To study in Canada as an international student, certain immigration policies must be met. To start with, international students require a study permit to travel to Canada and start their education journey. The study permit is not a visa, but a document required to study at Canada’s Designated Learning institutions (DLIs). Along with the study permit, students need a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) to enter the country legally. Once the study permit is approved, the Immigration officers of Canada will issue the visitor visa or an eTA.

This is the general study visa category which may take 4 to 8 weeks to get processed. Students who need an express entry to Canada, can opt for the Student Direct Stream study visa process, which takes only 20 days to get processed.

Pakistani students are one among the eligible students to receive the student visa under the SDS category. By submitting the required documents, they can avail their visas.

• Have a disability which stops them from applying online.
• Have an identity or travel document for non-national residents, refugees or stateless persons.

Secondary requirements are, Proof of fund that covers your tuition fee for all the study years, living expenses for yourself and your family members who come with you to Canada, and return air tickets cost for yourself and family members who came with you to Canada.

• No criminal record certificate.
• Medical exam certificate.
• Document showing valid reasons to study in the country and leave when the study period ends.

Students who meet these requirements are eligible to apply for Canadian Student Visa.

When to apply for a Canadian Student Visa?

It is best to apply for the Canadian Student Visa as soon as you receive your Offer letter of Admission. The Canadian Student Visa process may take 4 to 8 weeks or longer, depending on the country you are applying from.

What is the cost of applying for a Canadian Student Visa?

The Canada Student Visa Processing fee is CA $150 plus the biometrics fee, which is $85 and a service fee of $45.

• An Offer Letter of Admission is proof of acceptance for the immigration authorities of Canada.
• A Valid Passport which will be your Proof of Identity
• Proof of Funds. They can be in the below-mentioned formats.
• Opening a Canadian Bank Account in your Name if you have transferred your funds to Canadian Dollars.
• Getting a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a Canadian financial institution.
• Proof for having received a student or education loan from a bank.
• A bank draft that can be converted into Canadian dollars.
• Proof that you paid your tuition and housing fees.
• A letter from the school or individual sponsoring your education.
• Proof for receiving a scholarship.
• An attestation of issuance of your Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ), if you have applied to any of the universities in Quebec.
• Letter of Explanation, stating your reasons to study in Canada and you understand your responsibilities as an international student.

Responsibilities of International Students in Canada

• Show academic progress during the entire study period.
• Obey and respect the conditions listed on the study permit.
• Discontinue the studies if no longer meet the responsibilities.

• Letter of Acceptance from a Canada’s Designated Learning Institute.
• Educational documents of recent secondary or post-secondary education.

• Proof of English Language Proficiency
• If students choose IELTS, the band should be 6.0 in each of the skills of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing.
• If they choose TEF, test evaluation de francais, the score should be 7 in each ability.
• The score certificate must not be older than 2 years during the time of SDS application.

• Proof of a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC)
• The GIC amount must be CAD 10,000 or more.
• The GIC amount must be insured by Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) or any bank listed on the IRCC SDS web page.
• The applicant must have the Letter of Attestation issued by the bank.
• The GIC Certificate.
• The Investment Direction Confirmations or the Investment Balance Confirmation.
• Upon arrival in Canada, the student must register at the bank and validate his identity to receive the funds.
• Proof of payment of tuition fees for the first year of study.
• A receipt from the DLI.
• An official letter from the DLI confirming payment of tuition fees.
• A receipt from a bank indicating the full tuition fees have been paid.

• Proof of completion of medical examination.
• Police certificate.

• Completely-filled Application form applied from outside Canada.
• Family information form.
• Temporary Resident Visa application form.
• Marriage licence or certificate.
• Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) if applied to a university in Quebec.
• Proof of application fee payment.
• Proof of biometric fee payment.
• Biographical data page of the applicant’s passport.

Student Direct Stream in Canada: Application Process

The IRCC has facilitated only the option of applying online for an SDS study permit. There is no paper application for the Student Direct Stream.

• Instruction guide to fill out the form.
• Scanned documents.
• A Debit or Credit card to make the payment.

• Gather the documents.
• Fill in the application form.
• Pay the application fee.
• Submit the application

Student Direct Stream in Canada – Application Fee

The application fee to apply for the Student Direct Stream study permit is CAD 150 for all eligible students.

Student Direct Stream in Canada: Incomplete Applications