THE STUDY VISA PROCESS
What is a Study Permit?
A Study Permit is the same as a Student Visa. Once a student has received an offer to study at a Canadian Institute, the next step in the process is to apply for a Study Permit with the High Commission of Canada or Visa Application Centre (VFS).
If your course is less than six months in duration, a study permit is not required. In case you are looking at continuing with your education beyond six months or are looking to work while they study, then it would be beneficial to apply for a study permit.
Since January 2024, the Canadian Government has capped the number of study permits which will be issued every year. Each province has been allocated a certain number of study permits that they can issue. Each province has also announced guidelines for the institutes in their province. To know more about the number of study permits allocated for the province that you are considering applying in, please click here.
Along with a study permit, a student will require either a visitor visa ( a temporary resident visa) or an electronic travel authorization (eTA). If the study permit is issued by the Canadian Immigration, a visitor visa or eTA is automatically issued. You do not need to apply separately or pay additional fees for the visitor visa.
The main criteria for issuing a Study Permit are :
Enrolled at a Designated Learning Institute (DLI)
Good Health (Medical Certificate)
Proven Funds (Tuition +Living Expenses)
Intent to Leave Canada post-studies
Clean Criminal Record
The Immigration Officer can put conditions on the study permit such as allowing the student to work in Canada, travel within Canada or the date when the student must stop studying.
Applications for study permit should ideally be submitted at least three months prior to date of travel.
Below are the documents that you will need to submit with your application and the process involved in getting a study permit:
Passport & Application Forms
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Valid Passport
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Application form with 2 passport-size photographs
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Personal Information Form
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Student Questionnaire Form
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Statement of Purpose: Many Universities require the SOP as part of the application process. The SOP may also be required by the Visa Officer to understand why you want to study in Canada and why you have chosen a particular program or institute.
Letter of Acceptance (LOA)
Letter of Acceptance from a Canadian Educational Institute (Hard copy or e-copy). As of January 22, 2024, the institute must validate the letter through the IRCC portal.
Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) is a letter from the Provincial Government verifying that the student's admission is aligned with the province's strategy for managing international student numbers.
Medical Certificate (advisable to have this done before applying)
A Certificat d'acceptation du Quebec (CAQ) if you are planning to study in Quebec
Proof of Funds
Financial documents (Funds include Tuition + living costs for first year of study including travel expenses to and from Canada). IRCC has announced that it is raising the cost-of-living requirement for study permit applicants from September 1, 2025. Students applying for a study permit would need to show proof of funds of CAD $22,895 (approx. Rs. 14 lakhs) to cover cost of living expenses apart from tuition and travel costs. The earlier requirement was CAD $20,635. The cost-of-living requirement will be adjusted every year.
Students can provide proof of funds through the following:
Proof of a Canadian Bank account in their name, if they have transferred money to Canada
Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution.
Proof of a student or education loan from a bank
Bank statements for the last 4 months.
A Bank draft that can be converted to Canadian dollars.
Proof of paid tuition and housing fees
A letter from the person or school giving the student money for their living expenses and education.
Proof of funding paid from within Canada, if you have a scholarship or are enrolled in a Canadian-funded educational program
4. Visa Application Processing Time
Processing Time Application Fees Submission
8 Weeks Approx. CAD 150 Online/Paper
Why Study Permits Get Rejected?
1. Insufficient or inadequate proof of funds Your application for a study permit can be rejected if you are unable to show that you have enough funds to cover your program expenses. You may have enough funds but you fail to provide proof that you have funds. If you are accompanied by family members, the amount of funds required to be shown also increases by C$ 5-10,000 per additional family member.
One should know that having an acceptance letter does not automatically result in a successful study permit application. Below are some of the reasons why a study permit can be rejected!
What additional proof can be you provide to the Immigration Officer? Suplementary information for future funding proof can include: Parent's employment details/pay slips Bank Account History Current or past employment details
If the Immigration Officer has concerns regarding sufficient funds to cover living expenses in Canada, you can show the following: A Guaranteed Investment Certificate from a participating Canadian financial institution. Proof of student education loan from a bank Bank statements for the last few months A Bank draft with enough funds required for the upcoming academic year Written testimony from the bank that the required funds are available
2. Lack of ties to the Home Country The Immigration Officer needs to be convinced that you will leave Canada once your education is complete. This can be done through the following methods: The Immigration Officer will consider the general economic and political factors that may impact your ability or motivation to return to your country They will also look at financial ability (flight ticket, bank statement or financial assets in the home country as well as legal ability (passport, travel document or visa) An applicant can show their employment history as a criteria for wanting to return to their home country
3. Weak or absent letter of explanation Include a letter of explanation in your application that describes your goals and motivation in selecting the institute and program and why you chose Canada as a study destination. While not mandatory, this letter helps the Immigration Officer better understand the student's motivation and aspirations.
4. Incomplete Application/ Missing Documents The IRCC will not process any application which is not complete. The application will be returned to you with details of missing documents. If the fees are not paid, it will also not be processed. Therefore, it is important to ensure that all documents are correctly attached and the fees are paid before your submit the application.
5. Schools not validating Letters of Acceptance With effect from December 1, 2023, international students need to have their Letters of Acceptance validated by the institute prior to applying for the study permit. DLI's have 10 days to validate letters of acceptance through the online portal. If the LOA is not validated within the deadline, the IRCC will mark the application is incomplete. It is, therefore, important for students to follow up with the institute to ensure that the LOA is validated on time.
CO-OP PROGRAMS WORK PERMIT
International students who are admitted to a Co-operative program must have a valid co-op work permit for the duration of the work terms in Canada. Students also need to maintain a valid study permit for the entire duration of the program. The co-op work permit is only to be used for the employment related to the co-op program and cannot be used for on campus or off campus employment.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A CO-OP PERMIT
1. For a co-op work permit, a student needs to have Work Authorization Letter from the co-op office. The letter confirms that a co-op work experience is a required part of your academic program. Once you are admitted into the Co-op program, the institute will guide you on accessing the digital letter.
2. Students are advised to submit their work permit application once they receive the Work Authorization Letter since the processing time can be long. Once you receive the work permit, submit a copy of the work permit to the co-op office.
3. Before a student can begin the work term, they will need a Social Insurance Number (SIN). This will enable the student to get paid for their work.
The co-op program also allows students to work outside of Canada.
Are you ready to start the application process? Contact us for any assistance during the process!