Canada Student Visa for Pakistani Students – Ultimate Guide

Canada Student Visa – It is not wrong to say that Canada remains one of the top study destinations for Pakistani students. Every year, thousands of Pakistani students apply to Canadian universities for higher education. Although admission standards may differ, all Canadian universities share the same visa requirements. In this blog, we will focus on the Canadian student visa, including requirements, application, visa costs, processing time and bank statement requirements and other important aspects. So, make sure to read till end for clear understanding.

If you have done your research on Canadian student visas, you should have come across two terms, “Study Permit” and “Student Visa”. These terms are completely different and cannot be interchange. A Study Permit is required to study in Canada. However, we often use the term “Student Visa” instead of “Study Permit” in this blog, as this is the most common term used by Pakistani students in Canada looking for information on Study Permits.

Canada Student Visa Requirements

The following three mandatory documents are required to obtain a Canadian student visa:

1 – Proof of Acceptance – Your school must provide a letter of acceptance, either in original or electronically, with your study permit.
2 – Proof of Identity – When applying for a study permit in Canada, you and accompanying family members will need the following:

• Passport or valid travel document.
• You needs to upload a copy of your passport information page for online application.
• If approved, you must submit your original passport.
• Each person must provide two passport size photos with the person’s name and date of birth written on the back of each photo.

3 – Evidence of Financial Support – You can provide funds to meet the financial requirements for yourself and accompanying family members in Canada in a number of ways:

• A Canadian bank account in your name if you transfer money to Canada.
• A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution.
• A student or education loan from a bank.
• Your bank account statement for the last four months.
• Bank drafts can be converted into Canadian dollars.
• Proof of payment of tuition and accommodation fees.
• A letter of financial support from an individual or academic institution.
• Evidence of education received in Canada, especially if you have a scholarship or are part of a Canadian-funded education program.

Additional Documents:

In addition, you may also required the following documents:

Letter of Explanation – This letter is important for the visa officer to understand your intentions and responsibilities as a student. Mentioning the following:

• Reasons to choose to study in Canada.
• Understand the responsibilities and obligations of being a student.

Note: You must submit this letter when you apply for a study permit, even if your program does not require it.

Medical examination – You may need a medical examination in the following situations:

• If your stay in Canada will be more than 6 months.
• If you have recently been in a certain countries.
• In case you planned to work in jobs vital for public health protection.

Other Documents – If the Canadian government needs additional documents from you, they will contact you. You will have 30 days to submit these documents.

How to Apply for Canadian Student Visa

When applying for a study permit, you must use the online application regardless of your location. The only exception is if you have a disability that prevents you from applying online, in which case you can apply with a paper application.

Eligible Pakistani students can apply through the Student Direct Stream (SDS). This means that if you meet all the requirements, including paying full tuition fees in the first year of study, and completing your biometrics as soon as possible, your visa application can be processed within 20 calendar days.

To apply online, you will need the following:

• A scanner or camera to make electronic copies of your documents.
• Valid credit or debit card for payment.

Please read the instruction manual before completing your application. It will answer almost all your questions.

You need an online account, In order to process the following:

• Pay your bills.
• Submit your application.
• Check the status of your application.

Canadian Student Visa Fees

Application fees for Canada Student Visa is CAN$150 per application.

Canada Student Visa Processing Time

As mentioned above, if you apply through the Student Direct Stream (SDS), your application can be processed within 20 working days. However, if you are applying for a standard study permit, it will take more than 20 working days to process your application.

Bank Statement for Canada Student Visa

Bank statements for 4 months must show sufficient funds to cover one year of study and living expenses in Canada.

Your bank account must have the following details showing the minimum annual funds required to stay in Canada, excluding tuition fees.

Persons coming to Canada	Amount of funds required per year (not including tuition)
You (the student)	CAN$10,000
First family member	CAN$4,000
Every additional accompanying family member	CAN$3,000

If you are coming to Canada alone, you must prove that you have CAN$10,000 in your account for one year, in addition to your tuition.

You can prove a reliable source of Canadian dollars using these documents:

• Letter of financial support from parent or sponsor and related documents.
• Official scholarship or financial award letter.
• Investment records.
• Rental property income.
• Monthly bank statement etc.

If you need any further assistance, you can visit official Canada Student Visa online.

Also check: Education in Pakistan: An Overview and Top Universities