Are you cherishing the dream of studying in the country of maple leaves but still wondering about the procedure for applying for a Canadian visa? Don't worry, IDP will be with you! Applying for a Canadian student visa will no longer be an obstacle if you understand the process and prepare your documents properly. Let's find out step by step to complete your Canadian student visa application in the smoothest and most effective way!

1. What is a Canadian student visa?

A Canadian student visa is a common name for a set of documents that help international students legally enter and study in Canada, including entry visas (visas) and study permits (Study Permits).

From November 2024, the SDS (expedited review) program has officially stopped applying, so Vietnamese students need to apply under the usual form of proof of finance. This means that you need to prepare sufficient documents to prove your ability to pay tuition fees and living expenses during your studies.

If you're having trouble proving your finances, contact IDP for free guidance to help you prepare your documents properly and increase your chances of getting a Canadian student visa.

2. Types of Canadian student visas

2.1. Short-term student visa

  • For participants in a course or short-term training course of less than 6 months.

  • It is not mandatory to apply for a Study Permit, just a tourist visa (Visitor Visa).

  • If the course lasts more than 6 months, you must apply for a Study Permit.

2.2. Study Permit

  • This is the main type of visa for international students studying in Canada for 6 months or more. It is a license that allows you to study legally at schools on the DLI (Designated Learning Institution) list.

  • This permit will be issued when you enter Canada, after the Study Permit application is approved by IRCC

Important Note:

  • A Study Permit is not an entry visa.

  • Once your Study Permit application is approved, IRCC will automatically issue one of two types of entry documents:

    • Temporary Resident Visa (TRV): For students from countries that must apply for an entry visa, such as Vietnam.

    • Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): For citizens of visa-exempt countries.

These two types of documents help you to be allowed to fly and enter Canada. Upon arrival, you will receive your Study Permit at the Canadian airport

3. Accompanying Dependent Visa (if applicable)

When you apply for a Canadian student visa, your accompanying relatives can apply for different types of visas:

  • Open Work Permit: For spouses of international students, allowing them to work legally in Canada.

  • Student Visa or Visitor Visa: For children (depending on age and study plan).

Conditions for applying for a Canadian student visa

To be granted a study permit and study in Canada, you need to meet the following conditions:

Educational Requirements

  • Have a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a Canadian school on the DLI list.

  • Meet the educational requirements of school records, transcripts and related qualifications (notarized translation into English/French).

  • Meet the foreign language requirement (depending on the level of study you choose)

Financial conditions

Finance is one of the conditions when applying for a Canadian student visa. You need to meet:

  • Tuition fees of the program

  • Living expenses for yourself and your accompanying relatives (if any)

  • Round-trip airfare (for you and your companions)

  • Have documents proving clear and legal financial sources

Note: From November 2024, Canada has discontinued the SDS program, Vietnamese students are now submitting the usual financial proof category.

Health conditions

In addition, in order to meet the requirements of being a global citizen, the visa application process also requires health and legal requirements.

  • Provide documents to prove that you have no criminal record

  • Meet the criteria for medical examination at a

    medical facility designated by the Consulate/IRCC.

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4. Documents to apply for a Canadian student visa

As part of the types of Canadian study documents, the preparation documents for applying for a Canadian student visa include the following 3 main groups: personal document records, academic records, and financial proof documents.

4.1 Personal identification

Used to verify your identity and residency status.

  • Passport – valid for at least 6 months

  • 2 Portrait Photos

  • Birth certificate (if submitted under a sponsor or minor)

  • ID card/CCCD (if submitting the Vietnamese version, a notarized translation is required)

  • Marriage certificate/single certificate (if applicable)

4.2 Study documents

  • Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a Canadian school

  • PAL/TAL or CAQ (if required by the school or province)

  • Transcripts, school records, previous degrees

  • English/French Language Certificate (IELTS...)

  • Academic CV (if postgraduate or long-term graduate)

  • Letter of Explanation / Study Plan

4.3 Financial documents

You can prove your finances through some of the following documents:

  • A Canadian bank account in your name, if you have transferred money to Canada

  • Secured Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution

  • Proof of student or education loans from a bank

  • Your bank statement for the last 4 years

  • Proof of payment of tuition and housing fees

  • Bank statements convertible to Canadian dollars

  • Letters from people and schools sponsoring your tuition fees

  • Proof of the grant paid from Canada, if you have a scholarship or are in a Canadian-sponsored education program

5. Steps to apply for a Canadian student visa

Applying for a Canadian student visa will become simpler if you know each step and prepare your application according to the instructions. Below is the detailed process to help you easily conquer the Cana student visa

Step 1: Receive a Letter of Acceptance from the school

  • You will need a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a DLI-listed school (Designated Learning Institution)

Step 2: Receive a letter of confirmation from your province or territory

  • You will need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL) before applying for a visa.

(Some programs or special circumstances may be exempt from PAL/TAL, depending on the regulations of each province.)

Step 3: Prepare documents

It is recommended that you start preparing your application at least 3–4 months before the admission date to ensure that you are in time for the approval process. Note:

  • If the student is under the age of 18, a legal guardian in Canada or a parent is required to accompany them. The application should include the following documents: academic, financial, personal, and reasons for studying (Statement of Purpose).

Step 4: Complete the application form and fill out the application form for a Canadian student visa

Before submitting, you should carefully refer to the two official guidance documents from IRCC:

Important forms include:

  • IMM1294E:

    Study Permit Application

  • IMM5645E:

    Family Information Declaration

  • Custodianship Declaration:

    For students under the age of 18

Step 5: Submit online documents and pay the fee

After completing the application, you can choose to apply online or directly at the CVAC (Canada Visa Application Centre).

Currently, IRCC encourages all cases to apply online via the official account:

  • Create an IRCC account (GCKey or Sign-In Partner)

  • Upload the entire profile as required

  • Pay the fee online during the application process

Online application shortens processing time and makes it easy to track the approval process.

Note: Direct paper filing is only applicable to certain exceptions, such as persons with disabilities or stateless persons

Step 6: Take biometrics and monitor the results

After submitting the application:

  • You will receive a Biometrics Instruction Letter in your IRCC account within 1–2 days.

  • Biometrics (fingerprints and photos) are taken in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.

You can track the progress of your application online via your IRCC account.

Canada Student Visa Application Fees

The current fees for applying for a Canadian student visa (Study Permit) are:

Note:

  • The Canada visa fee is non-refundable

  • In case the parent is accompanying, it is necessary to register at the same time and at the same place.

Free visa consultation

7. How long does it take to get a Canadian student visa?

The time to apply for a Canadian student visa usually ranges from 8 to 12 weeks from the time of application to IRCC, so if you intend to study in Canada, you should find out early to have more time to prepare.

  • The time from preparing the application to the time of submitting the visa application: It takes about 3 months. After submitting the application for admission, the school report needs to wait for the school to review and respond, so the time is extended.

  • Visa waiting time: This is followed by a waiting time for visa processing from 8 weeks to 12 weeks depending on the type of visa you need.

8. Some frequently asked questions when applying for a Canadian student visa

Some common questions related to applying for a Canadian student visa

8.1. Is it difficult to get a Canadian student visa?

If you prepare complete documents and comply with IRCC regulations, applying for a Canadian student visa is not too difficult. In fact, Canada is always in the top study abroad destinations for Vietnamese students, proving that the chances of success are quite high.

8.2. How long is a Canadian student visa valid for?

A Canadian Study Permit usually has a duration equal to the duration of your course, plus an additional 90 days for you to prepare to leave Canada or apply for an extension. After graduation, you can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) to stay and work for 1-3 years, depending on the length of your study program.

8.3. Some reasons for refusal of a Canadian student visa

Some common reasons for rejection of a Canadian student visa include:

  • Low academic performance

  • Unclear learning outcomes

  • False declaration

  • Have been illegally residing in Canada or another country

  • Financial ability does not meet.

Therefore, in the process of applying for a visa, you need to strictly comply with the set regulations. In addition, being denied a visa does not affect your next application, so you can still apply until you are granted.

Sharing tips for getting a Canadian visa with IDP

Applying for a Canadian student visa is not too difficult, but it requires careful preparation, from personal documents, proof of finances to choosing the right school. Instead of dealing with a series of complicated procedures on your own, IDP will help you provide free advice on procedures and prepare your application for a Canadian student visa. In addition, IDP also provides free advice from choosing a school and major, assisting in submitting admission documents, assisting in finding accommodation and study abroad insurance, and hunting for scholarships to study abroad.

With more than 56 years of global experience and a team of experienced consultants, IDP is committed to providing you with a clear roadmap, accurate documents and increasing your chances of owning a Canadian student visa quickly.

You can also actively find out information about the school by experiencing the IDP Live application only available at IDP with the Fastlane feature, which supports finding suitable courses, quickly knowing the results of admission documents with a shortened time of 2-3 times.

Contact IDP to start your study abroad consultation in Canada today!

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