How Long Does A Student Visa For Canada Take?

The Canadian Student Visa is a great program for international students, especially those from developing countries such as Pakistan. To push the boundaries of their academic abilities by receiving education in the top Canadian universities. Myriads of students apply every year to test their luck at the likes of University of Toronto and University of Alberta.

The question arises: how long does a student visa for Canada take? The exact time varies depending on the applicant’s country of residence and the strength of their application, but to give a general idea, it can take about any amount of time between 4 to 6 months, particularly for students from Pakistan.

Read below to know about how to speed up the application process for a Canadian student visa and other related information regarding a Canadian study permit.

How Long Does It Take For Pakistani Students To Get A Canadian Study Permit?

It is important to note that the processing times for a Canadian study permit can vary upon a number of factors, such as the following:

• The current Canadian governmental state of affairs.
• Whether or not the student is applying through SDS (Student Direct Stream)
• The strength of the student’s application
• The student’s country of residence
• Volume of applications received by the Canadian immigration authorities
• The student’s individual background, criminal history and health status.

Typically, a student from Pakistan can expect their student visa application to be processed within a time duration of 4 to 6 months. It is recommended that students apply ahead of time and ensure they are only adding accurate information in their application to avoid any issues later on.

How To Speed Up Your Student Visa Application Processing Time?

Students from Pakistan and several other countries such as India, China, Vietnam, Philippines, Sengal etc. can avail a program known as Student Direct Stream (SDS) in order to speed up the process of their student visa application.

The SDS program has certain eligibility criteria for students who wish to benefit from it. This includes investing an amount of CAN$10,000 as GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate), securing a score of minimum 6 in IELTS for all 4 bands (listening, speaking, reading and writing), having an acceptance letter from a DLI (Designated Learning Institute), and evidence that you have paid the fees for your first year of study at the DLI. 

Is It Difficult To Get A Canadian Student Visa?

The Canadian student visa application procedure involves a number of steps such as getting an acceptance letter from your university of choice, scoring enough in a language proficiency test, providing proof of financial support etc. Oftentimes, students have this misconception that obtaining an acceptance letter guarantees that they will receive a study permit. 

However, in reality, it is difficult to get a study visa as the Canadian government rejects about 30 percent of applications. Reasons of study visa rejection may vary, but in general, they come down to the following cases:

• The student failed to demonstrate that they have enough financial resources to support themselves during their stay in Canada.
• The student applied for an odd degree that does not go with their prior academic experience. For example, a culinary arts student applying for nursing school.
• The student failed to demonstrate during the interview with the immigration officer that they will return to their home country after completing their study term in Canada.
• The student failed to fulfill certain mandatory requirements, such as scoring at least 6 in IELTS for all 4 modules.

Bear in mind that this is just a general list of why a Canadian student visa can be rejected. All in all, make sure to have a strong application with no room for discrepancies and perform well in the visa interview.

Role Of Canada Prime Immigration In Assisting You To Get A Study Permit

While it is certainly possible to apply for a Canadian study permit on your own online, it is highly recommended to reach out to an ICCRC-certified immigration embassy such as Canada Prime Immigration. Doing so will ensure that you get the maximum chances of your study permit application being approved, making your dream of studying in a developed country such as Canada come true.