North America is home to Canada, the world’s second-largest country with a populace of approximately 40 million individuals. Canada boasts the eighth-largest economy worldwide and is renowned as a significant global hub for several industries, including financial services, manufacturing, energy and trade.
The United States of America, Canada’s southern neighbour, has established economic and political partnerships with Canada, allowing Canadian residents to enjoy visa-free access to most parts of the USA. Canada is a well-recognized advanced country with three cities, namely Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver featuring in the top 10 of The Economist’s Global Liveability Index for 2022.
Canadian cities offer world-class urban infrastructure, high public safety, low crime rates, well-connected public transport networks, and welcoming immigrant communities, with over 150,000 Indian immigrants arriving annually.
Furthermore, Canada has established itself as a leading study destination, with 27 of its universities featuring in the most recent QS Global University Rankings. Canadian universities provide top-notch research and academic facilities, exceptional faculty, vibrant campus life, and multiple support systems to aid international students in acclimating to life in Canada.
International students wishing to study in Canada must obtain a Canadian study permit as well as a visitor visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA). Although the study permit is not a travel visa, it is necessary to acquire it in order to receive an eTA or visitor visa.
To obtain a study permit, students must provide evidence of enrollment at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), an educational institution authorised by a provincial or territorial government to host international students. It is important to verify that the universities you are considering are on the official list of DLIs provided by the Canadian government website.
Additionally, applicants must submit certificates of COVID-19 vaccination, health check-ups, and a clean criminal record from the relevant authorities in their home country.
Requirements during the Student visa application
When applying for a Canada student visa from India, it is necessary to carry the following documents:
- A valid passport, which must be valid for the entirety of your university degree program.
- Passport-size photographs.
- Proof of enrollment or acceptance at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
- English Language Proficiency Exam Score: Applicants can submit scores from exams such as TOEFL, IELTS, and others.
- Proof of funds: Applicants must demonstrate that they have at least 10,000 CAD for each year of their intended stay and sufficient funds for a return ticket to their home country. Acceptable documents include a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution, a student loan, proof of paid tuition and housing fees, four months’ bank statements, or Canadian bank account details.
- Optional requirement: A statement of purpose, a brief essay explaining why you have chosen a particular Canadian university, your post-graduation plans, and any other plans during your stay in Canada. While optional, submitting this document could increase your chances of being approved as an international student.
- Canadian officials may also request additional documents such as high school or college transcripts, SAT scores, and other related documents during the student visa application process.
Student Visa Application Fees
The cost of a student visa for Canada from India is divided into various aspects like medical test fees, biometric fees, study visa processing fees, etc. The study visa fees cost around $150, the biometric fee is $85 for each, and the medical examination charges can cost up to $75, the police clearance charges include an additional $15. The English language exam fee can additionally cost around $250 making the overall expense for the student visa alone can be around $610.
Visa application process
If you plan to apply for a Canadian student visa from India, follow these steps carefully:
Step 1: Receive a letter of acceptance from the enrolled institute which is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
Before you can apply for a Study Visa to Canada from India, you need to choose a course of study, select an institute, and meet the admission requirements for the course. Each institute has its own admission requirements, which may include English language proficiency, academic qualifications, and non-academic criteria. If you meet the admission requirements, complete the application form, pay the tuition fee for the first year, and obtain an acceptance letter from the DLI.
Step 2: Gather documents and prepare application forms.
Documents play a critical role in the Canadian student visa application process. The document requirements may vary based on your personal circumstances and the course you choose. Ensure that all your documents are complete and in the correct format. Incomplete documents and incorrect application forms can cause delays and increase the likelihood of visa refusal.
Refer to the Canada student visa documents checklist to learn more about the document requirements.
Step 3: Apply for the Canada student visa.
Once you have all the required documents, including the acceptance letter and the English language proficiency test scores, you can apply for a Canada student visa from India, online or offline. Pay the visa fee and wait for the decision.
Step 4: Await the outcome of your Canada student visa application.
After you submit your application, the Canadian Immigration Commission (CIC) will review it based on two criteria:
- Is your visa application complete?
- Are you a genuine student?
You may be asked to attend an interview, which the CIC will schedule and inform you of beforehand. The visa officer will decide whether to conduct the interview in person or over the phone.
If you meet the requirements, your application will be approved, and you will receive your Canada student visa. You can then travel to Canada to pursue your studies.
However, if your application fails to meet the legal requirements or if you are not a genuine student, your application will be refused, and the CIC will inform you in writing. Please note that the Canada student visa application fee is non-refundable.
Benefits of studying in Canada
There are a lot of perks of studying in Canada. Here are a few of them-
- Canada is comparatively an affordable study option.
- Education is recognised and is quite flexible with numerous options.
- The environment in Canada is quite inclusive for international students.
- Skill development is a major focus in Canada so the students get to learn practical application along with theoretical knowledge.
Types of Canada student Visas
Canada permits students to learn short-term and long-term courses through study permits which are valid for the course duration. For courses less than six months in duration, students are given travel visas.
Process time
Many Indian students are concerned about the processing time for Canada Student Visa applications. With a large number of applications being received, it can be difficult to predict how long it will take for your application to be processed. As a result, many applicants are interested in knowing the precise processing time for Canadian student visas from India before submitting their applications.
To avoid any inconvenience during your visa application process, estimating the time it may take to obtain final approval for a Canada Study Permit is important. Although it typically takes 3-4 weeks to process a Canadian Student Visa application, the actual processing time may vary due to several factors, particularly for Indian applicants.
The processing time for your Canada Student Visa application starts from the day it is received by the embassy or visa granting authority. Several factors can significantly affect the processing time, including the type of application you submitted, the completeness and accuracy of your application, the submission of supporting documents, the backlog of the immigration department, your prompt response to any requests or queries, any previous criminal records, travel restrictions or bans due to COVID, and a change in political power that may affect visa processing.
Canadian study visa and work permits
International students holding Canadian study permits are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week during academic semesters and full-time during vacation periods. However, due to a labour shortage in Canada, this rule has been temporarily lifted from November 15, 2022, until December 31, 2023. Consequently, international students can now work longer than 20 hours per week during academic semesters until the end of 2023.
Many international students leverage online platforms to secure high-quality internships and part-time jobs in business hubs such as Toronto’s downtown financial district. Moreover, Canada is a well-developed, immigrant-friendly, and world-leading employment hub that provides easy access to the USA and Western Europe. With excellent connectivity options between major airports such as Vancouver & Toronto and airports worldwide, students can travel comfortably from their home country to their Canadian university.
Expert Education is the best education consultant in India. We provide all the services included in the admission procedure including visa application. Contact our nearest branch for more details.
FAQs
It usually takes around three months to get a Canadian student visa from India. Hence it is advisable to plan and start the application well in advance.
Yes, you can work when on a student visa in Canada. The permitted work hours for a student is 20 hours a week.
Yes, you can bring your spouse or family as a dependent to your student visa. They can also apply for work or a study permit with you being the sponsor.
If your student visa is denied, it is reviewed and the cause of rejection is informed to the applicant. In case of missing documents, the details of the missing document’s list are provided.