Canada Student Visa Processing Time - A Complete Guide

Canada is the 2nd most popular destination for Indian students pursuing degrees abroad. According to Immigration Minister Sean Fraser, Canada has processed 4.52 lakh study visa applications since January 2022. More and more international students are preferring to study in Canada due to the country's friendly immigration policies and world-class education. 

The processing time for a student visa is a concern for every student as the number of applications increases every year. Predicting how much time it would take is not easy. On March 31, 2022, the immigration department updated a new processing time tool.  Thus Indian aspirants want to know the Canadian student visa processing time. This guide assists the students in knowing every bit of information for a smooth journey.

It is a non-immigrant visa for international students who want to pursue an academic degree in an overseas country.

Study permit is the name given to Canada study visa, and with this, they can get an education at Designated Learning Institutes (DLI) in Canada.

A student should have a tentative idea of the time a Canada student visa takes for complete approval. The standard Canada student visa takes around 3-4 weeks for processing. The time may vary according to the number of applications submitted.

Canadian embassy has to meet the target of processing 80% of applications in the decided weeks. The process may take longer for candidates who have made certain application mistakes.

The candidates can check the estimated processing time for their application by visiting the official website. They have to enter a unique tracking ID allotted to them.

To apply for a Canada student visa, certain documents must be submitted to the embassy. The candidate should make sure that they apply for the visa as soon as they get an acceptance letter from the university.

• Letter of Acceptance from Designated Learning Institutes (DLI):

It is the very first document that must be presented to the embassy. With this, the candidate shows that the university has accepted his admission request. Thus in order to study, they need a visa.

• Passport:

Every nation asks for a passport that shows the identity of the aspirant and proof that he is a resident of the declared country. A passport will have an expiry date. Thus, they should ensure that this date does not fall during their stay.

• Documents Showing Funds

The immigration department checks whether the candidate is financially stable to support their tuition and stay expenses. A student needs to have 10,000 CAD every year.

• Immigration Medical Examination (IME)

A medical certificate showing the aspirant is medically fit is requested. Please note that the test should be done a week prior to starting of visa application. All the tests need to be done by any of the listed doctors.

• Passport Size Photographs:

Two passport-size photos are to be submitted if someone is applying offline. In the case of an online application, the size of the photo should not be more than 4 MB.

The photo should be clicked within 6 months of the application, and its size should be 35mm x 45 mm. The back side of the photo should have the name and DOB. No headscarf, with the exception of religious reasons. The photograph background should be plain.

• Statement of Purpose (SOP):

An SOP for Canada student visa is mandatory as it increases your chance of getting admission to your interested course. It is basically an essay highlighting the reasons for studying in Canada.

• English Proficiency Exam Scores:

Exams like IELTS, TOEFL and etc, are some of the exams whose scores are to be submitted.

The processing time is calculated from the day application reaches the authority responsible for granting the visa. There are some of the aspects which can impact Canada student visa processing time:-

• The kind of application submitted

• Whether asked information is completed or not

• Various documents presented or not

• Number of applications received by the visa authority

• Candidates with criminal history will face delay

• Any travel ban imposed by the country

• Change in the political power

The current Canada student visa fees is CAD 150, and it can be paid via both online & offline mode. In order to pay offline, a Demand Draft (DD) has to be issued or through cash at Visa Application Centre (VAC).

All Canadian institutes intakes students on semester basis. As per our experts, the candidate should apply for a Canada student visa 3 months before the Fall intake. Thus according to your flexibility, you can choose your preferred semester.

There are a few basic reasons why a student visa can be rejected.

• Financial History or Background: The students applying for the Canadian student visa have to prove that they have sufficient money to support their stay. The embassy officials can only accept your application if they find that the candidate is financially strong enough to take care of their studies in Canada.

• Academic Performance: Every university or the Canadian government sets eligibility in terms of academic credits. If this is not met, the chances of further processing decrease.

• Letter of Acceptance: A Canadian student visa is applied on the basis of a letter of acceptance from the university. In case you have not received the letter of acceptance, there is a high chance that your application will be rejected.

• ITELS or TOEFL Score: If minimum required marks are not scored in the English proficiency test, the visa application will be terminated. Please note that the minimum ITELS and TOEFL scores vary according to the choice of program.

Students who wish to study in Canada may contact our expert counsellors at any branch of Meridean Overseas Education Consultants (MOEC). You can also take free online counselling through our website. Our expert counsellors will provide you with the best guidance and support you need to take the admission and visa process. For more information or any queries, you can mail us at application02@meridean.org or call us at our toll-free no. 1800-1230-00011.