How To Obtain Your Canada Study Permit In 2024, 2024

More than 130,000 international students select Canada as their country of study every year. Apart from the provision of quality education, Canada has a lot of career and job opportunities. To study in Canada as an international student, you will need a student visa, also known as a study permit. In this article, you will learn how to process your Canada student visa application in 2024.

This post explains how to apply, the general requirements, language requirements, the fees, processing time and lots more. Let’s get started!

If I may ask, what’s your reason for travelling to Canada? Your answer will probably be because you want to study there.

Well, you have to show proof of this to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). This proof will be an acceptance letter (or an admission letter) from the University that admitted you.

Not every international student needs a study permit before being allowed to study in Canada in 2024. You don’t need a student visa if you fall under any of the categories below.

• If you are enrolling in a study program that will last less than 6 months.
• If you are a staff member or family of an ambassador or representative in Canada. This foreign representative must be accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada.
• If you are a member of the foreign armed forces (the Visiting Forces Act).

However, you should take note of the fact that your student visa will only allow you to stay in Canada for the period of learning. You will still need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or travelling visa before you can migrate to Canada.

To process your study permit, you will need to tender the following documents on the CIC website. 

• 2 passport-size photographs that were taken recently. You should write your name and your date of birth at the back of each passport.
• You will need to submit a valid travel document. It is with this document that you will be able to return home. This can be skipped if you are a US national.
• The original copy of the acceptance letter that you received from your University.
• The filled student visa application form.
• You must show proof of financial capability. You have to show evidence that you have at least 10,000 Canadian Dollars to sustain your living every year.
• You will also need to submit a letter of intent.
• If the University that offered you admission is situated in Quebec Province, you will need the French and English translated versions of all your documents.

Kindly note that your study permit expires on the day you graduate. After that, you will be given an additional 3 months to stay in Canada.

Although CIC doesn’t need proof of English language proficiency before processing your study visa, the Universities in Canada will require that from you.

One way to avoid this is showing proof that you come from an English-speaking country. Below are the English proficiency test accepted by most Canadian universities.

1. C1 Advanced.
2. PTE Academic Test.
3. IELTS Academic Test.
4. TOEFL iBT.

To apply for the study permit, you have to pay an application fee of 150 CAD. Note that you might still need to pay a biometrics fee of 85 CAD, depending on your country of origin. 

Follow the steps below to apply for your Canada student visa.

1. Visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website so as to apply and upload the required documents. You can also send it by post in paper copy.
2. Upload the acceptance letter from the University that offered you admission. The University must a school recognized and accredited by the Canadian government.
3. Send the proof of your sufficient financial resources to sustain your study and residence in Canada. This includes the tuition fees and other expenses.
4. Tender an evidence that shows you are clean of any criminal act.
5. Upload medical reports that shows you are in a good health. You should upload the complete results of the medical examination.

Varying based on the relationship between your home country and Canada, the processing time should not take more than 90 days. However, it’s faster most of the time.

If any of your family members is already a permanent resident in Canada or is also applying for a student visa, it will boost your application processing time.

Generally, to make your study visa processing faster, you should make use of the Student Direct Stream. The application fee for this Direct Stream starts at 150 CAD. The processing time can take up to 20 days, but it’s still faster than the normal processing route.

The Student Direct Stream is available only for applicants that come from the countries below.

1. Morocco.
2. India.
3. Pakistan.
4. China.
5. Senegal.
6. The Philippines.
7. Vietnam.

Generally, applications are online through the CIC site. You should apply up to 3 months preceding the date you want to enter Canada.

You will be required to pay your application fee on the same date you apply for the student visa.