CANADA STUDENT VISA
Canada continues to attract a steady volume of students from India. If you wish to take academic, professional or vocational training at a university, college or other educational institution in Canada, you will need a study permit before you enter Canada.
However, to get there, a student must first apply for a Temporary Resident Visa which is provided by the Canadian High Commission and facilitated by the Visa Application Centers. VFS Global Services are the designated VACs for Canadian Visa.
THERE ARE 2 WAYS TO APPLY FOR CANADA STUDENT VISA.
- UNDER SPP COLLEGES
- UNDER NON SPP COLLEGES
WHAT ARE SPP COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
SPP (The Student Partners Program) was developed in partnership between the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) and the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
It is an arrangement between selected Canadian educational institutions and Canadian High Commission in India to provide quick and easy study visa for the prospective students of participating institutions in Canada.
The main objective of this program is to increase the number of Canadian student visa issued to Indian students and to make the admissions-visa process more efficient.
As a student you do not have to apply for the SPP separately; you need to apply to a participating college and if your application meets the specific criteria, you may be considered under the program. It is recommended that you submit your application at least three months before the beginning of the academic course.
You need to undergo a compulsory medical examination before submitting your visa application by visiting one of the Designated Medical Practitioners (DMP) in India. See the complete list of the physician’s on DMP panel.
REQUIREMENTS
FOR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES –
- Overall IELTS examscore of 0 with no band less than 5.5 issued in the past two years.
- Study gap of no more than 2 years, with some exceptions made for students with excellent grades and a three-year gap.
- The program applied for must be complimentary and should add value to the previous education.
- The student should have an overall minimum score of 50% in their more recently completed diploma or degree.
- Proof of tuition payment for 1 semester or one year (as asked by the SPP institution).
- The purchase of a special Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from Scotia Bank, in the amount of $10,000 CAD to cover living expenses for your first year in Canada.
- If you have previously been refused Canadian student visa, you are not eligible to apply under SPP.
UNDER POST GRADUATE DEGREES –
- Overall IELTS Scoreof 5 with no band less than 6.0 issued in the past 24 months.
- Study gap of no more than 5 years, with some exceptions made for students with excellent grades and a six-year gap.
- The program must be complementary and value added to their previous education.
- The student should have a minimum Second Class of C-level with an overall minimum score of 50% in their more recently completed diploma or degree.
- Proof of tuition payment for 1 semester or one year (as asked by the SPP institution).
- The purchase of a special Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from Scotia Bank, in the amount of $10,000 CAD to cover living expenses for your first year in Canada.
- If you have previously been refused Canadian student visa, you are not eligible to apply under SPP.
NOTE: YOU CAN ALSO GET STUDENT VISA WITHOUT IELTS UNDER ESL PROGRAM.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF APPLYING UNDER SPP?
- Fast visa processing (5 to 10 working days)
- Advance medicals reports
- Quality of the institutions is assured
- Less documents required for visa
- Post Study Work Options for students
- NO Bank balance is required.
There are 40+ universities and colleges which are part of SPP. Most of the colleges (with a couple of exceptions) under SPP teach technical courses and offer diplomas and degrees. Please find the list in the end.
DOCUMENTS REQUIREMENT
Which Documents are required for Canadian Visa?
You should apply for the student visa after you get the college acceptance letter. You should begin with the visa process around June if aiming at the September intake. Following are the documents needed to apply.
- VALID PASSPORT
- OFFER LETTER BY A DESIGNATED LEARNING INSTITUTION
- PROOF OF FUNDS
- PASSPORT SIZE PHOTOGRAPHS
- IMMIGRATION MEDICAL EXAMINATION (IME)
- ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY EXAM SCORE
- STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Apart from the above, if applying online, you would need access to a digital scanner. However, if you are applying offline, you should have true copies of all the above-mentioned documents. It is important to note that while applying online, you would be required to download a few documents, fill them, print them, sign them and then upload them. Accordingly, the availability of the scanner must be arranged. The system also allows you to upload a good quality digital image. We, however, recommend a scanner to a camera.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A CANADIAN VISA FOR STUDY
There are several steps to apply for a visa.
- Check the processing times –The visa application cycle might take anywhere from 3-4 weeks. It is advisable to go through the Canadian consulate website to know the approximate time taken to process the student visa. Please note that the time shown is not a guarantee and is just an estimate.
- Determine how you will apply.There are two ways to apply:
(a) Apply online
To apply online you must have access to a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents for uploading and have a valid credit card for payment. You will still be required to provide a finger scan at the regional Visa Application Centre (VAC). Remember, in the case of Online Application you need to visit the VFS offices to hand your passports and would have to provide the confirmation of form and fee payment as well. the steps would only vary in terms of documents you need to carry to the VAC.
(b) Apply in person
Download the application kit and read the instruction guide. The instruction guide contains important information about study permits and instructions to help you complete your application. Read the guide carefully and use the document checklist.
- Fill out the VFS Consent Formand attach it with your application form. You need this form to get the assistance of VFS services for your visa filing process.
- Pay the processing fee($150) – Note that when submitting an application via the VFS, in person or by mail, visa fees must be paid in addition to VFS Global service charges. The processing fee is non-refundable in all cases.
- If your spouse/common-law partner and/or children are accompanying you and you are applying for temporary resident visas, work permits or study permits for them, then you will need to pay the appropriate processing fees for them.
- Submit your application and supporting documents –You have to visit the nearest VFS office. Once you are there, pay the service charges and hand them your complete application to obtain a receipt. This receipt contains your unique tracking number which you will need to track the progress of your application online.
- In case your application is approved you will receive notification from the Government of Canada requesting for your passport. You can submit the passport and passport request letter in person or through VFS. You would be provided with a Temporary Resident Visa and a Letter of Introduction.
DEPENDENTS
Spouses can accompany full-time students on a Dependent visa. You only need to show that adequate funds are available for their support. Spouses can also work full time if his/her stay is for a year or more.
In some cases, you may apply for an open work permit if you will be accompanying your spouse or common-law partner to Canada. With an open work permit, you may find and accept any job when you get to Canada. You do not need a job offer or a positive labor market impact assessment to apply for your work permit.
Am I allowed to work on a Canadian Study Permit?
You do not need a separate Work Permit to work while studying in Canada. On a valid study permit, you are allowed to work on-campus and off- campus. Off campus, you are allowed to work up to a maximum of 20 hours a week during term. Apart from these, you
- Must be enrolled as a full-time student with a designated institute of higher learning, and
- Remain enrolled in an academic, vocational or professional training program that is six months or longer and that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate
POST STUDY WORK PERMITS FOR CANADA
The eligibility criteria to get a Post Study Work Permit are as follows:
- You should have pursued a full-time course in Canada.
- The length of your course should have been more than 8 months.
- You must have graduated from either a public post-secondary institution or a private post-secondary institution or
- You should apply for the work permit within three months (90 days) after receiving an official letter saying that you have successfully completed your education from the institute.
- You will be given the work permit only if you have a student visa.
- You cannot get a work permit longer than your course duration. If your course duration was eight months, then you will receive a work permit for eight months. If your course duration was more than two years, then you may receive a work permit for three years.
| Duration of Study | Work Permit duration |
| 2 years | 3 years |
| Less than 2 years | Equal to the duration of study |
SPP COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES IN CANADA
| SPP Institution | Province | DLI No. |
| Bow Valley College | Alberta | O19273769422 |
| Lakeland College | Alberta | O18777577472 |
| Medicine Hat College | Alberta | O18795445892 |
| NorQuest college | Alberta | O18795996622 |
| Northern Alberta Institute of Technology | Alberta | O18713200642 |
| Camosun College | British Columbia | O19361235542 |
| College of New Caledonia | British Columbia | O19360977332 |
| College of the Rockies | British Columbia | O19377233362 |
| Columbia College | British Columbia | O19279591302 |
| Douglas College | British Columbia | O19360973702 |
| Kwantlen Polytechnic University | British Columbia | O19350676872 |
| Langara College | British Columbia | O19319074622 |
| LaSalle College | British Columbia | O19283933672 |
| North Island College | British Columbia | O19301182602 |
| Northern Lights | British Columbia | O19395299444 |
| Okanagan College | British Columbia | O19395299488 |
| Selkirk College | British Columbia | O19360990072 |
| University of The Fraser Valley | British Columbia | O19395299642 |
| Vancouver Community College | British Columbia | O19279717512 |
| Vancouver Island University | British Columbia | O19395299688 |
| Assiniboine Community College | Manitoba | O19201282282 |
| Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology (formerly WTC) | Manitoba | O19391828428 |
| Red River College | Manitoba | O19305836302 |
| Algonquin College | Ontario | O19358971022 |
| Cambrian College | Ontario | O19394699409 |
| Canadore College | Ontario | O19395535239 |
| Centennial College | Ontario | O19394700003 |
| Conestoga College | Ontario | O19376158572 |
| Confederation College | Ontario | O19376986752 |
| Durham College | Ontario | O19361081012 |
| Fanshawe College | Ontario | O19361039982 |
| Fleming College | Ontario | O19303189722 |
| George Brown College | Ontario | O19283850612 |
| Georgian College | Ontario | O19395677361 |
| Humber College | Ontario | O19376943122 |
| Lambton College | Ontario | O19305293332 |
| Loyalist College | Ontario | O19359011572 |
| Mohawk College | Ontario | O19376045902 |
| Niagara College | Ontario | O19396019469 |
| Northern College | Ontario | O19315830082 |
| Sault College | Ontario | O19395677683 |
| Seneca College | Ontario | O19395536013 |
| Sheridan College | Ontario | O19385946782 |
| St Clair College | Ontario | O19395083703 |
| St Lawrence College | Ontario | O19332845222 |
| Lasalle College | Quebec | O19358462986 |
| Parkland College | Saskatchewan | O19425521569 |
| Saskatchewan Polytechnic (formerly SIAST) | Saskatchewan | O19425521849 |
HERE ARE THE STATISTICS OF CANADIAN STUDY PERMIT APPLICATIONS IN INDIA:
| YEAR | TOTAL APPLICATIONS | APPROVAL | REJECTION | APPROVAL RATE |
| 2009 | NA | 5,703 | NA | NA |
| 2010 | NA | 11,778 | NA | NA |
| 2011 | NA | 12,115 | NA | NA |
| 2012 | NA | 13,141 | NA | NA |
| 2013 | NA | 12,976 | NA | NA |
| 2014 | 27,114 | 17,866 | 9,248 | 65.89% |
| 2015 | 38,666 | 24,713 | 13,953 | 63.91% |
| 2016 | 64,209 | 43,744 | 20,465 | 68.13% |
COST:
Canadian universities are cheapest among UK, USA, Australia. Average international tuition is around CA$15,000 per year.
| University tuition fees for full-time foreign students | ||
| Province | Undergraduate tuition fees (per year)* |
Graduate tuition fees (per year)** |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | $8,780 | $1,896 – $3,549 |
| Prince Edward Island | $8,970 | $4,854 – $7,281 |
| Nova Scotia | $8,233 – $14,349 | $5,735 – $19,467 |
| New Brunswick | $7,843 – $12,810 | $7,260 – $9,384 |
| Quebec | $10,068 – $12,930 | $9,078 – $20,000 |
| Ontario | $6,900 – $16,800 | $5,650 – $26,764 |
| Manitoba | $5,573 – $8,283 | $4,170 – $7,937 |
| Saskatchewan | $8,489 – $11,482 | $2,000 – $7,078 |
| Alberta | $8,000 – $15,767 | $5,500 – $21,546 |
| British Columbia | $9,248 – $17,667 | $2,600 – $33,667 |
