Foreign students are allowed to complete their education in Canada through student visas. There are various types of such permits and several steps to complete to obtain them.
Below, our immigration lawyers in Canada have created a guide on this type of temporary residence permit. Furthermore, once you decide to come here, you can rely on us for support if you want to obtain a study visa for Canada.
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Canada student visa requirements
There are several conditions to meet in order to be eligible for a study permit in Canada. These are:
- your coming to Canada must rely on an invitation from a designated learning institution;
- the course you intend to take must be at least 6 months long (exceptions apply);
- once you enroll in the course, you cannot renounce it;
- you must keep up and have a satisfactory level of learning with the course.
The exception to the 6-month course refers to intending to enroll in another learning program at a later date. We recommend discussing the Canadian immigration requirements as a student with one of our lawyers to have a full picture of the necessary conditions.
Documents required to obtain a study visa for Canada
There are several documents to gather and submit to be issued a study permit in Canada, as you can read below:
- the acceptance letter/invitation from the recognized education provider;
- documents on your educational background;
- a valid passport and birth certificate;
- a medical certificate;
- a declaration of the reason for moving to Canada;
- clean criminal record.
Apart from these, you must also prepare financial evidence in relation to your stay and study in Canada. Specifically, proof of financial sustainability for your living expenses, tuition fees, and return home is required. It can take the form of:
- bank statements;
- letter from sponsors (parents, other family members, the education provider);
- proof of having secured a student loan.
Our Canadian immigration lawyers can provide a ballpark number on the minimum amount necessary to support your stay here for at least 6 months.
How to prove your educational background to obtain a Canada student visa
There are several documents you can use to demonstrate your educational background if you want to obtain a study visa for Canada. You can use secondary school or degree diplomas, work experience documents (if available), and even IETLS certificates to show you are proficient in English.
These documents must be accepted by the educational facility you enroll with in Canada and based on them it will extend an invitation letter you will use to obtain your Canadian study permit.
Please note that if you intend to study in Quebec, you will also need an acceptance certificate. Also, here you need to be proficient in French.
How long does it take to obtain a study permit in Canada?
Applications take around 90 days to be processed in terms of Canada study visa applications with the immigration authorities. You may also need to attend a visa interview with the Canadian embassy or consulate in your home country.
You can discuss more about the Canada student visa requirements with our local lawyers.
Statistics on the number of foreign students in Canada
According to the most recent data gathered by the Bureau for International Education, at the end of 2024:
- there were 997,820 student permit holders in Canada;
- 39% of the total number of foreign students came from India;
- 10% of them were Chinese citizens;
- 3% of the total number of students were from France.
Our lawyers can also help you if you intend to immigrate to Canada from the USA. They can support you in filing for residency or citizenship in Canada.
Feel free to contact us for support in applying for a study visa for Canada.
