A Canada Student Visa allows the person who has it to start their studies in Canada. The visa for students is basically the same as a Canada Visitor Visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTa), but the student also needs a study permit. So the Canada student visa is a combination of either a visitor visa and a study permit or an eTA and a study permit.

The Canada study visa will only allow you to start your studies in Canada at what are called Designated Learning Institutions (DLI). The study permit allows you to stay in Canada until your program ends and in some cases work while you are enrolled in school or work after you graduate. To keep the Canada study visa, you must fulfill these conditions:

• Always be enrolled in a DLI.
• Be working to complete your study program.
• Meet the requirements of the student visa.
• Stop studying if you do not meet the requirements of the student visa.
• Leave Canada immediately once your study permit expires.

The study permit will not allow you to get Canadian issued documents or Canadian government benefits such as health benefits. It will however create an easier path for you to be able to apply for a Canadian citizenship if that is your goal.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply for a Canada Student visa and permit you must fulfill the following conditions:

To determine whether you are eligible or not, you can visit the Government of Canada website here. You should click the “Check your eligibility” button, and it will redirect you to a short questionnaire. The questionnaire will ask you details about yourself such as:

• Have a valid acceptance letter from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) with this information:
  • An official letterhead of the school.
  • The program and degree you will obtain.
  • The amount of tuition fees you must pay.
  • The start and finishing dates of the program.
• Be at least 18 years old to apply as the primary student visa applicant and your children who are under 18 years old cannot apply alone. So, if you have a child who wants to attend primary or secondary school, you must apply on their behalf.
• Have a clean criminal history and submit court documents to prove it.
• You must fill and sign a Visa Application Center (VAC) Consent Form.
• You must submit copies of your current immigration status in another country or in Canada.
• Prove that your stay in Canada is temporary and that you will return to your home country once your studies are over.

How to Apply

To be able to start studying in Canada, you must apply and get approved for a study permit. However, there are three situations that you can be in, so you can apply from:

• Outside of Canada
• Inside of Canada
• At the Canadian Port of Entry (POE)

Additionally, for each option you can also apply in paper format or through the online system. The application process will be the same, but if you apply in paper format, you will have to print all the documents and send them to the Canadian Consulate, while when you apply online, you can only submit the scanned documents and completed forms by attaching them through your account.

Documents needed

When you complete the forms, you will also have to submit the following supporting documents:

• Your passport scan to prove that it is valid.
• Your travel history, meaning your whole passport scanned to also prove that you have blank pages in it.
• Proof of acceptance - Your school must send you a letter of acceptance. Include the original or electronic copy of your letter with your study permit application
• Letters from the court and police in your country to prove you have a clean criminal record;
• A Declaration Letter from you to the Government of Canada where you explain why they should give you a visa and study permit.
• Two photos that meet the Canada Photo Requirements.
• Medical examinations.
• Your employment or education status through a resume or diplomas.
• Proof that you can cover the expenses of studying in Canada (tuition and living costs) through one of the following:
  • You must have proof of a Canadian bank account that is in your name;
  • You must have a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) issued by a Canadian financial institution.
  • You must have proof that you have taken a student loan from a bank.
  • You must have bank statements for at least the past 4 months.
  • You must have proof that you have already paid your tuition and housing fees.
  • You must have a letter from a person or institution giving you money.
  • You must have proof that you have a scholarship.
• If you are going to study in Quebec, then you will also need to submit a Certificat d’acceptation du Quebec (CAQ) which is issued by the Quebec government. You will get the instructions from your school on how to apply for a CAQ.
• You must submit a letter of explanation saying why you want to study in Canada and guaranteeing that you accept and understand your responsibilities as a student in Canada.
• If a minor is going to Canada to study and need a custodian that is not a parent of the minor, then you also need to submit a Custodian Declaration Form which states who the custodian of the child is and must be signed by the parents or legal guardians of the child.
• If you are applying for the first time, then a document number on the study permit that is called a Unique Client Identifier (UCI) is not required for you. If you have applied for a study permit before, you are required to write your study permit document number which you can find in any letters that have been sent to you by the Canadian Government.
• Prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your study permit expires
• If your family members (spouse or common law partner and minor children) are also accompanying you, you must also have the application forms ready for them and apply together as a family.

All the documents must be translated into English or French and you must have certifications and proof that the translation is correct. Once you submit all the documents, you can then proceed to submit the application and pay the fees.