You must have an acceptance letter from the chosen educational institution to apply for a Canadian student visa. Once the acceptance letter is obtained, two study permit categories are available for you to apply, each with different requirements.
What are the Requirements For the Study Direct Stream Program?
To apply for the SDS program, applications are only available for those seeking post-secondary studies in Canada. To qualify under this program, applicants must meet the following requirements for a Canadian student visa. Not meeting one or more of the requirements below will make you ineligible to apply for the SDS program.
Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
As previously mentioned, you need to provide documentation that provides proof of acceptance into a post-secondary program. DLI’s in Canada are registered and approved by the Canadian government to permit international students to access the post-graduation immigration programs.
Tuition
To qualify for the SDS Program, a minimum payment of one year’s tuition must be paid to the DLI.
Medical Examination
As part of the requirements, students must undergo a medical examination before applying for a Canadian student visa.
Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC)
To be eligible under the SDS program, applicants must purchase a GIC of at least CAD $10,000.00 from a participating Canadian bank. The purpose of a GIC is to provide a financial guarantee from a Canadian financial institution. Most Canadian banks offer this product online. As a result, money can be electronically transferred to the financial institution to provide proof of finance to study in Canada as part of the Canadian student visa application process.
Language Tests Results
To qualify for the SDS program, students must provide proof of language test in either French or English to apply for a Canadian student visa.
- For candidates who choose to study in English, students’ IELTS test results must have a score of 6.0 or higher in each language skill: reading, writing, speaking and listening.
- For candidates who choose to study in French, your TEF test results must be equivalent to Canada’s Language Benchmark score of at least 7 for each band. More precisely, you must have a score of at least 310 for speaking, 249 for listening, 207 for reading, and 310 for writing.
What are the requirements for the regular stream?
Designated Learning Institution (DLI): This requirement is the same as the SDS stream. You will need to have been accepted in a study program, regardless of the level of education that is being applied for. When applying for primary or secondary schools in Canada, they are automatically considered DLI by default.
Tuition: To be accepted for a Canadian student visa under the Regular Stream, applicants do not need to pay the whole first year of tuition, unlike the SDS program. However, students are encouraged to pay the entire first year to help establish their proof of finance to study in Canada.
Medical Examination: Unlike the SDS program, students under the Regular Stream are not required to complete an upfront medical examination. If you are eligible during your Canada student visa processing, you will be asked to complete a medical exam. However, students can still complete a medical exam before sending a Canadian student visa application to help accelerate and reduce processing time.
Proof of finance to study in Canada: To apply for a Canadian student visa, applicants must prove to have sufficient funds to cover expenses while residing in Canada and adequate funds to pay for tuition fees. This process involves providing ample proof of finances through any of the following documents you may choose to submit:
- Bank statements
- Business documents
- Employment contracts
- Tax declaration
Language Tests Results: Unlike the SDS program, language test results are not mandatory for this stream. However, it is still encouraged to complete a language test, as DLIs are likely to require one to be accepted within the educational program or to assess whether the student will require language training while residing in Canada. Should a student already have a language test, submitting the language test with the Canadian student visa application is beneficial during the processing?
