How to Apply for Canada student Visa (2024)

Canada’s outstanding educational system and welcoming, diversified society make it an attractive destination for overseas students. If you are an immigrant seeking to study in Canada, you must first apply for a student visa.

How to Apply for a Canada Study Visa

You can apply for a student visa to Canada in two ways: online or on paper.

Online Application

The most typical method of acquiring a Canadian education visa is to apply online. To pay the application fees, candidates must have a valid credit or debit card. They also require access to a camera or scanner to scan and save electronic versions of their supporting documents.

How to Fill Out an Online Application

To apply for a study visa in Canada, candidates must first check their eligibility by filling out the “Check your eligibility to apply” form accessible at onlineservices-servicesenligne.cic.gc.ca/c2c/eapp.

Qualified candidates will notice a unique reference code at the top of their personalised checklist for a Canada student visa. An internet software cannot run without both of these.

1. Open an Online Account with IRCC

• For information on applying for a study permit in Canada, go to https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/apply.html
• Enter your email address and a new password to create an account.

2. The “Application for a Study Permit Made Outside of Canada (IMM 1294)” form must be filled out online.
3. After compiling the necessary papers, submit it online.
4. The $150 CAD costs should be paid using a credit card. Credit cards from American Express, JCB, UnionPay, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted.

Offline (on paper) application

Paper applications for a Canada education visa are only allowed in the following circumstances:

• Due to their condition, the candidates are unable to apply online.
• Applicants include persons who are stateless, refugees, or hold a travel passport or non-national identity.
• All other candidates, regardless of nation of origin, must submit their applications electronically.

The IRCC website contains application packages for paper applications. Instruction manuals for each country are accessible on their respective websites. It provides a list of countries that issue study permits, as well as instructions on how to complete the application form for a student visa to Canada. It is advised that candidates acquire and read the national instruction manual.

How to apply on paper 

1. Go to https://www.canada.ca/en/sr/srb.html?q=study+visa&wb-srch-sub= to read the guide on applying for a study permit outside of Canada.
2. Applicants must select the country or region from which they will submit their application in order to acquire local Visa Application Center (VAC) information and further instructions.
3. Download the “Application for a Study Permit Made Outside of Canada (IMM 1294),” complete it, and then click “validate” to submit your application for a student visa to Canada. The barcodes at the end and the word “validated” in the upper right corner show that the form has been validated.
4. Immediately sign and print the form.
5. To apply for a student visa to Canada, candidates must ensure that they have all of the necessary documents and submit the application in its entirety. They can contact their local visa application centre to see if any further documents are required, and they should send them all ahead of time.
6. The application fee is 150 CAD. Please use a credit card as payment. The application packet must include the “official receipt” for the payment.
7. The completed student visa application and any supporting papers can be submitted in person to the nearest Visa Application Center (VAC). VAC will then transmit the application to the Canadian Embassy or High Commission for processing.

A guide for foreign nationals who want to apply for a student visa in Canada.

1. Choose a Designated Learning Institution (DLI): The Canadian government authorises DLIs to hire international students as full-time instructors. The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website includes a list of DLIs.
2. To acquire an acceptance letter, contact a DLI. After deciding on a DLI, submit an application along with any supporting documentation. If your application is approved, the DLI will mail you an acceptance letter.
3. Meet the program’s prerequisites. Once approved, you must meet the DLI program’s eligibility conditions to receive a student visa. It may be necessary to complete specific educational criteria, speak French or English well, and earn a reasonable wage.
4. To apply for a student visa, please give the following information to the IRCC. There are three ways to submit your student visa application: online, through a Canadian embassy, or at a visa application centre. A $150CAD application fee is required.
5. Please submit the required documentation. To apply for a student visa, you must include the following supporting documents:
   1. A valid passport.
   2. Letter of permission from the DLI
   3. Evidence of financial backing.
   4. Evidence of Health Coverage
   5. Police clearance certifications (where applicable)
6. Pay for visa processing: A visa costs $185 Canadian.
7. If necessary, attend the visa interview. Some candidates may be requested to attend a visa interview at a Canadian embassy or visa application centre.
8. Get a student visa: If your student visa application is approved, you will receive a visa vignette for your passport. This visa allows you to enter Canada and attend the DLI, where you have been approved.

Application deadlines for student visas

Depending on the season and the country from where you are applying, the date for filing a student visa application may vary. In general, the application procedure should begin at least six months before your desired travel to Canada.

Additional Details for Students Filing Visa Applications

Before applying for a student visa, consider the following additional advice:

• Make certain that the required documents are properly and thoroughly submitted. Applications containing errors or that are incomplete may be rejected or delayed.
• During your studies in Canada, be prepared to answer questions about your course schedule and financial aid arrangements.
• Throughout the application process, be precise and honest. Applications containing misleading or false information may be rejected during the application process.

If you are having trouble applying for a student visa in Canada, you can contact the Immigration and Refugee Council of Canada (IRCC), a Canadian embassy, or a visa application facility.