Visa

Planning
Before you apply for your Student Authorization or visitor visa, you must have:
•a valid passport,
•a letter of acceptance from a Canadian school, proof that you have enough money to support yourself for your entire stay in Canada ,
•a letter from your sponsoring organization if you are being
sponsored, and
•a medical clearance, if required •CAN$ 125 for the application fee.

If you are interested in studying in the province of Québec, you are required to obtain a Certificate or Acceptance (CAQ)* from the Québec government and a student authorization from the Government of Canada. Applications for a CAQ are available at educational institutions in Québec. A processing fee will be incurred when applying for the CAQ. Students must apply for a CAQ before applying for a student authorization. Students wishing to study in other provinces or territories do not need CAQs.

Financial Support
You must be able to prove you can support yourself before a Student Authorization may be issued. A letter from your bank in your country and a written pledge of financial support from a parent will show immigration officials that you can afford your expenses while you are in Canada(This is very important consideration for granting of visa). These expenses include tuition, stay, transportation, medical insurance, personal needs.

Health Standards
You must be in good health. You may be asked for a medical certificate if you have been living in a country with a high health risk.

Application
When you have all the letters and documents, you may apply for your Student Authorization at the nearest Canadian consulate, embassy or high commission. The Student Authorization allows you to study in Canada. Keep it in your passport.

Interviews
You might be asked to see an immigration officer for an interview. One purpose of the interview is to help the immigration officer evaluate you personally. The immigration officer will want to confirm that you have enough money to study in Canada, and that you will return to your home country when your course is completed. Therefore, you should be well-dressed, well-groomed, and on time when you go for your interview. You should behave in a positive and polite manner, even if the immigration officer does not. You should never lie to an immigration officer.

Fee
The application fee for a Student Authorization is CAN$ 125. You must submit this with your application.

Passports and Visas
You will need a passport and perhaps a visa as well. Canadian officials in your country can explain this to you before you leave. The Canada Visitors Visa is affixed to a page of your passport. It tells you the date you must arrive in Canada, the length of time you can stay and whether it is valid for one or more entries into Canada. When you arrive in Canada, you must show immigration officials your passport and visa. The passport will be stamped with the date you must depart from Canada. Check that this date is valid for your whole stay. If you need more time, ask someone at School you were offered admission.

A student authorization is not required if the course you are taking is an English or French language course that lasts a maximum of three months and is not academic, professional or vocational in nature. However, you require a visitor's visa.

*Students intending to study at a Québec language school for less than 12 weeks do not need to obtain a CAQ.