Instructions for obtaining a student visa to Canada
Study Permit – a study permit (in simple terms, a study visa) for foreign nationals to study in Canada. To get one, you must have a letter of admission from an institution with DLI status.
DLI (Designated learning institutions) is an educational institution that is authorized to accept international students.
SP is required only if the study period is longer than 6 months. If the period is less than or equal to 6 months, you will need a Visitor Visa.
DLI (Designated learning institutions) is an educational institution that is authorized to accept international students.
SP is required only if the study period is longer than 6 months. If the period is less than or equal to 6 months, you will need a Visitor Visa.
If you need help with filing, we have a student visa service.
If you are interested in studying in this country and then moving permanently, we recommend you to study our article about immigration to Canada through education.
If you are interested in studying in this country and then moving permanently, we recommend you to study our article about immigration to Canada through education.
A study permit is issued for the entire period of study plus an additional 90 days. This time is to allow you to pack up and leave the country safely, and to renew your permit or apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, if required.
However, the expiry date of the study permit is the actual date of completion of your studies, not the date on your acceptance letter. The date of completion of studies will be the date on which the relevant letter from the educational institution was received, or the date on which the diploma/certificate was received.
If for some reason you are unable to complete your studies in Canada before the completion date, you will need to extend your Permit.
An extension will also be required if the school or university has asked you to take preliminary courses before the main study begins.
If your studies include vacations, such as summer or winter vacations, you can leave Canada during this period.
Who can apply
An acceptance letter from an institution is not yet a guarantee that you will be able to apply for an SP. There is a simple explanation for this: since courses are usually a year or two long, students have time to adapt during this time. And many stay in Canada permanently, often illegally.
When applying for a student visa, it is important to prove that you need this education for your career and development in your home country. Applicants who apply on their own do not take into account the nuances that significantly increase the chances of a positive decision.
To qualify for Study Permit Canada, you must:
Such are:
However, the expiry date of the study permit is the actual date of completion of your studies, not the date on your acceptance letter. The date of completion of studies will be the date on which the relevant letter from the educational institution was received, or the date on which the diploma/certificate was received.
If for some reason you are unable to complete your studies in Canada before the completion date, you will need to extend your Permit.
An extension will also be required if the school or university has asked you to take preliminary courses before the main study begins.
If your studies include vacations, such as summer or winter vacations, you can leave Canada during this period.
Who can apply
An acceptance letter from an institution is not yet a guarantee that you will be able to apply for an SP. There is a simple explanation for this: since courses are usually a year or two long, students have time to adapt during this time. And many stay in Canada permanently, often illegally.
When applying for a student visa, it is important to prove that you need this education for your career and development in your home country. Applicants who apply on their own do not take into account the nuances that significantly increase the chances of a positive decision.
To qualify for Study Permit Canada, you must:
- be enrolled in an educational institution (DLI);
- prove your ability to pay;
- have no criminal record or other legal problems;
- have no serious medical conditions, which will need to be verified by a physical examination;
- convince the immigration officer that you will return to your home country after completing your studies.
Such are:
- conscientious study and good academic performance;
- complying with all conditions of your study permit;
- terminate your studies if you no longer meet the requirements;
- leave Canada when your SP expires.
- attend classes only in your course;
- work only if you are authorized to do so;
- travel within Canada only if you are authorized to do so.
It is worth submitting documents in advance, as now due to the situation in the world the terms of consideration have increased significantly: from 2 to 12 months.
Passport.
Must have a minimum of 2 blank pages.
Digital photo.
Size: 3.5x4.5 (it is important to maintain proportions).
Copies of passport.
All completed pages + photo page.
Copies of canceled passports.
All completed pages + page with photo.
Copy of national passport.
Photo spread + registration.
Certificate of employment.
It is written on a letterhead with the date of issue, as well as data about the employee, such as: position, salary, start date, information that the applicant will be able to return to work after graduation.
Bank statement.
The document must contain the movement of funds for the last 4 months, with account number and owner's data, as well as round seal and date.
Statement from the Bank.
It is made on the Bank's letterhead with information about the account owner, date of its opening, restrictions, if any, account number and the amount of the balance.
For sole proprietorships.
It is necessary to attach a scan of TIN and OGRN + confirmation of income for 1 year.
Other documents confirming additional income.
Such can be: pension, renting real estate, etc.
For minors.
Copies of parents' birth certificates and passports, as well as a letter from the sponsor and a statement from the sponsor's bank. If the child is traveling without one or both parents - a notarized travel authorization from one or both parents.
Documents confirming the connection with the homeland.
These can be real estate certificates, marriage certificates, birth certificates of minor children.
Letter of motivation.
It should be written in any language, but it is worth considering that all documents should be translated into English or French.
The motivation letter contains an appeal to the visa officer describing what motivates you to study in Canada.
It should also contain additional information that you feel obliged to provide to the officer, or a justification for the absence of a required document.
Letter of Acceptance.
A letter of acceptance to study in Canada.
Application for Study Permit Made Outside of Canada (IMM1294).
Application for Study Permit Made Outside of Canada.
Family Information Form (IMM5707).
Family Information Form.
Application for a Temporary Resident Visa Made Outside of Canada (IMM5257).
Questionnaire with additional information.
For citizens of other countries residing in Ukraine
A copy of the document confirming legal residence, as well as a copy of temporary registration.
Sponsorship letter and sponsor documents.
For those who are unable to pay their own expenses. These categories include minors, the unemployed and those who simply do not have enough money.
If the trip will be paid by the sponsor, then as a financial guarantee, he must provide his certificates and statements from the Bank, as well as a copy of your passport and information about what you have in common.
All documents listed for a student visa (except passports) that are not in English or French must be translated into one of them.
A notarized translation is not required. But each translated document must contain the translator's details (name, phone number, address), the date of translation, and the signature and round seal of the company that translated.
According to the rules of applying for any type of visa to Canada, the applicant and his relatives are not allowed to translate their documents.
Our company translates all documents into English as part of our student visa document preparation service. By entrusting translations to us, you will protect yourself from mistakes and avoid the need to contact another company for this service.
How much money must be in the account
The amount that must be in the account at the time of application is made up of the following components:
The amount to support yourself in Canada depends on which province you will be studying in and whether relatives will be accompanying you. Below are two tables showing the amounts for those who plan to study in Quebec and outside of Quebec.
Outside Quebec
Must have a minimum of 2 blank pages.
Digital photo.
Size: 3.5x4.5 (it is important to maintain proportions).
Copies of passport.
All completed pages + photo page.
Copies of canceled passports.
All completed pages + page with photo.
Copy of national passport.
Photo spread + registration.
Certificate of employment.
It is written on a letterhead with the date of issue, as well as data about the employee, such as: position, salary, start date, information that the applicant will be able to return to work after graduation.
Bank statement.
The document must contain the movement of funds for the last 4 months, with account number and owner's data, as well as round seal and date.
Statement from the Bank.
It is made on the Bank's letterhead with information about the account owner, date of its opening, restrictions, if any, account number and the amount of the balance.
For sole proprietorships.
It is necessary to attach a scan of TIN and OGRN + confirmation of income for 1 year.
Other documents confirming additional income.
Such can be: pension, renting real estate, etc.
For minors.
Copies of parents' birth certificates and passports, as well as a letter from the sponsor and a statement from the sponsor's bank. If the child is traveling without one or both parents - a notarized travel authorization from one or both parents.
Documents confirming the connection with the homeland.
These can be real estate certificates, marriage certificates, birth certificates of minor children.
Letter of motivation.
It should be written in any language, but it is worth considering that all documents should be translated into English or French.
The motivation letter contains an appeal to the visa officer describing what motivates you to study in Canada.
It should also contain additional information that you feel obliged to provide to the officer, or a justification for the absence of a required document.
Letter of Acceptance.
A letter of acceptance to study in Canada.
Application for Study Permit Made Outside of Canada (IMM1294).
Application for Study Permit Made Outside of Canada.
Family Information Form (IMM5707).
Family Information Form.
Application for a Temporary Resident Visa Made Outside of Canada (IMM5257).
Questionnaire with additional information.
For citizens of other countries residing in Ukraine
A copy of the document confirming legal residence, as well as a copy of temporary registration.
Sponsorship letter and sponsor documents.
For those who are unable to pay their own expenses. These categories include minors, the unemployed and those who simply do not have enough money.
If the trip will be paid by the sponsor, then as a financial guarantee, he must provide his certificates and statements from the Bank, as well as a copy of your passport and information about what you have in common.
All documents listed for a student visa (except passports) that are not in English or French must be translated into one of them.
A notarized translation is not required. But each translated document must contain the translator's details (name, phone number, address), the date of translation, and the signature and round seal of the company that translated.
According to the rules of applying for any type of visa to Canada, the applicant and his relatives are not allowed to translate their documents.
Our company translates all documents into English as part of our student visa document preparation service. By entrusting translations to us, you will protect yourself from mistakes and avoid the need to contact another company for this service.
How much money must be in the account
The amount that must be in the account at the time of application is made up of the following components:
- the balance of your tuition payment;
- the amount to pay for airfare and housing (approximate);
- the amount to support yourself in Canada.
The amount to support yourself in Canada depends on which province you will be studying in and whether relatives will be accompanying you. Below are two tables showing the amounts for those who plan to study in Quebec and outside of Quebec.
Outside Quebec
Example:
You plan to travel with your spouse and child on a year-long program. Then the calculation of the funds for the stay will be as follows:
(833 CAD + 333 CAD + 255 CAD) x 12 = 17,052 CAD.
In Quebec
You plan to travel with your spouse and child on a year-long program. Then the calculation of the funds for the stay will be as follows:
(833 CAD + 333 CAD + 255 CAD) x 12 = 17,052 CAD.
In Quebec
Example:
You are planning a trip accompanied by your spouse and a child under the age of 18 for a year-long program. Then the calculation of funds for the stay would be as follows:
1,798 x 12 = CAD 21,576.
Application Process and Fees
You can apply for a visa to Canada for study either online or through the visa application center office.
The application fee to apply for a student visa to Canada is 150 CAD. All applicants over the age of 14 will be required to submit biometrics (photo and fingerprints), the biometrics fee is 85 CAD.
To summarize
A Study Permit will be required if you are studying in Canada for more than 6 months. If the period is shorter, apply for a Visitor Visa. The Study Visa is not an immigration visa, so you must leave Canada at the end of your studies or extend your stay.
The main documents that affect the outcome of the application are Letter of Acceptance, financial documents, home country connection papers and your motivation letter.
It should be noted that the full list of documents as well as the content of the motivation letter depend entirely on your situation. If the documents are insufficient or the motivation letter is drafted incorrectly, you run the risk of being rejected.
Each client of our company receives an individual list of documents, taking into account personal circumstances. And the motivation letter is drafted by specialists of our team based on their positive experience.
Age is also an important criterion; in practice, applicants under 25 years of age are granted visas more readily than those over that age.
You are planning a trip accompanied by your spouse and a child under the age of 18 for a year-long program. Then the calculation of funds for the stay would be as follows:
1,798 x 12 = CAD 21,576.
Application Process and Fees
You can apply for a visa to Canada for study either online or through the visa application center office.
The application fee to apply for a student visa to Canada is 150 CAD. All applicants over the age of 14 will be required to submit biometrics (photo and fingerprints), the biometrics fee is 85 CAD.
To summarize
A Study Permit will be required if you are studying in Canada for more than 6 months. If the period is shorter, apply for a Visitor Visa. The Study Visa is not an immigration visa, so you must leave Canada at the end of your studies or extend your stay.
The main documents that affect the outcome of the application are Letter of Acceptance, financial documents, home country connection papers and your motivation letter.
It should be noted that the full list of documents as well as the content of the motivation letter depend entirely on your situation. If the documents are insufficient or the motivation letter is drafted incorrectly, you run the risk of being rejected.
Each client of our company receives an individual list of documents, taking into account personal circumstances. And the motivation letter is drafted by specialists of our team based on their positive experience.
Age is also an important criterion; in practice, applicants under 25 years of age are granted visas more readily than those over that age.
Still have questions?
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