Canada study visas
International students who want to come to Canada to study need to obtain a Study Visa. Find out more about the requirements and the application process.
Call us on +443334149244 for immediate help and assistance with your situation. We’re here to help you in person, via the phone, or online.
How can I come to Canada to study?
The main option for foreign citizens who wish to study in Canada is to obtain the Canadian Study Permit intended for those who plan to study there for at least 6 months.
Another route for international students to come to study in Canada is the Student Direct Stream allowing legal residents of certain countries to obtain their Canadian Study Permit faster than usual.
For advice regarding which of these routes you should venture down, call our lawyers on +443334149244.
Page Contents
- How can I come to Canada to study?
- What is the Canadian Study Permit?
- Who is eligible for the Canadian Study Permit?
- What is the application process for the Study Permit to Canada?
- What is the Student Direct Stream?
- What is the application process for the Direct Student Stream?
- How Can IAS Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the Canadian Study Permit?
The Canadian Study Permit allows foreign nationals to come to Canada to study at one of the designated learning institutes (DLI).
The Canadian Study Permit is not a visa, however, so it does not allow entry into Canada. Those who want to come to the country to study need to also obtain a visa such as the Visitor Visa or Electronic Travel Authorisation. Only after they receive it will they be able to enter the country.
The Canadian government usually issues one of these after they approve someone’s application for a study permit.
If you come to Canada on the Study Permit you must:
- Make progress towards completing your study course
- Respect the conditions of your visa
- Stop your studies if you no longer meet the requirements for your course
- Not work
- Leave Canada after your permit expires
- Study at an academic institution other than the one listed on your visa.
Who is eligible for the Canadian Study Permit?
To be able to obtain the Study Permit to Canada, applicants need to meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Be enrolled in a post-secondary level institution from the designated learning institutions list (DLI)
- Have enough funds to pay for tuition fees and living expenses in Canada
- Be in good health
- Intend to leave Canada after their study visa expires
- Be fully vaccinated against COVID-19
- Not have a criminal record.
What is the application process for the Study Permit to Canada?
Applications for the Study Permit to Canada need to be submitted from abroad. It is possible to submit the application online or in paper form. The process of applying online is more straightforward and the processing time is shorter so it is recommended that you apply this way.
When applying online, applicants have to upload electronic copies of the documents that prove their eligibility for the Study Permit. They also need to have a valid credit card to pay the visa application fee of $150.
After applicants submit the application form and all the supporting documents, immigration officials need to review them to determine whether or not the foreign national meets the criteria for the Study Permit.
If you need assistance with collecting the necessary evidence, get in touch with our lawyers who will explain to you in detail what documents you have to gather. Hiring an immigration lawyer is advisable as the failure to submit some of the required evidence can cause delays in the application process.
What is the Student Direct Stream?
The Student Direct Stream (SDS) is an accelerated route for legal residents of certain countries to obtain the Canadian Study Permit. This means that if you are living in one of the eligible countries and you meet all the standard eligibility criteria, you can get the Study Permit quicker than usual.
You can only apply for the Canadian Study Permit through the Student Direct Stream if you are a legal resident in one of the following countries:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Colombia
- Morocco
- Philippines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Brazil
- Costa Rica
- Pakistan
- Senegal
- Vietnam
- China
- India
- Peru
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
If you are a citizen of one of these countries but you live elsewhere, you are not eligible for the Student Direct Stream and, if you want to come to Canada to study, you need to go through the standard application process.
What is the application process for the Direct Student Stream?
Applications for the Direct Student Stream need to be submitted online and, when doing it, applicants have to have access to the following:
- The instruction from the website of the Canadian government explaining how to fill the necessary forms
- A scanner or camera to create copies of supporting documents
- A credit or debit card to pay the application fee.
During the online application process, applicants have to select a country where they are legal residents from the drop-down list. Once they do that, they will get access to detailed visa information and instructions from their local visa office.
Then, they will be directed to the log-in page of the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) account. Those who do not have an account will be able to create one.
Instructions from the local visa office explain what additional documents applicants have to provide.
How Can IAS Help?
Applying for the Canadian Study Permit or the Direct Student Stream can be complex if you are going through the process alone. Luckily, at IAS, we have a team of experienced immigration lawyers who can guide you through each step, making the visa application process straightforward and stress-free.
We are committed to delivering the highest quality service to our clients. Thanks to the help of our lawyers, you can be sure that your application is complete and that there are no mistakes in it.
Even if your application is unsuccessful, we can help you assess your options and find a solution.
For more information about our services and ways in which we can help, call us today on +443334149244.
Last modified on July 17th, 2023 at 7:58 am
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Frequently Asked Questions
If your application for the Study Permit to Canada is unsuccessful, you will receive a letter explaining the reasons for the refusal. Applicants have the right to appeal the decision or submit their application again immediately after the first one is rejected.
Applications for both the Canadian Study Permit and the Student Direct Stream cost CAN$150. There might also be other fees applicants need to cover, for example, for having their supporting documents issued. Also, all thinking of studying abroad in Canada need to demonstrate that they are able to pay tuition fees and cover their living expenses during their studies.
As part of the application process for the Student Direct Stream, applicants need to submit the following documents:
- An acceptance letter from a designated academic institution in Canada
- Proof that they have paid tuition for the first year of study
- A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of CAN$10,000
- Most recent secondary or post-secondary school transcripts
- A language test result confirming that they have a good command of the English language
- A Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) from the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (only applicable to those planning to study in Quebec).