Explore the Canada student visa application process, methods, fees, eligibility, requirement & benefits in this blog for aspiring students.
Table of Contents
There is a simple application process to get a study visa for Canada.
Firstly, you need to check if you are fit to apply for a visa. You can do that by visiting the official website of the embassy. Then, match the requirements they have stated on their official website.
Secondly, there are several documents you must have to complete your visa application. Make sure to upload the correct papers. Incorrect details and fake documents can land your name on the rejection list.
Thirdly, go to the official website of the Canadian government and create an online profile. You can do it through the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada portal (IRCC).
Fourthly, you have to pay the Canada study visa fees and the embassy fees for a Canada study visa. It is 150 CAD (INR 9,296). The visa procedure fee is 73 CAD (INR 4,500).
Fifthly, recheck and submit your finally filled application form. It is advisable to check the entire form at least twice. Moreover, checking for blank columns or incorrect documents can also reduce the chance of rejection.
You will also need to submit an electronic fingerprint and a photograph in person to the embassy. Canada study visa processing time after biometrics is generally 7 to 10 weeks.
Sixthly, there is a great chance that there will be a face to face interview. You might get called into the visa office for an interview with the officials. In addition, this interview will mostly based on your purpose of going to Canada. Moreover, they will ask you about your plans and ambitions as well.
The seventh step demands patience from every scholar. It is the Canada student visa processing time. It requires at least a wait period of 6 weeks. Whether you submitted your application online or offline, you can track it on the MyCIC account you made at the IRCC portal.
Finally, if your application gets approval, you will get the following:
1.Port of Entry (POE)
2.Letter of Introduction
3.Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)
These documents will help you enter Canada.
Lastly, a border service in Canada called CBSA will check you thoroughly. Make sure to carry all the above stated papers with you with proof of funds and an offer letter.
You can apply for the visa again if, in case, it gets rejection. To reapply for canada study visa processing time would be 45 days. Moreover, the rejection rates are as high as the applications. It would be wise to know what to do after rejection.
These were the various steps of the application process for a Canada study visa. Now, let us move on to the next section. It will discuss the validity of the Canadian visa.
The Canada student visa expires when 5 years have passed after its issuance. However, if the passport of the student expires sooner than that, then the visa has to be renewed with it. It does not matter if the visa expiry date was way ahead of the passport's. In addition to those five years, you also get 90 extra days before leaving Canada. This period is for you to prepare to leave Canada or apply for an extension of your study visa for Canada.
Now, the next most vital thing to know is about the Canada student visa fees in 2024.
The table below calculates all the expenses you would need to get your study visa:
| TYPE OF EXPENSE | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| IELTS/TOEFL (once) | INR 17,000 |
| Embassy Fees (once) | INR 9,296 |
| Visa Procedure (once) | INR 4,500 |
| Biometric Fee (once) | INR 5,233 |
| TOTAL = 36,029 | |
These are the one time expenses for applying for a visa and English skill test. Now let us talk about the eligibility criteria for entering Canada as a student.
The following are the various eligibility criteria for a Canada study visa in 2024:
Moreover, you must tell the visa official about your plans to return to your country after the degree. They should not get the idea that you are looking forward to making Canada your home.
The next section of this blog will discuss the various documents that you would need. This step in the Canada study visa process is very crucial and has to be done carefully.
Following are the papers you would need to fill out your visa application form:
Firstly, to apply for a Canada student visa, it is vital to have a passport. However, a valid passport is the one whose expiry date is after the completion of your course in Canada. For instance, you are planning to stay in Canada for a 3 year bachelor's degree. Your passport must have an expiry date of at least 3 years and 2 months later.
Secondly, you must have proof that a legal institute in Canada has accepted you. Thus, an offer letter from your university is a vital document. If you are applying in the Quebec province of Canada, you would need a CAQ. It stands for Quebec Acceptance Certificate. Your college will give you the details if your course duration is more than 6 months.
Thirdly, you would need two pictures upon applying offline. However, if you applied online, you would need a soft copy of the same. Moreover, these need not be more than 4 MB in size. The following are the conditions for these pictures to get approval from the visa office:
Fourthly, aspirants will have to visit the enlisted doctors for a medical examination. It takes place a week before the visa application process starts. They can book a physician in advance. The doctor will do a complete medical check up and even conduct tests and X-rays if needed. Once your examination finishes, he will send the results to CIC.
Fifthly, there are several options to test your English skills. There are globally accepted tests like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and SAT. To get a Canada student visa, you must pass these tests with a good score to prove that you can understand English well. It is because Canada is an English-speaking country. You might think "How many PTE score required for student visa"! The acceptable scores for IELTS, TOEFL and PTE are:
In addition, your university will also grant you admission on the basis of this.
Suggested Read: How to Study for IELTS at Home?
This is another very crucial document that visa officials ask you for. In SOP, you write your intentions of going to the country. Moreover, you also state why you chose that course or this university. In addition to that, you also have to mention your future goals and ambitions. They must align with your intent to come back to your home country.
Lastly, the visa officials want to confirm if the applicant can afford to study in Canada or not. Hence, they ask you about the details of the sources from where you wish to fund your studies abroad. Moreover, they also expect you to not count part-time job salary as it is a potential income and not confirmed.
Take a look at the list below to understand how you can prove that you have enough funds:
Your minimum bank balance for Canada student visa depends on many factors. It depends on the place you stay at, the college you study in, and your lifestyle. Now, let us talk about how to format a logical SOP for a Canadian student visa.
SOP stands for Statement of Purpose. Do you know the purpose of going to Canada? Are you aware of why you chose Canada over other countries? You must know the answers as you will have to mention all these details in your SOP.
Look at the steps to write an SOP for study visa in Canada:
Firstly, clarify your interests in the field or stream you chose. You can start this paragraph by talking about industry figures or a quote. Make sure to not use too many quotes. Moreover, use this section to explain why you chose this as your academic path.
Secondly, mention your academic triumphs. Include your previous institute’s name, degree name, and scores. Moreover, do not forget to highlight your expertise through incidents. However, make sure to mention the most recent achievements.
Thirdly, what counts is your overall industrial experience. If you have worked before on a project or research, mention it here. Moreover, you must always state the skills you have with the incidents that made you acquire them. In order to make a strong SOP, this is a vital step.
Fourthly, you must know and mention why you want to choose Canada. In addition, you have to tell them why you chose that course and college. You can choose to highlight the tuition fees, scope of the subject and current market demands. Moreover, it would be mindful to align these choices with your plans and career path.
Lastly, all you have to do is give a short note highlighting the key points from the above paras. The conclusion is short and you can end it by thanking the authorities for taking the time to read your SOP.
You can also refer to the SOPs online. However, it would be a blunder to copy content from pre-written SOPs. These were the steps to follow to format a good SOP. Now, let us know how can a Canadian study visa benefit you.
A Canada student visa can help a student in a lot of ways:
The above pointers are in detail below:
Firstly, the Canadian universities offer a great quality of education to students. It is possible because of well qualified professors and globally recognized courses.
Secondly, you can work and study together in Canada as an international student. The authorities let you work 20 hours per week, which counts as part time. You can also choose jobs that match the subjects you wish to build a career in.
Thirdly, you get a 90 day buffer time after your course completes. When your visa expires, you can apply for renewal or PSWV as per your choice. It will let you work in Canada after your studies for a few years.
Fourthly, scholars live in one of the best countries in the world. Moreover, Canada is famous for providing a good lifestyle to its residents. In addition to that, they also have an inclusive community.
Lastly, you can study in Canada for better career prospects and future growth. It is well known that Canadian residents (temporary or permanent) get a lot of opportunities. Many top employers hire great minds from Canadian universities. Apart from that, there are growing jobs in the country due to technological development.
These are the various reasons why Canada can be a great option to study. Now, let us know about the Canada study visa cap. It is also known as the acceptance rate.
Currently, for 2024, the cap has been set for 6,06,250 study permits. Canada released the number of study permits it is going to issue for foreign students. It is vital for scholars to keep up with this update and apply for a visa accordingly. Experts say that students must apply to top universities. Moreover, they also asked them to build good academic records and profiles.
In the next section, we will talk about the cost of living in Canada.
The annual cost of living in Canada for an Indian can reach to 20,000 CAD (12,30,896 INR) annually. Take a look at the table below to know the minimum bank balance for Canada study visa.
| SERVICES | AVERAGE MONTHLY COST |
|---|---|
| Food | 200-300 CAD (12,330.76 INR - 18,496.15 INR) |
| Accommodation | Shared: 300-700 CAD (18,496.15 INR - 43,157.68 INR) Apartment/Suite: 450-1,500 CAD (27,744.22 INR - 92,480.73 ) |
| Transport | Buses: 100-150 CAD (6,165.38 INR - 9,248.07 INR) Subways: 65-99 CAD (4,007.50 INR - 6,103.73 INR) |
| Stationary | 2,916 CAD (Approx.) (1,79,782.55 INR) |
| Internet | 25Mbps: 30 CAD (Approx.) (1849.61 INR) 100Mbps: 50 CAD (Approx.) (3082.69 INR) |
| Miscellaneous | l 600-700 CAD (36992.29 INR - 43157.68 INR) |
These are the monthly costs for staying and studying in Canada. Now, let us look at the scholarships in Canada for international students.
Following is the list of 5 popular scholarships to study in Canada. The table mentions the names and the details of the scholarship:
| SCHOLARSHIP NAME | DETAILS |
|---|---|
| Shastri Research Student Fellowship | ·Gives 500-1000 CAD for up to 8-12 weeks.·Meant to support research scholars. |
| IDRC Research Awards | ·Gives 42,033-48,659 CAD·Students who have completed their master’s degree receive this scholarship.·They must hold a valid full-time work permit (37.5 hours/week) |
| Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship | ·Per student gets upto 10,000 CAD.·It is for students who are studying criminal justice, business administration, etc. |
| Ontario Trillium Scholarship | ·Grants 40,000 CAD·All scholars who are pursuing PhD in Ontario are eligible |
| Canada ASEAN SEED | Grants 1600 CAD weekly.5000 CAD for visa, health insurance and travel.Covers 10,000 CAD for tuition costs |
These are a few of the scholarships available for Indian students to study in Canada.
Suggested Read: Scholarships in Canada
To conclude, there is a lot for a student to look after deciding to study overseas. The Canada student visa process has seven steps. Your entire study abroad journey, however, has a lot of them. You have to take care of the visa process, English tests, course selection, and the list goes on. Gradding.com can literally help you with all of them. In addition, they can guide you after you arrive in the country with accommodation and part time job. All you need to do is book a free session on the website and start seeing your dreams come true.
Yes, you have the option of working part-time and studying together. Another option is to work as an assistant at your university. It will give you income and experience as well. However, to work as a full-time employee you will have to apply for Canadian work visa.
Following are the courses that students usually opt for in Canada:
Average Tuition Fee: INR 22,16,276.83
IELTS/TOEFL (once): INR 17,000
Embassy Fees (once): INR 9296
Visa Procedure (once): INR 4,500
Biometric Fee (once): INR 5,233
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