Canada Student Visa – How To Apply

Every year, lots of young people log on to the internet to check for Canada student visas. Apparently, they want to study in Canada. For you to study in Canada, you basically need to obtain a Canadian study permit. In some cases where your course or study duration is less than 6 months, you won’t necessarily be needing a study permit.

However, it is important you get this study permit before moving to Canada. The reason is; if you decide to continue your studies in another program, you will have to leave Canada then apply for it. I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t want that stress.

Here is the catch; if you have your Canadian study permit before moving to Canada and it expires during the course of your stay there, you can renew the permit within Canada. That really saves you a lot of stress and money of course.

For those who are full-time students duly registered at an accredited higher institution, the study permit can help you work within your school. Also, you can work off-campus, or even as an intern in a firm relating to your major course of study. Very importantly, having a study permit can help you stay back in Canada after your studies and apply for permanent residency.

Application Process For Canadian Study Permit

There are basically two ways you can apply for a Canadian study permit. One is applying online and the other is by a physical paper application. Instructions on how to do that can be found on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada, CIC website. Applying online is super faster. Using the paper option takes as long as about 2 times the duration of the online option.

If you choose to apply online (which is faster), you will need to get your credit/debit card ready for online payment. Also, you need electronic copies of the required documents handy. The immigration office in your country will inform you of the necessary documents you’ll be needing. These document requirements vary based on country location.

How To Obtain Canada Student Visa

Step 1. The very first thing and most crucial if you want to get your Canadian student visa is to obtain a formal letter of acceptance from a recognized higher institution in Canada. This does not end here for students who wish to study in Quebec. A certificate of acceptance aka CAQ must be issued to the student by the government. All these requirements can be gotten online so no sweats.

Step 2. When you are done with the above, the next step is to get the Canadian student visa application package. This can be gotten on the CIC website. Alternatively but not recommend is to visit a Canadian visa office or Canadian Embassy in your country to apply. The latter takes a long time and could be really time and energy-consuming.

Step 3. You will be asked some bio-data questions on the CIC website. These questions will let you know if you are eligible to apply or not. You need to answer them correctly in order to get your student visa application package. Do NOT enter wrong information there. Make sure anything you enter is verifiable.

Step 4. When your result from the questions you were asked is out and you are found eligible, you will get a personal checklist code, valid for 60 days. This checklist code is what you will use when submitting your application online. Be sure to print out the page containing the code as well as have a soft copy of it for referencing later. This page will also embody a detailed application guide, an estimated tuition fee, the list of crucial documents you will need to submit.

Step 5. Create a MyCIC account when you’re ready to apply. This is where you will enter your personal checklist code supplied to you in step 4. You will then receive your personal document checklist which allows you to upload and send your documents to CIC. You’ll need a printer or a scanner to do this.

Step 6. This is where you submit your application to CIC. Before you submit, ensure that all documents are ready and you have also paid your fees. If all is checked, go ahead and submit.

Step 7. This depends! Some applicants may be invited for an interview in the visa office in their country of residence.

After Applying, What Next?

If your application is approved, you’ll receive a Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction, while students from countries that require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) and/or a temporary residence visa will be issued these if required. The eTA will be linked to your passport. It is important that you travel with the passport you used when you applied for your study permit. The eTA will be valid for five years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

Present these along with your passport, proof of your finances, and your letter of acceptance (and any other documents that you’ve been advised to take) to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in Canada, who will then issue your Canadian study permit and allow you access into Canada.

Wishing you all the best as you apply for your Canada student visa. Remember, sharing is caring, share this post to enlighten others.