Study Abroad in Canada as an International Student

As an international student, choosing Canada as your study abroad destination is one of the best decisions you can make. Canada features some of the world’s greatest universities and other educational institutions, giving good and quality education to both domestic and international students. As an international student in Canada, you will have access to benefits such as experiencing a diverse culture, working part-time during school hours and full-time during scheduled breaks, internship/co-op programmes to help you gain relevant work experience, gaining Canadian work experience after you complete your education, and much more. Canada, sometimes known as “The Great North,” is usually regarded as the world’s second largest country, featuring numerous tourist sites and natural wonders. You can use your time in Canada to visit these attractions, which can help you cope with the stress that comes with studying. An article about interesting places to visit in Canada can be found here.

I’ll walk you through the steps of applying for a student visa to study in Canada as an international student in this article.

1. Choose a programme you want to pursue and apply to a Canadian post-secondary institution. It could be a university or a college. The school must be a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) that has been approved to accommodate overseas students by a provincial or territorial government in Canada. You may see a list of DLIs in Canada here.

2. If you apply to a DLI and are accepted as a student, the school will issue you an acceptance letter. To apply for a study permit, you’ll need this letter.

3. Now that you’ve been accepted by a Canadian authorised learning institution, download the application package if you’re applying on paper, or create an IRCC secure account if you’re applying online. If you’re applying on paper, you’ll need to complete and submit your application at a VAC (Visa Application Centre) in your country. If you’re applying online, you’ll need a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents to upload, as well as a valid credit card to pay your visa application fee.

4. Begin gathering supporting documentation to submit with your application for a study permit. Your confirmation of acceptance, identity, and financial support must all be included in these documents. You may be asked to give a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) in some situations, and a medical report in the majority of cases.

Acceptance Evidence

The admission letter from your school is your proof of acceptance. Either the original copy or the electronic copy can be used. You will usually receive an electronic copy in your email before the actual document arrives.

Identity Verification

You and your family members (if any are accompanying you to Canada) must have proof of identity.

an international passport or a travel document issued by your home country.
two passport-size photographs taken recently
On the back of your passport photograph, write your name and date of birth. The same is true for any family members travelling with you to Canada (if applicable).

Financial Support Documentation

Finally, you must demonstrate that you are financially capable of funding your education for the first year of your studies in Canada if they will last longer than a year, or for the entire length if they will last less than a year. Any of the following can be used to demonstrate your financial capability:

If you’ve moved money to a Canada Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution, you’ll need documentation of a Canadian bank account in your name.

bank statements for the last four months proof of a student or education loan from a bank a bank draught that can be converted to Canadian dollars

If you have a scholarship or are enrolled in a Canadian-funded educational programme, you must provide proof of payment of tuition and housing expenses, as well as a letter from the person or school that gave you money or proof of financing paid from within Canada.

You don’t have to come up with all of the money you’ll need to study in Canada. It could be from your parents, a family member, or your boss.

Ties to Your Home Country Must Be Prove

This type of documentation is not usually required, however submitting additional documents to demonstrate your ties to your native country can improve your chances of approval. I’ve met a few overseas students in Canada whose earlier applications were denied because “they couldn’t persuade the visa officer (immigration officers who process student visas) that they would be departing Canada once their studies were through.” Proving that you have ties to your home nation is critical in cases like this. Any of the documents listed below can be attached to your application.

Job/career letter from your company in your home country Personal assets such as landed property documents or vehicles that you possess It should be noted in the letter if they are sponsoring you to come to Canada and that your position with their company/organization is still valid.
Birth certificates, marriage certificates, or images of your spouse, children, or other dependents who are not accompanying you to Canada bank statements for the past four months of the business that you own, articles of incorporation, and documentation to establish that it is registered

5. While you wait for the verdict on your study visa application, take some time to learn more about the country and read our post on travelling recommendations for international students. You can also check the processing times to see how long it will take to complete your application.

Wishing you the best of luck as you embark on your journey to Canada as an international student.