The cost of processing Canadian student visa may vary slightly according to the applicant’s nationality and according to his individual circumstances. The country is one of the top destinations in the world for students, and also for workers and people in business.
Strangely though, despite the high demand for visas, the Canadian government has not increased the fees for visa application so much that it become unattainable for Nigerians, Africans, or the third world in general.
The process of obtaining the Canadian study visas is also simple and straightforward. This is why may people opt to study in Canada instead of other countries.
Cost of Processing Canadian Graduate Student Visa
The Canadian student visa is technically the same as a Canada Visitors Visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization. However the student will also need to have a study permit. Therefore, whenever the term Canadian Student Visa comes up, what is actually meant is a Visitor Visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization in combination with a Study Permit.
The Student Visa costs CAD150, which is the standard application fee.
Student visa with biometric: CAD235
Study Permit: CAD150.
| Expense | Cost | In Naira |
| Student Visa | CAD$150 | N85,050 |
| Biometrics | CAD$85 | N48,195 |
| Study Permit | CAD$150 | N85,050 |
| Total | N218,295 |
It is also possible to bring one’s family along so as to live together during the period of study. This will require a separate Visa for all of them and also the biometrics fees
You will also be required to have other monies but that will be explained later.
From the Nigerian stand point the biggest challenge in travelling to study in Canada may be money; in as much as students search for cheap universities in Canada during their research, a major cog in the wheel is the high exchange rate of CAD to NGN. Nevertheless, with proper planning it is very possible. In fact, most Nigerians who want to travel often choose Canada as their destination of choice.
The following paragraphs will describe the procedure.
Process of Applying For Canada Student Visa
The first thing to do when preparing to travel to Canada for studies or for any other purpose is to get a Nigerian passport which will serve as your primary source of identification, and which will facilitate your travel. Remember that the visa will also be affixed on your passport. Please remember that there sometimes delays lasting several months when processing international passports, especially in third world countries like Nigeria.
Enroll at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). A Designated Learning Institution simply means an accredited institution of higher learning in Canada. If you apply for a course at an institution that is not recognized, you cannot be issued with a visa. Therefore ensure that the institution you wish to study at is in fact a recognized place of learning.
Prepare a letter stating why you want to study in Canada, and explaining that you understand the responsibility that comes with being a student in Canada.
Obtain a Letter from the court and police showing that you have a clean record.
Obtain a bank statement showing that you have sufficient means to support yourself, and pay your tuition while studying in Canada.
Obtain the application form, and fill it.
Pay your tuition.
Obtain proof of acceptance from the institution you wish to study at. This should be in the form of a letter sent to you by the institution in question.
Attend your visa interview at the consular office.
It is important to go over the things you will need so as to ensure you have everything required.
Requirements To Obtain Canadian Study Visa
Most of the processing for your Canadian student visa will be done online. However, the process is quite neatly spelt out, and the online resources are there to guide you through the process. The process is not difficult, but it must followed to the letter.
Here is what you will need:
1. Proof Of Acceptance
The first thing you will need is proof of acceptance from your school. The school must send you a letter of acceptance. Please include the original if possible, or it may also be an electronic copy. Include whichever one of the acceptance letter you have with your study permit application.
Sometimes a person may only be given a conditional acceptance, along with prerequisite courses. If that is what you have, then provide that. A visa will still be issued but it may be for a shorter period of time.
2. Proof of Identity
As always you will need proof of identity. While your proof of acceptance covers your family members who you may decide to bring along to Canada, however your proof of identity does not. Therefore you, and whoever you decide to bring along will have to produce individual proofs of identity.
The proof of identity is a valid passport or travel document.
Please upload the information page of your passport when you apply online. When the visa is approved you will then need to send the original passport.
However, if you are a citizen of the United States, you can send a copy of your green card, as well as your passport.
You will also need to send two recent passport-size photos. The photos should have your name and date of birth written on the back of each.
You must prove that you can support yourself and the family members who come with you while you are in Canada.
3. Proof of Funds
You will need to prove that you have sufficient funds to take care of yourself, and to pay your tuition. You can prove your funds via several ways.
- Your bank statements for the past 4 months.
- Proof of a student or education loan issued to you from a bank.
- Proof of a Canadian bank account in your name. That is if the money has already been transferred to Canada.
- You may also produce a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian bank or financial institution.
- You can also provide a bank draft that can be converted to Canadian dollars.
- You will need to show that you have paid your tuition and housing fees.
- A letter from your sponsor; showing the exact details of his sponsorship; that is what he intends to cover, and what he expects you to cover on your own. If you are on a scholarship from a body or donor in Canada, you will need to provide proof of funding paid from within Canada.
- Then you will need to have sufficient means to take yourself and your family.
Minimum Funds Needed To Support Yourself As A Student (and family members who come with you).
Depending on what part of Canada you will be living in, the cost of living will vary. This is outside the cost of processing the Canadian student visa, or your tuition, or your air fare.
Outside Quebec
You (the student) CAN$10,000 per year. CAN$833 per month.
First family member CAN$4,000 per year. CAN$333 per month.
Every additional family member CAN$3,000 CAN$255 per month.
That means if you have two people coming with you to Canada you will need CAN$17,000 per year. If you are alone, however, you will only need to have CAN$10,000 per year if you will live outside Quebec.
In Quebec
1 person under the age of 18 CAN$6,569 per year, or CAN$547 per month.
1 person aged 18 or over: CAN$13,134 per year, or CAN$1,095 per month.
2 people aged 18 or over: CAN$19,264 per year, or CAN$1,605 per month.
2 people aged 18 or over and 1 person under the age of 18: CAN$21,579 per year, or CAN$1,798 per month.
2 people aged 18 or over and 2 people under the age of 18: CAN$23,290 per year, or CAN$1,941 per month.
If the money is still in your country, then you must prove that you will be able to export it to Canada. Sometimes there are foreign currency controls limiting how money leaves the country. You will need to show that you will be exempted.
Letter of Explanation or Statement of Purpose
The letter of explanation is an important document; it is a paper that explains the program you are about to study, and your goals for studying the program. This letter will explain to the visa officer why you want to study in Canada, and that you understand your responsibly as a student.
This letter will also facilitate your study permit, which is different from your visa.
Quebec Acceptance Certificate
The Quebec Acceptance Certificate is a document you will need if you want to study in Quebec for longer than 6 months. You will need an attestation of issuance of this document. The Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) is issued by the Government of Quebec.
Since you have not yet travelled to Quebec, Canada, it may be a tricky thing to acquire. However, your school can tell you how to apply for the CAQ.
Medical exam
A medical examination may not be necessary, but it will be needed if any of the following circumstances applies to you:
If you plan to stay in Canada for more than 6 months.
If you have recently spent time in certain countries which are considered high risk environments.
If you plan to work in certain jobs or industries where public health must be protected. If you have a travel agent, he may be able to help. Otherwise you may call the consular office.
The medical exam should be held at a reputable institution, and it should show that you have a clean bill of health, without any contagious disease such as COVID-19 or tuberculosis, or serious medical problem.
Custodian Declaration (Minor Children)
This is only valid in the case that the applicant has a small child with him. If the applicant has a child who is not his by birth, then he may need a custodian declaration. The custodian declaration form can be obtained online at the Canadian Immigration website.
It should be filled, and notarized. Then it should be included with your study permit application.
The custodian (the one about to travel to Canada) should sign the first page, while the parents, or legal guardians of the child should sign the second page.
Other Documents
The above are the major requirements for the student visa to enable one study in Canada. However, some other documents may be required.
Make sure you have your immigration documents on hand, that is if you are not from this country, or if you were not born in this country.
Make sure to get your birth certificate ready. It may not be required, but sometimes they may request for it, especially when you are travelling with your family members.
Have the birth certificates of your children ready as well, especially if you are going to travel with them. It is useful to prove that the children are indeed yours.
Once again make sure to get an international passport before starting the process of getting the Canadian student visa.
The consular office will contact you to request the supporting documents.
If you will at all be contacted to provide supporting documents, then it will be done within a few months after submitting your application.
Please hurry and make sure you send the documents within 30 days because if you do not hasten to respond, your application could be rejected.
It is best to start collecting the documents even before the consular office sends you a message to send them. This is because there could be delays which could put your application in jeopardy.
What To Avoid When Processing Canadian Student Visa
It is always good to keep a sharp eye out for scams. Even on the Canadian government website there is a warning telling people that there are many scams out there promising to help people get into Canada in order to work or study. However, many of them only target applicant’s money, and offer nothing in return. If you have been defrauded in the processing of a study visa please complain on their website so as to help others.
Please avoid having to travel to another country or city to obtain supporting documents. Unless there is a good reason, the Canadian consular office will take it to mean that you are not in your home country, and have offered wrong information.
Please avoid suddenly having a huge sum of money paid into your account in one transaction. this is a huge red flag which will most like be interpreted to mean that the money was paid by an outside source for the sole purpose of deceiving the visa officer at the consular office into believing that you have the funds to take care of yourself while studying in Canada.
Please avoid applying at unaccredited schools. That is schools that do not fall under the category of Designated Learning Institutions (DLI). Applying to study at any of those institutions will result in not being issued with the student visa. Therefore, it is a good idea to check first that the institution you want to study at is a DLI, before paying the tuition.
Paying the tuition is a necessary part of the visa application process. Be sure to calculate the amount of money you will need, including for your flight, and the study permit. You will still need to show availability of funds.
Steps To Follow When Processing Canada Student Visa
The first place to start is by getting information. This website is a good resource because it covers the basic requirements for obtaining this visa. However, you may still need to contact a travel agent who may offer step by step guidance for a fee.
When choosing a travel agent, ensure that he comes highly recommended. Preferably the agent should be recommended by a family member or friend who has used his services in the past.
Make sure to obtain the documents prescribed well ahead of starting the processing, which means filling the application form. The international passport you wish to use must have at least one black page, aside from the page you will have this visa fixed.
Please check your email regularly after the application. This is how you will receive communication from the consular office, including when and where to come for your biometric scan which is an important part of your visa application.
Please show up well dressed and on time when you appear for your biometrics because there will be a small interview which though informal, is a key factor in determining whether you will get the visa or not.
Please Note The Following:
Do not apply for two different visa types at the same time. It is better to wait for the outcome of the student visa before applying for a work visa or any other type of visa.
Keep in mind that the visa fee is non refundable. If you meet the requirements you will most likely be issued with the visa. Nevertheless, no money will be returned in the event that you are unsuccessful.
Therefore, find out everything you can before paying the tuition and visa fee.
Closing:
That is all you need to know about the cost of processing Canadian student visas, as well as the basic process, and everything required in order to get the visa. The reason for the multiple warnings about the need to get a passport well in advance is the well-publicized inefficiency in passport processing in third world countries.
