How to Obtain a Student Visa for Canada?

Documents required for a Canadian student visa may vary depending on the student's situation and planned study program. Therefore, before applying for a student visa, we advise you to check the up-to-date information on the official website of Immigration and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), because the application process and documents may change over time. But in general, the following documents are required for visa application:

Letter of Acceptance
- An acceptance letter from an educational institution in Canada is one of the basic documents for a visa application.
Passport
- The validity period of your passport must cover the period during which you wish to study in Canada.
Visa Application Form
- The visa application form, which can be downloaded from Canada's official website, must be filled out accurately and completely.
Visa Application Fee
- You must pay the designated fee for visa application.
Documents Showing Financial Status
- Financial documents show that you can cover your education and living expenses. Documents such as bank account statements, sponsorship letters, and scholarship documents can be included in this category.
Educational History Certificate
- Documents, diplomas and transcripts related to your previous education.
English/French Language Proficiency
- IELTS, TOEFL, DELF or DALF exam results, depending on the language of your study program.
Health insurance
- Students are generally required to have health insurance to study in Canada.
Application Letter
- An application letter stating why you want to study in Canada and your plans.
Photo for Visa Application Form
- A photograph of a visa application form to be submitted along with the documents.

Canada Student Visa Language Requirements

Depending on the type of student visa, Canada may require students to demonstrate proficiency in the language they will study. Generally, students who will study in English or French submit certain exam results or other language documents to prove their language proficiency.

The language tests most commonly used to prove language proficiency are:

IELTS (International English Language Testing System):
- Students who will study in English generally use IELTS exam results.
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language):
- TOEFL exam is also an accepted language document for students who will study in English.
DALF (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française) or DELF (Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française):
- Students who will study in French usually use DALF or DELF exam results.

Language requirements may vary depending on the education program and institution applied for. Additionally, attention should be paid to the validity periods of the exams used to prove language proficiency. While tests such as IELTS and TOEFL are valid for a few years, DELF documents are valid for life, but the information still needs to be confirmed by authorized institutions.

Is It Difficult to Get a Canadian Student Visa?

Getting a Canadian student visa is usually considered to be a smooth process as long as the student meets certain criteria. However, this process can vary depending on certain conditions. For example, students need to prove that they have sufficient money in their bank accounts. They should also be able to state a valid reason for travel and provide the necessary documents. They can also be asked to provide language exam results of internationally accepted exams such as IELTS or TOEFL.

As long as the students follow up-to-date information and dates from official consultancies and provide the required documents, the process is expected to run smoothly and without any trouble.

Applications for a Canadian student visa can be made both on paper and online. Since online applications are generally processed faster, there is a time difference between the two application types. Likewise, visa processing times may vary depending on the consulate's workload. However, in general, student visa applications are processed faster if the documents are submitted completely and accurately, the requests of the visa application centers are complied with, and there are no situations requiring any additional documents. On average, the specified period is between 2-3 weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Obtain a Student Visa for Canada?