Canadian Student Visa Application Process

After completing the application process, students tend to wait for the acceptance letter. The process isn’t complete yet. When you receive your acceptance letter, you have to apply for the study visa for Canada instantly. A Canadian student visa permit, also known as a study permit, allows international students to study at accredited Canadian institutions. 

Canada Study Visa Permit From Pakistan  

The Canadian student visa permit process needs to be done as soon as possible to avoid delays. The student visa permit will allow you to stay on Canadian premises till the end of your degree. All international students are required to attain a student visa permit, but there are some exceptions.

• Students attaining a 6 months or less study program

• A family member of any foreign delegate that is residing in Canada

• A member of the armed forces residing in Canada

Pakistani students can apply for a Canadian student visa through two methods. One is the online form submission and the second is the in-hand application. But 

one point to notice is that the online application process is much more rapid than the in-hand process. The online application will be submitted through online portal system (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, IRCC).

Canada Study Visa Requirements For Pakistanis

To study in Canada from Pakistan as an international student, you will need to meet the following requirements for a study visa:

• Enrollment in a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada.

• Letter of acceptance from the DLI.

• Proof of financial support of last four months (10,000 CAD required)

• Proof of language proficiency, such as IELTS or TOEFL scores (already mentioned in admission section)

• A valid passport

• A clean criminal record and police clearance certificate

• A medical exam

• In addition to these requirements, you may also need to attend an interview and provide additional information if requested by the visa office. 

Canadian Study Visa Step By Step Application Process

You can continue to apply online or mail applications to IRCC. To apply on paper, you must include a note with your application that tells the visa application center that you’re eligible to apply on paper. If you’re not eligible to apply on paper, your application will be returned to you. So it is best to apply online, here is step by step guide of online application

• Visit and create a Canadian study visa login account at IRCC site

• Sign in to IRCC account

• Submit online visa application

• Pay the application fee (150 CAD)

• Check the application status on daily basis

• Update the required information

Canadian Study Visa Fees

Though the visa application is submitted online or by hand, students have to pay for its processing fee. Canada embassy in Islamabad has announced an updated study visa fee for 2024, and it is 150 CAD that may be equal to 33000 to 35000 PKR and biometric fee of 85 CAD/ person.

Canada Study Visa Processing Time

The processing time for a Canada study visa can vary depending on various factors such as the visa office processing your application, the time of year, and the complexity of your application. On average, the processing time for a Canada study visa is approximately 07 to 10 weeks. However, it can take longer in some cases.

Tips To Apply For Canadian Study Visa

It is important to apply well in advance of your intended study start date to ensure that you have enough time for the visa processing. It is also recommended to regularly check the status of your application and respond promptly to any requests for additional information or documents.

Post Visa Approval

• You will be issued a letter of introduction and eTA to enter in Canadian territory

• eTA will be linked to the passport for the next five years or until your passport expires   

• Carry the same passport you used while applying for the visa application.

• You need to show all the valid documents, including your passport, acceptance letter, living expenses proof letter.

• CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) will counter check all of your documents and will permit you enter Canada.