According to Canada’s international education strategy, 721,205 international students studied in Canada in 2018.

Let’s face it, more and more students want to study in Canada to benefit from their diplomas and degrees being recognized everywhere in the world.

In addition, Canada is a great place to gain work experience after studies. This is also an excellent opportunity to decide if Canada is the right place to immigrate to.

Do you want to know how to become an international student in Canada?

Today, we will go over how to apply for a Canadian student visa.

There are many aspects in applying for a study visa namely, choosing where to apply, what tools you need to apply, documents required, choosing online or in person application process, and what to do after you apply.

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Quick Overview

Who are international students
Documents needed to apply
Biometrics details
Step-by-step video on how to apply
Passport request

Who is an International Student in Canada and what are the requirements to study?

International students are individuals who leave their home country and study abroad. Countries such as Canada however, require a study permit and a study visa depending on which country the applicant is from.

I am here to explain to you how to apply for a Canadian student visa and study permit.

Prior to covid-19, applicants for a study visa were able to apply online, and at the Canadian border. Currently, applicants can only apply online.

Based on my experience, applying online allows the application to be processed quickly and smoothly. You will receive confirmation that your application has been received, minutes after applying.

There was no need to go to the post office or a courier to send or pick up the documents.

An online application ensures that all the information is provided and nothing is missing. This is through the validation process in the application.

It is also very easy to add additional documents if requested and view updates on your application.

The first Canadian Student Visa requirement in 2021 is to:

1. Identify a Province to Attend School

Before you apply for your Canadian Student Visa, you will need to choose a province in Canada. There are many provinces in Canada so you will need to know which province you want to attend school.

Now, you maybe saying, “I have no idea what the provinces are, let alone know which province to attend school”, don’t worry I got you!

The main thing to figure out is, if you want to live in a large city or a smaller one. Some of the largest cities with a bigger population are Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal.

On the other hand, there are smaller provinces with a smaller population and typically have lower tuition and cost of living than the bigger cities. So when deciding, your budget is also very important to consider.

Some of the smaller populated provinces are Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Ensure that you do your research on the province you choose. The worst thing is to move to a province you dislike.

Remember this will be a country and province where you will be living temporarily for one, two or even four years while attending University. Therefore, make sure the province is the right fit for you.

2. Identify a School to Attend in Canada

You may choose to first locate a college, fall in love with this school then research the province and notice that this is a great fit for you.

It is important to note that you are in full control of which college you want to attend. Also note that the school needs to be on the list of Designated Learning Institutions.

Now, Designated Learning Institutions in Canada are schools that are approved to accept international students, and there is a wide variety of schools to choose from.

Certainly, do your research on the school and ensure that this is the right school for you. This is extremely important, especially for international students.

Remember to grab the free checklist that outlines all the documents needed to apply for your Canadian Student Visa and “the four most important things to do upon arrival to Canada“.

I offer one-on-one coaching calls if you need:

assistance finding a school for international students,
assistance navigating through the official website or
just want information about moving to Canada as an international student. Email growwithtp@gmail.com for details.

3. Apply to the School

Once you have identified your school, whether this is a college or university, go ahead and apply on the admissions page on that school’s website.

N.B: Always ensure that you are applying from the actual school’s website and not through a bogus/fake website.

Every school’s application process is different. For me, I had to create an account, fill out an application form, submit an official transcript from my previous college, and follow updates on the application.

Typically, if you haven’t received an update after one week, you can follow up, unless you were told that the application will take longer to process. If your application is approved you can now go ahead and apply for your study permit.

Tools to Apply

In order to apply for your study permit, you will need a scanner or scanning app on your smartphone, and a credit or debit card. The scanner can be a scanning app like ‘Camscanner‘. What’s important is to get the documents saved as a pdf file.

The credit or debit card will be necessary to pay the application fees online. In addition, you may need biometrics, a medical certificate, a police certificate and/or a language test which depends on the country you are applying from.

The application will also require documents such as your passport, proof of funds, your acceptance letter, statement of purpose, language test, medical certificate, and a criminal record check.

Passport/Travel Document

The main reason you need your passport for the application is to fill out the application form. There is a section that requires ‘passport details’, so you will need to have your passport available.

The passport needs to be valid for the duration of your studies. The immigration officers do not issue visas beyond the expire date of your passport.

Therefore, it is best to renew your passport before applying, if your passport will expire before you finish your studies in Canada and if your country allows you to do so.

Proof of Funds

‘Proof of funds’ is also extremely important! This is the number one document you will need when you apply for a student visa.

Proof of funds is also one of the main reasons persons get denied a study visa. The required funds to show as proof of funds is 25,000 Canadian dollars.

This doesn’t have to be in your personal bank account but you need to prove that you have this money available to you, if you need it. I recommend that you make a solid effort to get at least the required 25,000 dollars to show as proof of funds before you apply.

In order to apply for a study visa, you also need an acceptance letter from the college/university you will be attending in Canada.

Acceptance Letter

An acceptance letter is needed to prove that you are actually planning to attend school. This acceptance letter also needs to be from a designated learning institution.

According to the official Canadian government website, an acceptance letter should include:

your full name
date of birth
name of institution
official contact information for the institution
telephone, website, email for the school
designated learning institution number
the type of institution and other details relating to your study details.

It will be in your best interest to ensure that all these details are on the acceptance letter to avoid delays on your study permit.

Click the link below to get your free checklist to prepare your Canadian student visa and permit application.

Free Downloadable Canadian Student Visa Checklist

Statement of Purpose or the Letter of Explanation

Next, you will need to prepare a statement of purpose. ‘How to prepare a winning statement of purpose’ is coming soon.

The statement of purpose is required to explain ‘Why’ for everything! Why Canada? Why this school? Why this program?

Most importantly you need to know that you are going to Canada temporarily, so you need to show that yes, you plan to return home after your studies. A statement of purpose can either get you the study permit or it can be the reason for your refusal, so be very careful.

English Language Test

You may also need an English language test. This is required for individuals whose first language is not English. An English language test may be required for persons who studied in another language other than English.

This language test may also be required for your acceptance to a college or university.

Before starting your application, check to see if you will need a language test because the processing time for the test maybe long and cause delays to your application. Ensure that you study well to prepare for an English language test.

There are many good websites and YouTube videos of people teaching English. You can watch unlimited American movies, to get practice. Speak to everyone in English. Get an English partner if you can, but practice is the easiest way to get better.

Passport Size Picture

Get a passport size picture based on the requirements listed on the visa application website, such as picture size, background and outfit. The passport picture will be necessary to place on file to identify you.

Of course the biometrics will be the main way to identify you but the passport size picture is also required. You can take a picture with your phone, just ensure that it is clear and has proper lighting with a clean background. A safe color is always a white or a plain background.

Medical Certificate

Similar to the English Language Test, a Medical certificate may also be required for some persons. Hence you have to check the application documents required based on your country of origin.

The medical certificate is required for specific countries. This is to ensure that you are medically prepared and fully vaccinated to come to Canada with no form of illness that maybe contagious.

If a medical certificate is required, the officer will request this document during the application process.

I would recommend that you check before applying to see if you require a medical. If you do, check the official website to know where the approved health centers in your country are, to get your Canada medical certificate.

Then get it done early so once you receive the request for a medical, you can send in the results immediately.

Criminal Record

The final document you may need is a criminal record check. Again, it is important to check if your country requires this document.

Canada wants to see that you are a “law abiding citizen” while in your country based on your previous criminal history.

In the event you did commit some form of illegal activity, you should not apply, until you have a clean police record. Otherwise, there is a very high possibility that your student visa application will be refused.

Steps to Apply:

Gather all the documents you will need before you begin
Create your GC key account, which is needed to apply
Login to your GC key
Fill out the application forms
Upload the necessary documents, (the documents to be added will be displayed on the application page)
Pay the fees using a debit and credit card
Your biometrics will also be requested
Track your application status by checking your email and logging back in to your account periodically

Confirmation of Submission

Usually, after one day you will receive a confirmation stating that your application was submitted. Due to the corona virus pandemic however, the timing may be different.

If you have not received a response after one week you should send a follow up through the webform on the official website, to get an update on your application.

Note, however, that the officers prioritize applications for the upcoming semester, this is again because of covid-19. Right now it is June 2021 so priority will be given to applicants for the upcoming fall semester in September 2021.

Biometrics Request

Next, you will receive an email request to do your biometrics. The request for the biometrics does not mean that your application was approved. This is required to collect and verify your fingerprints and photo of your face. Your biometrics is taken at a VAC (visa application center).

Don’t worry, all the details will be sent to you in a secure message in your online account. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully.

There will be a process charge for the VAC’s service, this is about $30 CAD, so make sure you walk with the funds. In my experience, the VAC I went to only accepted a debit card or credit. They did not accept cash.

I am not sure if this is the same for all VAC’s or only the one I went to. You can always call the center beforehand for more details.

I would also recommend that you call and enquire generally about everything because due to covid-19 there are a lot of changes in many organizations. It doesn’t hurt to call and find out.

Passport Request

Once your biometrics are delivered, you can continue tracking your application online. The status will show after three days that your biometrics are complete.

After the biometrics, the next update will be requests for additional documents if required. For example, countries requiring a medical certificate will now be require to upload the medical to their application.

All the information will be provided in a letter. As stated before, I would recommend that you do the medical before it is requested if the website states that you need it for your application. This will reduce the processing time of your application and being prepared can avoid unforeseen delays.

After the application is processed, a decision will be made on your application. If your visa was approved, this will appear in a letter stating that ‘your application is approved’. The officer will then requests your passport to complete the process.

You will receive all the instructions in the letter to tell you what to do next. You will be directed to the VAC office. This is the same place where you did your biometrics and paid the service fee.

The VAC office will send the passport to the Canadian embassy, where your Canadian student visa will be added to your passport.

Guys I know this sounds like a lot, and to be frank, it is but don’t get discouraged. Once you have a dream or a goal, set your mind to it and you will reap the reward.

Key tips to keep in mind:

Online is the best and fastest way to do your application
Get all your tools like scanner, before you apply
Ensure you have the minimum amount of the proof of funds
Write a solid statement of purpose
Get your acceptance letter from a designated learning institution
Gather all the documents required before starting the application.

Just a reminder; I offer one-on-one coaching calls if you need assistance finding a school for international students, assistance navigating through the official website or just want information about moving to Canada as an international student.

You can send a query to my email at growwithtp@gmail.com

The DIY Canadian Student Visa Program is great for you if you

are not sure how to go about finding a school in Canada
need options on ways to finance your studies
want to avoid rejection of your study permit.

If you are still having doubts about the process to study in Canada, you can join my Facebook group where you can listen more of my content and interact with others who are in the process of applying as well.

In the Facebook group, I notify everyone, each time I post so certainly go ahead and join.

The entire application process does take time, and success never comes easy. I recommend that you focus on why you are doing this, what are the goals you want to achieve and you will be fine!

I tried to make the information as detailed as possible for you, but if you have any questions don’t be afraid to ask.

Leave a comment down below and let me know which step in getting ‘your Canadian student visa’ has been the hardest for you.

If you have any questions or business queries, email me at growwithtp@gmail.com.

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