Canada Visa Requirements

As an international student, there are various Canada student visa requirements that you will need to meet in order to live, study, and work in Canada. In most cases, you will need to be issued a student visa, or “study permit.” This is issued by the Canadian government upon your arrival in Canada to attend school.

Do I Need a Canadian Student Visa?

Generally speaking, all international students who study in Canada are required to have a student visa. There are, however, a few exceptions. For example, if you will be enrolled in a short-term educational course that lasts six months or less; or if you are a member of the armed forces of another country living in Canada according to the terms of the Visiting Foreign Forces Act, you will generally not need a Canadian student visa. You may or may not need a student visa if you are a staff member or family member of someone who is a foreign representative to Canada who has been accredited by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. You may be required to have a temporary resident visa to Canada (depending on where you live or your citizenship) in addition to a student visa.

Application Process for a Canadian Student Visa

1. Check the processing time.

   Find out how long it takes to process a standard study permit application at a specific office so that you will know how far in advance to apply. Remember that this is not a guarantee; you should apply well in advance to be safe.
2. Next, you can either:

   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. If you apply online, this is the final step in the application process.

   Apply on paper.

   To do this, first download the application kit and read the instruction guide. This will provide you with information about student visas and instructions to help you complete your application.

3. Pay the processing fee.

   Refer to the fee schedule for the cost to apply for a student visa and how to pay. This processing fee is non-refundable in all cases. If you do not submit the correct fee, your application will be considered incomplete and will be returned to you.

4. Submit your application and supporting documents.

   Submit your application package (this includes forms, fees, and supporting documents) according to the guidelines for submitting an application.

Studying in Quebec

If you are planning on studying in Quebec, a Certificate of Acceptance (CAQ) will be required before applying for a Canadian student visa. When you submit your visa application, you should include either:

• Your Certificate of Acceptance (CAQ), or
• The approval letter sent by the Quebec government before the CAQ is issued. This letter contains your CAQ number.