardized test, most preferably IELTS. 

iv. For students who want to study in Quebec, documents like Certificat d’acceptation du Québec, English and French translations of original documents with their certified copies and a statement from the translator, need to be provided. 

Biometrics Appointment and Interview

After submitting the required documents, you need to appear for an interview in a Canadian Embassy to get your visa approved. This primarily depends on the requirements of your home country and you will also be asked to take a Biometrics Appointment. Candidates of some countries are exempted from Biometrics Appointment and Visa Interview. Here, the visa processing takes place straight away after getting the Study Permit.

b) A Faster Method: Student Direct Stream (SDS)

Generally, the visa application process takes about 2-3 months but the Student Direct Stream boils it down to just 4-6 weeks. Students from India, China, Phillippines, and Vietnam can avail themselves of the benefits of Student Direct Stream (SDS) to get their visa faster. The eligibility criteria is similar to that of study permit with the language requirements being a minimum band score of 6 in IELTS. Candidates who meet the requirements can complete the visa application process through SDS entitled Designated Learning Institutions and will need to provide less financial documentation.

Eligibility Criteria for SDS

You have to fulfill the following requirements to apply for the Student Direct Stream:

a) A Legal resident living in any of these countries - China, India, Morocco, Pakistan, the Philippines, Senegal, or Vietnam.

b) Acceptance from a post-secondary Designated Learning Institution 

c) Proof of tuition fees paid for your first year of study

d) Guaranteed Investment Certificate of CAD10,000

e) A score of 6.0 or higher in each skill (reading, writing, speaking and listening) on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or a Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) score that is equal to a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of at least 7 in each skill (reading, writing, speaking and listening)

f) Completion of Medical Exam and Police Certificate

g) If you are planning to study in Quebec,  a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) is required

Keywords

Designated Learning Institution (DLI)

DLI is a government-approved educational institution for hosting international students. All the public universities and major private universities in Canada are DLI so it is mandatory to have an acceptance letter from a DLI to get a Study Permit. 

Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC)

A GIC allows a student to receive $ 2000 immediately upon reaching Canada and $8000 is paid to them every month as living expenses for a year. You need to purchase a GIC certificate to apply for the Student Direct Stream. It is a Canadian Investment that has a guaranteed rate of return for a stipulated period and is offered by the financial institutions given below.

Bank of Beijing
Bank of China
Bank of Montreal
Bank of Xian Co. Ltd.
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)
Habib Canadian Bank
HSBC Bank of Canada
ICICI Bank
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
RBC Royal Bank
SBI Canada Bank
Scotiabank

Key Differences between SDS and Regular Study Permit Method

4. Visa Approval 

When your visa application is approved, you will receive a Port of Entry (PoE), Letter of Introduction, Temporary Resident Visa, and some international students will also receive an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will allow you to study in Canada after you submit all these documents. Additionally, the Study Permit expires 90 days after you receive the notification of your programme completion.

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