The biometrics fee is $85 CAD. This fee is in addition to the regular Canadian student visa application fee ($150 CAD). However, note that some countries are exempt from this biometrics requirement. Canada in recent times has become very attractive to students.
It is one of the best countries in the world to live in, with great teaching methodology and valuable degrees. Owing to that, a lot of people want to enroll their children in Canadian primary or secondary schools, while adults are seeking to pursue their undergraduate or graduate programs in the county.
However, to be eligible to enter the country, students will have to first obtain a Canadian student visa and a study permit. Note that a Canadian Student Visa grants the holder permission to study in Canada.
The Canadian student visa is the same as a Canadian Visitor Visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTa) but comes with a study permit. It simply means that the Canadian student visa is a combination of either a visitor visa and a study permit or an eTA and a study permit.
You are only allowed to apply for a Canadian student visa if you are enrolled in a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). DLIs are schools or universities approved by the provincial or territorial government to admit and host international students.
To check whether a university or educational institution is a DLI, visit the Government of Canada website which is the official institution for all Canadian visas. On the page, just find and select the province or territory and it will present a list of all institutions which are DLIs.
Depending on your nationality, you may be expected to show up at a Visa Application Centre in your country to submit your biometrics. The biometrics fee is $85 CAD. This fee is in addition to the regular Canadian student visa application fee ($150 CAD).
However, note that some countries are exempt from this biometrics requirement. Also, depending on your situation, you might be invited for an interview. Local visa application centers will charge a small fee for their services.
Once you apply for your Canadian student visa, note that the processing time may take up to 90 days, but will most often depend on the situation in your home country. You can use the Student Direct Stream to get the study permit faster. Generally, application fees start at 150 CAD and the processing time is usually around 20 calendar days.
How to Apply for a Canadian Student Visa in 2023
Depending on your nationality, you will be expected to obtain certain documents before you can start applying for a Canadian student visa. You have to prove to the Canadian government that you have the financial capacity to support yourself throughout your studies, whether with savings or via a sponsor such as a parent.
However, regardless of your nationality or country of residency, you will be expected to follow these basic steps to apply for a Canadian student visa:
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Apply at a Canadian university and get your acceptance letter
Before you can start applying for a Canadian student visa, you will first need to apply and get enrolled to study in a Canadian institution. A Letter of Acceptance from your Designated Learning Institution (DLI) is a very important and vital document for your Canadian student visa application.
This one-page document will have to meet IRCC’s requirement for a Letter of Acceptance and should be from a Designated Learning Institution. In most cases, this is the only academic document students need to include in their study permit application.
Check Your Eligibility
An international student who has been enrolled in a Canadian DLI, but is outside Canada, will have to apply for a Canadian student visa. If you are from a country that does not require a visa to enter Canada, you will be expected to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) and a study permit. If you are from a country that requires a visa to enter Canada, then you have to apply for your student visa. You will need:
- An acceptance letter from a DLI
- Proof of financial support
- Have a clean criminal history and submit court documents to prove it.
- You must fill out and sign a Visa Application Center (VAC) Consent Form.
- You must submit copies of your current immigration status in another country or Canada.
- Prove that your stay in Canada is temporary and that you will return to your home country once your studies are over.
Prepare your application
Once you are very certain that you meet all the requirements, you can start to prepare your student visa application. Don’t forget that if you fail to show that you meet the requirements, an immigration officer may reject your application. Therefore, you must seek the expertise of a qualified immigration representative who can help review your application before you submit it.
Submit your Visa Application
In terms of submitting your Canadian student visa application, have it in mind that you have two options:
- Submit an electronic application: You will be expected to create an account on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. You can submit an application electronically using scanned or electronic copies of your documents.
- Submit a paper-based application: Gather hard copies of your documents and mail them to the Visa Application Centre (VAC) assigned to your country.
Once you have submitted your visa application, you now have to wait for your application to be processed and approved. Most often, you won’t receive your Canadian study permit until you arrive at a Canadian Port of Entry (POE).
But immediately after your visa application is approved, the Canadian government will mail you a Port of Entry Introduction Letter. You have to present this letter to the immigration office once you arrive in Canada to get your study permit.
Conclusion
A Canadian student visa is needed by international students that are eager to study in Canada. Note that it can take up to 90 days to process your visa application, therefore it’s advisable you submit your application as soon as you have a valid letter of acceptance from your college or university.
If your application is rejected by the IRCC, you will get a letter stating why your application was rejected. However you can reapply for your Canadian student visa at any time, but ensure you’ve addressed the issues in your previous submission.