We will tell you in detail how to independently obtain a student visa to Canada in 2024: list of documents and application procedure.
Important changes
As of February 13, 2024, the Quebec Ministry of Immigration issues an updated letter confirming the issuance of the Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (Certificate of Acceptance to Québec) for study. This letter allows applicants to apply for a study permit in accordance with the Federal Government guidelines issued on January 22, 2024.
As of January 22, 2024, most students will be required to provide a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from the province or territory where they plan to study.
From January 1, 2024 , financial requirements for students and members of their families have been increased.
From October 1, 2022, coronavirus restrictions were lifted. Now you do not need to use the ArriveCAN application, provide a certificate of vaccination, PCR test, or go through quarantine.
Study Permit is a permit to study in Canada (in simple words – a study visa) for foreign citizens. To receive it, you must have a letter of acceptance from one of the educational institutions with DLI status.
DLI (Designated learning institutions) is an educational institution that has permission to accept foreign students.
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SP is only required if the training lasts more than 6 months. If the period is less than or equal to 6 months, then you will need a Visitor Visa.
If you need help with your application, we have a student visa service .
If you are interested in studying in this country and then moving permanently, we recommend that you study our article about immigration to Canada through education .
A study permit is issued for the entire period of study plus an additional 90 days. This time is required to be able to calmly pack up and leave the country, as well as renew the permit or issue a Post-Graduation Work Permit , if required.
At the same time, the expiration date of the study permit is the actual date of completion of studies, and not the date specified in the letter of admission to the educational institution. The date of completion of training will be considered the date on which the corresponding letter from the educational institution was received, or the receipt of a diploma/certificate.
And if suddenly, for some reason, you cannot complete your studies in Canada before the completion date, then you need to extend the Permit.
An extension will also be required if the school or university has asked you to take pre-requisite courses before starting your main course.
If your studies include holidays, such as summer or winter, you can leave Canada during this period.
You can now enter Canada on a student visa
Yes. There are no restrictions specifically for Russians. In addition, on October 1, 2022, coronavirus restrictions were lifted. Read more in the article about the rules for entering Canada in 2024 .
Who can apply
An acceptance letter from an educational institution does not guarantee that you will be able to obtain an SP. There is a simple explanation for this: since the duration of the courses is usually a year or two, students have time to adapt during this time. And many remain in Canada forever after this, often illegally.
When applying for a student visa, it is important to prove that you need this education for your career and development in your country of residence. Applicants who prepare documents on their own do not take into account nuances that significantly increase the chances of a positive decision.
When you work with our study permit team, you receive expert advice, quality professional assistance and experience. More details on the case pages .
To qualify for Study Permit Canada you must:
- be enrolled in a learning institution (DLI);
- prove your solvency;
- have no criminal record or other problems with the law;
- do not have serious illnesses, this will need to be confirmed in the future by the results of a medical examination;
- convince the immigration officer that you will return to your country of residence after completing your studies.
In addition to the primary requirements, there are also a number of responsibilities that come with studying in Canada. These are:
- conscientious learning and good academic performance;
- comply with all conditions of the study permit;
- stop studying if you no longer meet the requirements;
- leave Canada after the SP expires.
What conditions must be met:
- attend classes only in your course;
- work only if allowed;
- Travel within Canada only when permitted.
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Documents for student visa
You can apply for a study visa in both Russia and Canada. The visa documents for both options are the same.
It is worth submitting documents in advance, since now, due to the situation in the world, the processing time has increased significantly: from 2 to 12 months.
- International passport.Must have at least 2 blank pages.
- Digital photography.Size: 3.5×4.5 (it is important to maintain proportions). Read more about photo requirements for a Canada visa .
- Copies of international passport.All completed pages + photo page.
- Copies of canceled passports.All completed pages + photo page.
- Copy of national passport.Photo spread + registration.
- Certificate from the place of work.It is written on letterhead indicating the date of issue, as well as information about the employee, such as: position, salary, start date, information that the applicant will be able to return to work after graduation.
- Statement from the bank.The document must contain the movement of funds for the last 4 months, indicating the account number and owner data, as well as with a round seal and date.
- Bank reference.It is prepared on the Bank’s letterhead with information about the account owner, the date of its opening, restrictions, if any, account number and balance amount.
- For individual entrepreneurs.You must attach a scanned TIN and OGRN + proof of income for 1 year.
- Other documents confirming additional income.These could be: pension, real estate rental, etc.
- For minors.Copies of St. birth certificate and parents’ passports, as well as a letter from the sponsor and an extract from the sponsor’s Bank. If a child goes on a trip without one or both parents – a notarized permission to travel from one/both parents.
- Documents confirming connection with the Motherland.These could be real estate certificates, marriage certificates, birth certificates of minor children.
- Motivation letter.It must be written in any language, but it is worth considering that all documents must be translated into English or French.
The motivation letter contains an appeal to the visa officer describing what motivates you to study in Canada.
This letter must also contain additional information that you consider obligatory to provide to the officer, or a justification for the absence of any mandatory document.
- Letter of Acceptance.Letter of acceptance to an educational institution in Canada.
- Application for Study Permit Made Outside of Canada (IMM1294).Application form for applicants outside of Canada.
- Family Information Form (IMM5707).Questionnaire with family information.
- Application for a Temporary Resident Visa Made Outside Canada (IMM5257).Questionnaire with additional information.
- For citizens of other countries living in the Russian Federation.A copy of a document confirming legal residence, as well as a copy of temporary registration.
- Sponsorship letter and sponsor documents.For those who cannot pay expenses on their own. These categories include minors, the unemployed and simply those who do not have enough money.
If the trip will be paid for by the sponsor, then as a financial guarantee he must provide his certificates and bank statements, as well as a copy of his passport and information about what binds you.
Read more about the preparation and content of a sponsorship letter for a visa to Canada .
All listed student visa documents (except passports) that are not in English or French must be translated into one of them.
No certified translation is required. But each translated document must contain the translator’s information (name, telephone, address), the date of translation, as well as the signature and round seal of the company that translated.
According to the rules for submitting documents for any type of visa to Canada, the applicant and his relatives do not have the right to translate their documents.
Our company translates all documents into English as part of the service for preparing documents for a student visa. By entrusting translations to us, you will protect yourself from mistakes and eliminate the need to contact another company for this service.
How much money should be in the account
The amount that must be in the account at the time of submitting documents consists of the following components:
- balance of tuition payment;
- amount to pay for flights and accommodation (approximate);
- amount to support yourself in Canada.
If we are talking about sponsorship, then the sponsor’s account should also have some kind of “cushion” left for living expenses for him and his family.
The amount to support yourself in Canada depends on which province you will study in and whether relatives will accompany you. Below are two tables showing the amounts for those planning to study in Quebec and abroad.
Outside Quebec
| Family members (including the main applicant) | Amount (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 20,635 |
| 2 | 25,690 |
| 3 | 31,583 |
| 4 | 38,346 |
| 5 | 43,492 |
| 6 | 49,051 |
| 7 | 54,611 |
In Quebec
| For whom | Amount per year (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 person under 18 years old | 7,541 |
| 1 person 18 years or older | 15,078 |
| 2 people 18 years or older | 22.115 |
| 2 people 18 years and older and 1 person under 18 years old | 24,773 |
| 2 people 18 years and older and 2 people under 18 years old | 26,737 |
Application process and fees
You can apply for a visa to Canada for study either online or through the visa center office. In Russia, there are visa centers in: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Rostov-on-Don, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, documents for student visas are accepted only through your personal account. Application at visa centers is not available.
The fee for applying for a student visa to Canada is 150 CAD . All applicants over 14 years of age will be required to submit biometrics (photos and fingerprints), the biometric fee is 85 CAD.
Let’s sum it up
A student visa to Canada (Study Permit) will be required in cases where the duration of your studies exceeds 6 months. If the period is shorter, apply for a Visitor Visa. The Canada study visa is not an immigration visa, so upon completion of your studies you must leave Canada or extend your stay.
The main documents influencing the outcome of the consideration of the application are the Letter of Acceptance, financial documents, papers on connections with the Motherland and your letter of motivation.
It is worth considering that the full list of documents, as well as the contents of the motivation letter, completely depend on your situation. If there are not enough documents or the motivation letter is drawn up incorrectly, then you risk being rejected.
Each client of our company receives an individual list of documents, taking into account personal circumstances. And the motivation letter is prepared by our team’s specialists based on positive experience.
Age is also an important criterion; in practice, visas are issued to applicants under 25 years of age more readily than to those older than this age.
If you have any questions, you can write in the comments or contact us through the feedback form.