Student Visa to Canada from Nigeria

Want to Study in Canada?

We have successfully helped numerous Nigerian students in securing their Canadian student visas. If you’re looking to study in Canada and need guidance on where to begin, reach out to us for expert support. Our team of lawyers is here to address any questions you may have regarding your visa application.

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What Is Canada Student Visa?

The Canadian government issues the Canada Student visa to international students who wish to continue their higher education in Canada. The Canada Student visa permits international students to study at a DLI in Canada.

The DLI are Canadian-licensed institutions where international students could apply to gain admission. With the Canada Student visa and study permit international students will stand a chance to qualify for a work permit in Canada during and after their studies and could extend their stay with other Canadian visa types.

However, the Canada Student visa doesn’t give international students full permission to stay and study in Canada. This is why international students need to get a Study Permit to be able to live and study in Canada.

The number of international students in Canada continues to increase yearly as a result of having diverse cultures and prestigious universities and colleges. Because of this, there are thousands of Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes for international students in Canada.

Eligibility Criteria for Canada Student Visa

To qualify for a Student visa to Canada, you need to meet some eligibility criteria. You need to:

• Prove that you have enough funds to pay your tuition and living costs.
• Possess a DLI’s letter of acceptance.
• Have no immigration-related or criminal convictions.
• Prove that you will leave Canada once you’ve completed your studies.
• Get a medical certificate after having a medical examination to prove your health status.

Types of Canada Student Visa

There are two forms of Student visa to Canada from Nigeria you can apply for. They include:

• The Temporary Resident visa, also known as a Valid Visitor visa, if the course study duration will be less than 6 months.
• The Student visa designed for students whose course study duration will be more than 6 months.

Canada Student Visa Requirements

To apply for the Student visa to Canada from Nigeria, as a Nigerian, you need to:

• Get the original and photocopy of your national passport which must at least have a 6-month validity of your stay in Canada and two blank spaces.
• Provide your motivation or cover letter that proves to the consular officer that you’re passionate about your course of study and the reason they should grant your application.
• Get two of your recently captured colour photographs revealing your entire face. With sizes 35 to 40mm, captured clearly on a plain background.
• Bring your flight reservation ticket showing the time and date of your arrival in Canada.
• Confirm that you have a hotel reservation if your proposed school doesn’t have accommodation.
• Get proof of acceptance from the Canadian institution that has offered you admission gave to you including your student permit application.
• Provide proof of sufficient funds to cover your expenses while studying in Canada. You’re expected to have about CAD$20,635 per year for your needs apart from tuition fees. You can present a bank statement for this but if you have a bank statement of your sponsor, you must include a sponsorship affidavit in your document.
• Get all your previously attended institutions’ certificates, including transcripts and other proofs showing your attendance at those institutions.
• Proof of English proficiency. Meet the IELTS requirement for the Canada Student visa as a Nigerian.
• Provide your introduction letter from your employer (if any).
• Present your medical report showing proof of your good health and medical history.
• Get certificates that show your social ties. For example the birth certificate of your child (if you have a child) or marriage certificate (if you’re married).

Canada Student Visa Process

Overview

To apply for the Student visa to Canada from Nigeria you need to follow a step-by-step guide. The guide includes how to apply for Student visa in Canada:

Gaining Admission

To apply for a student visa to Canada from Nigeria, you need to apply for admission at a DLI institution in Canada. Therefore, you must have gotten an admission letter from a college authorised by the Canadian government to host international students in Canada before you apply.

Get Supporting Documents

Fill out the student permission form and bring all the documents mentioned earlier. These documents will be important to you because you’ll need them at the U.S. embassy or consulate. Ensure to photocopy each document and scan them into electric devices like a flash drive, computer, etc.

Pay the Processing Fees

Understand that visa fees must be paid in addition to Visa Facilitation Services Global (VFS) fees when filing an application via the VFS, by mail, or in person. In every circumstance, the processing charge is not refundable.

You must pay the relevant processing fees for your spouse or common-law partner and/or children if they are traveling with you and you are applying for work permits, temporary resident visas or study permits for them.

File Your Application at the Visa Application Centre

Once you submit your application and make the required payments, you’ll be given a tracking number along with a receipt and have your application processed. The status of your application will be monitored using your tracking number. Therefore you need to get ready for an interview.

Follow Up Your Application Online

Tracking your application online will be beneficial to you to follow your application’s progress for updates or extra requests and to know when your passport is ready for pick up.

Get Your Passport

The following step is to visit the visa application centre to get your visa once it has been issued to you. Once your passport is ready for pick up, you’ll be notified about it.

Canada Student Visa Fees

There are fees involved in order to get the Canada Student visa. You need to pay for the Canada Study permit which costs $CAN 150.

You have to pay the Canada visa application which is available online and offline when submitting your visa application. These visa processing fees can be made through credit card (online) or through demand draft if making payments at the Canadian High Commission (offline) or at the Visa Application Centre (VAC) through cash.

It should be noted that VAC service charges are not included in the visa fee. Therefore you’ll need to pay the additional service charges applicable to Nigerians which is CAN$45. Ensure you keep all the receipts that will be issued to you at this stage as they will prove you have made these fee payments.

After you’ve submitted your visa application, you need to submit a biometric fee of $CAN 85. You have to submit this fee along with your biometric fee. Thereafter they’ll take your biometric at a VAC.

Canada Student Visa Application: Online and Paper

You can either apply online or on paper for the Canada Student visa.

Applying Online

To apply online, you will need a camera or scanner to scan your papers into an electronic format for uploading. Also, you will need a working credit card to cover the application fee. At the local VAC, you will still be needed to submit your biometrics.

Keep in mind that if you submitted an online application, you would also need to visit the VFS offices to submit your passports and the receipt for your fee payments. The only difference between the processes would be the documents you’d need to provide to the VAC.

Applying on Paper

Read the instructions and get the application kit. Important details about study permits are provided in the instruction manual, along with instructions on how to complete your application.

Complete the document checklist and thoroughly read the instruction manual. You may only submit a paper application if you can’t apply online because of disability or if you possess the travel document or identity for non-citizen residents, stateless persons, or refugees.

Documents Checklist for Canada Student Visa

The supporting documents you’d need for the Canada Student visa application include the following:

Proof of Acceptance by a DLI

You should have the letter of acceptance from the college or institute you intend to attend. A university that has been approved by the Immigration Department is known as a DLI.

A CAQ (Québec Acceptance Certificate) issued by the Canadian government is also required if you are applying for Quebec. You will receive information on the CAQ application from your university or college. But you do not need a CAQ if your studies will last fewer than 6 months.

Valid Passport

In order to apply for a Study Permit, you’d need a valid passport. You should have a passport that has a validity that can cover all your intended stay in Canada. For example, if you have a 2-year course to study in Canada which should begin in September 2023, then your passport should be valid until September 2025.

Passport Size Photographs

If you choose to submit your application offline, you will need two passport-sized photos that meet the requirements. The digital copy of the photo you must get shouldn’t be larger than 4MB, for an online application.

Additionally, there must be a neutral facial expression, a plain background, and no headgear (unless worn for religious reasons).

The image should be recent and not older than 6 months. Your passport image size should be a minimum of 35 mm x 45 mm. Your date of birth and name must be boldly written on the back of each photo.

Statement of Purpose

The letter of explanation is another name for this. You would be expected to write an essay when requesting a Canadian Study Permit outlining why you are visiting Canada and how you understand your obligations as a student.

Proof of Funds

You would need to present financial documentation when applying for your study permit. You would have to show that you would have enough money to cover both your tuition and living expenses under the current requirements.

According to Canadian Immigration, a minimum bank balance for a Canadian Student visa applicant is CAD$20,635 which should be available for each year of your stay. Additionally, you must prove that you have the resources necessary for a return trip.

You can prove you have enough funds in the following ways:

• Show your past 4 months’ bank statement.
• Have a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating financial institution in Canada.
• Prove that you have paid your house and tuition fees.
• Provide the funds in your Canadian bank account (if you have one).
• Showing that you have a student or education loan.
• Evidence of funding made within Canada especially when related to a Canadian-funded educational programme or scholarship.
• Get a letter from a school or person that has supported you with funds.
• Provide a bank draft that is convertible to Canadian dollars.

English Language Proficiency Exam Score

It is recommended to meet Canada student visa English requirements. Therefore, you must have an English Language Proficiency Exam and have a good score before applying for a Canada Student visa. TOEFL and IELTS are some of the accepted English proficiency tests to confirm the admission of applicants to a Canadian University.

Immigration Medical Examination (IME) and Biometrics

All international students from Nigeria are required to take a compulsory medical examination. Therefore, typically a week before starting visa applications, all Nigerian applicant students have to book medical appointments with licensed medical doctors.

It’s recommended that you book an appointment in advance with the licensed doctor nearest to you. The panel doctor will do a thorough physical examination and might recommend blood work and a chest X-ray for you. The doctor will send Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) the findings after your examination.

You must go to an official Visa Application Centre to get your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) taken if you are applying from outside of Canada and have never provided your biometrics previously. And you’ll pay $CAN 85 for the biometrics.

Canada Student Visa Processing Time for Nigeria-Based Applicants

There’s no exact processing time of the Canada Student visa for Nigeria-based applicants. Your application may be processed within 20 days, but the visa processing time usually takes 90 days. Generally, how long it takes to process your Canada Student visa depends on the situation in Nigeria.

Dependents of Canada Student Visa Holders

Your spouse can join you in Canada on a dependent visa. You’ll just need to prove that you have enough funds to support them financially.

Spouses may choose to work full-time in Canada if their stay is up to a year or more. Sometimes, your spouse might need to apply for an open work permit if he or she would like to come along with you to Canada.

The open work permit will allow your partner, spouse or common-law partner to find and accept any job when they get to Canada. Additionally, your spouse wouldn’t need a positive labour market impact assessment or job offer to apply for your work permit.

Common Reasons for Canada Student Visa Rejection

There are some reasons behind the rejections of Canada Student visa. The following includes reasons for rejections and solutions:

• Poor letter of acceptance. You need to provide a good acceptance letter from a registered DLI in Canada.
• Incomplete documentation. If you forget to add some vital documents like your travel documents and language test score, your application may be refused.
• No plan to return to Nigeria. You must prove that you have a plan to return to Nigeria.
• Insufficient funds. You need to show that you can cater for your needs in Canada for more than a year.

You will be informed in the refusal letter of the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) decision if your study permit is still denied. You are free to reapply for your study visa at any time, but you must make sure that the problems with your first application have been resolved.

You always have the option to file an appeal if you believe your initial application was improperly refused.

How Can IAS Help?

Nigerians can apply for the Canada Student visa to continue their studies in Canada. Many Nigerians have successfully immigrated to Canada and have gained employment during and after their studies.

However, there have been some refusals of the Canada Student visa to Nigerian applicants because of their inability to meet the eligibility criteria, such as not having enough funds and incomplete documentation.

This is why it’s important to have expert guidance throughout your Canada Student visa application process. IAS can help you through this situation.

We are professional and experienced immigration lawyers that have a track record of helping so many applicants apply and get any type of visa they qualify for.

We can guide you through your documentation process and help you submit your application in accordance with the standard of the IRCC. We will also give you tips on how to get prepared and pass your interview without stress.

For more information regarding the Student Visa to Canada from Nigeria, or any other immigration related topic, get in touch with us on +2342013438882 or +44 (0) 3316300929, or contact us online.