Get your Canada student visa with step-by-step guidance on application process, documents, processing time, study and work permit. Apply today with experts.
The student visa application process for Canada begins with receiving an admission offer from a Canadian university, you will need a study permit to study at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada and a student visa to live in Canada.
If you are an Indian student applying for your study permit or temporary resident visa, you do not need to submit your biometrics along with your visa application and you are eligible for the Student Direct Stream
The Student Direct Stream or SDS is a streamlined application process for the study permit, which guarantees faster processing times of around 20 days. SDS is aimed at students with strong English or French language skills, who wish to study a program at a DLI.
According to the Government of Canada website, you will have to meet the following requirements for you to qualify for the SDS:
To apply for your study permit, you will need to provide:
Once your documents are ready, you can either apply online or on paper. The visa application fee is CAD 150
To apply for a study permit, you should:
In addition to these documents, you can also provide a letter of explanation to support your visa application. This letter should inform the committee of your career goals, the reason why you have selected a particular program, how you are prepared to cope with this program, and why you have decided to pursue the program in Canada.
To apply online, you will need to create an account on the Government of Canada website. You will also need electronic copies of all your documents and a credit card to pay the application fee.
Here are the steps you will have to follow if you decide to apply for your visa online:
If you decide to apply on paper, you should read the instruction guide provided on the Government of Canada’s website. Once your visa application is ready, you can send it to a visa application center that covers your area. If your application is incomplete, it will not be processed and will be returned to you.
To apply on paper, you will have to follow these steps:
According to the Canadian government’s website, the time taken to process a visa application can vary depending on a range of factors. At present, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, processing times may be slower than usual. You can check for updates on the processing time for your student visa on their website.
The GIC or the Guaranteed Investment Certificate is one of the documents you will be required to submit to get your study permit. You can obtain your GIC of $10,000 from a participating financial institution.
As Scotiabank and ICICI Bank Canada are the only participating Canadian financial institutions in India at present, you can open a GIC account with either of these banks. You will receive a guaranteed rate of interest for 12 months. These funds can help ease your expenses during your study program. After 12 months, you will get back your original investment along with the accrued interest.
In addition to the GIC, you will also need sufficient funds to cover your expenses while studying in Canada.
The Government of Canada expects you to have your health checked before you apply for a student visa. Your medical test will have to be conducted by one of the physicians listed on their website. This generally happens around a month after you have submitted your application. However, you also have the option to get the medical examination done before you submit your student visa application.
While going for your medical examination, carry the following:
Once the physician has completed your test, your results will be sent directly to the embassy.
