Canada Immigration Requirements for Student Visa

Getting a study permit in Canada is a unique and exciting opportunity to advance your studies. International students are the lifeblood of the universities in Canada, and we are eager to welcome international students to Canada.

What are the requirements for immigration with a student visa?

The documents you are going to need to apply for a study visa include:

• A letter of acceptance from the school you’ll be attending full time.
• Proof of identity, such as a passport
• Proof of financial support. This is proof that you can support yourself while here. Including proof that you have paid tuition. If you are receiving money from a family member or a school, you must provide a letter from such.
• A letter of explanation, which is a letter outlining your goals and the reasons why you wish to study in Canada and immigrate to Canada.
• Quebec Acceptance Certificate. This is only required if you will be studying in Quebec for longer than six months. It will be issued by the Gouvernement du Québec. Your school in Quebec can guide you through the process of getting this certificate.
• Custodian declaration. If the student is a minor who requires a custodian, a Custodianship Declaration Form must be included and notarized.

Immigration Facts for Students in Canada

Did you know?

• In 2021, there were more than 621,560 study permit holders in Canada?
• The top ten countries of origin for study permit holders in Canada were, in order of greatest to smallest: India, China, France, Iran, Vietnam, South Korea, Philippines, United States of America, Nigeria, and Mexico.
• The top five programs of enrollment for study permit holders in Canada are, in order from greatest to smallest: Business Management and Public Administration; Architecture and Engineering; Social and behavioural sciences; Mathematics, computer, and information science; and Humanities.

New Immigration Laws for International Students

The biggest new immigration laws for international students in Canada, as of 2022, relate to COVID-19. As of January 15th, 2022, international students traveling to Canada must be fully vaccinated. And, as of April 25th, 2022, fully vaccinated travellers were no longer required to quarantine upon arrival.

Also, for students who have been granted a visa and are planning to travel to Canada, note that the CSBA (Canadian Border Services Agency) has stated that students should not arrive in Canada more than 28 days before the beginning of their school program start date, as listed on the Proof of Acceptance Letter.

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