How to apply for a Canadian student visa

PTE Author
PTE Author
Image - student, 1080px
Reading time: 6 minutes

In recent years, Canada has carved out its place on the map as a destination for international students. In fact, the number of students from abroad has tripled over the past decade - and the country is now ranked third in the world for attracting international learners.  

It’s no wonder. With top universities, multicultural cities, and incredible natural landscapes, Canada is an excellent place to call home and propel your career. So, what type of visa do you need to study in Canada? In this blog, we’ll go through Canada student visa requirements and learn what it takes to apply:  

Why study in Canada 

Want to study along the pacific coast with a mountain view? What about in a creative city close to incredible National Parks? Or a stone's throw away from the mighty Niagara Falls? Canada has it all. The country’s landscapes and cities are incredibly diverse - and people who study here will have the opportunity to explore all Canada has to offer. 

Canada was named the best country for quality of life in 2020. And according to the QS Best Student Cities 2019 ranking, three Canadian cities are listed among the top in the world - including Montreal (6), Toronto (11),and Vancouver (16). Canada is also home to a number of world-class institutions, many of which are ranked in the top 50 globally by the same QS ranking. These include:  

  • University of Toronto (25) 

  • McGill University (31)  

  • University of British Columbia (45)  

Finally, there’s a good job market for international students in Canada. Between 2009-2019, almost 1.8 million jobs were created in Canada for university graduates. What’s more, 80% of employers say hiring graduates with international experience enhances their companies.  

Canada student visa requirements 

To study in Canada, you need to apply for a study permit. This isn’t a visa, because alone, it doesn’t let you enter the country.  But if your study permit is approved, Canada will also grant you either a visitor visa or electronic travel authorization. This will allow you to travel to Canada. 

Before applying for a study permit, there are a few requirements to keep in mind. For one, you need to already be enrolled at a designated learning institution, which has been approved by the government to accept international students. Check to see if your university or college is on the list.  

You also need to prove you have enough money to pay for tuition, living expenses and travel costs associated with studying abroad. If you’re alone in Canada and aren’t settling in Quebec, you will need to have at least $10,000 per year - not including tuition. You can demonstrate this money through bank statements, loan information, or proof of a scholarship. Learn more about scholarships for international students in Canada. 

Finally, you will also need to be in good health, have no criminal record, and be able to prove you will leave Canada when your study permit is no longer valid. 

Read more in our article about the cost of living in Canada.

How do you apply?  

You can apply for your Canadian study permit online or on paper through the mail. You can also apply from outside Canada or inside Canada. You’ll have to make sure you have all your documents ready to submit.  This includes an acceptance letter from your institution, passport, and proof of funds. If you’re planning to study in Quebec, you’ll also need to apply for a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ).  

After you submit your application, you’ll need to give biometrics. You will also likely need to provide a police certificate and pass a medical exam. If you apply from outside Canada, the application process will take about eight weeks. If you apply from inside Canada, it will take about nine weeks.  

That said, there is a way to get your permit approved sooner. If you’re from Senegal, Vietnam, Pakistan, Morocco, India, China, or the Philippines, you can apply through something called the Student Direct Stream. You should get your permit in just three weeks.  

Learn more about how to apply on the Canadian government website.  

How much does it cost? 

A Canadian study permit costs $150, and this usually includes biometrics. But don’t forget to budget in the price of a police certificate or medical exams, if you need them. Depending on where you currently live, these can increase your costs by quite a lot.  

What can you do on a student permit?  

If you’re a full-time student, you can work while studying in Canada (as long as your course  lasts longer than 6 months). But first, you’ll need to apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) - this can be done in just a few minutes online, for free. You can work either on-campus or off-campus. If you get a job off-campus, you’ll be able to work 20 hours per week - and full-time during school breaks.  

And what about Canada’s publicly funded healthcare? Well, not all international students are eligible. Since each province administers their own healthcare, it depends on where you study.  

For example, many international students in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador have access to free healthcare. But students in Ontario don’t. So, it’s best to reach out to your university or college to see what the situation will be for you. At the same time, you can learn about the insurance options available if you aren’t covered through your province.  

Staying in Canada after graduation  

Can you stay in Canada after graduating to work? Yes! International students who’ve finished a course longer than 8 months can apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWD). This can be valid for up to 3 years.  

Canada also has a number of streams for permanent residence, which you might be eligible for as an international student. To find out if you can apply, check out this tool on the government’s website.  

Ready to move to Canada? We’ll help you hit the ground running.  

Our computer- based language test at PTE Academic is accepted by 200 top Canadian institutions for proof of English proficiency -  including the University of British Columbia, McGill University, University of Waterloo, and McMaster University. 

Learn more about PTE English tests for Canada.  

Please note: we are not immigration agents. For all up-to-date information about visa rules and regulations, see the official guidelines on the Government of Canada website.   

Related Content

  • Image - Australian city hall- 800px
    How to find work in Australia
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    Have you ever dreamt of migrating to Australia for work or study? As one of the world’s most attractive places to both work and live, you’re not alone, however, there are a number of things to keep in mind before you start planning to apply for jobs in Australia.

    Let’s explore some of the major things that you need to keep in mind when looking to find work in Australia.

    Organizing your visa

    In order to legally apply for work in Australia, you’re going to need a visa that gives you permission to enter the country with a view to seeking employment.

    It’s important to remember that the appropriate visa depends on your career type and industry that you’re applying to. To understand what visa applies to your specific skills, use the visa finder on the government’s Home Affairs site.

    Learn the culture

    The workplace culture in Australia is unique for many reasons. Whilst Australian’s are known to be laid-back, this isn’t to be confused with their approach to hard work. Australian’s work hard though also have strict workplace laws that protect the health and wellbeing of all employees.

    Australian’s like to keep things casual in the workplace and it is common that everyone is encouraged to speak up during meetings. This can cause culture shock for those that migrate from countries where the workplace hierarchy dictates your ability to speak up.

    In-demand skills

    As with all countries, certain professions are in demand in Australia. It’s important to remember that seasonality can impact the demand for certain jobs at different times of the year so it’s important to do your own research to understand job availability in your specific area of expertise.

    To learn more about careers in demand in Australia, visit the government’s Job Outlook site.

    Choosing where to work in Australia

    If you’re looking to migrate to Australia for work, you’ve probably done some research on where you’d like to live. The major capital cities in Australia are:

    • Adelaide, South Australia

    • Brisbane, Queensland

    • Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

    • Darwin, Northern Territory

    • Hobart, Tasmania

    • Melbourne, Victoria

    • Perth, Western Australia

    • Sydney, New South Wales

    Whilst Sydney is best known for tourism, each capital city has a unique look and feel and all have unique attributes. The major Australian universities are largely spread across Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne and the two most dominant cities for professional careers are Sydney and Melbourne.

    Writing a resume and cover letter

    It’s a common misconception that applying for a job in a new country requires a unique resume and cover letter style. Whilst there isn’t a specific formula when applying for a job in Australia, it’s important to consider that an employer in Australia may not have any context around the businesses that you’ve worked with in your home country. As a result, it’s a good idea to ensure that this context is shared in your cover letter to ensure that key skills aren’t overlooked.

    Applying for jobs in Australia

    As is the case in virtually all major job markets, applying for jobs in Australia is largely an online experience. The Australian market has a number of major job listing sites and it’s on these sites that you’ll also be required to file job applications. In addition to the major job listing sites, LinkedIn is commonly used in Australia for connecting with recruiters and applying for jobs too, however, this can vary depending on your job category and what you’re hoping to apply for.

    The most appropriate site to apply for jobs really depends on what industry you’re applying for, so it’s best to do your own research to find what job site best suits your needs.

  • Image- Study group - 800px
    Speaking: Core English Skills
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    In Part 1 of the PTE Academic test, you require certain skills to answer the questions within the test to the best of your ability.

    We’ve put together some tips and advice on how to practice and improve your core skills.

    Oral Fluency

    Oral fluency applies to the Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image and Re-tell Lecture question types.

    To improve your oral fluency before your test, we recommend that you speak English as often as you can. If you don’t have anyone you can speak English with, join an English-speaking club or take a short course.

    As soon as you’ve booked the test, we suggest that you try to read, listen and write in English as much as you can.

    If you’re having trouble with speaking too slow or too fast, record yourself and listen back to identify where you need to improve.

    You can also use Tiny Texts to help improve your speaking. Read the text silently to yourself, then listen to a recording while you read and have a try afterward to read at a similar pace.

    Pronunciation

    Pronunciation skills are required for the Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image and Re-tell Lecture question types.

    In PTE Academic you do not have to speak like a fluent speaker of English to do well. However, you do need to use a pronunciation that can be understood by a regular speaker of English.

    This means you need to make sure your vowel and consonant sounds are pronounced in a fluent-like way with the correct words. You also need to use the correct sentence stress to convey meaning.

    Luckily, there are many online tools that can help with your pronunciation, such as:

    Vocabulary

    The only question type in the speaking section that will require strong vocabulary skills is Answer Short Question.

    The easiest way to improve your vocabulary is to keep a vocabulary notebook to use as your own personal dictionary. When you hear or see new words, add them along with the meaning and put them in a sentence.

    Want more prep ideas?

    Explore Smart Prep, which combines all our practice materials in one place, so it's easier for you to stay on track with your PTE preparation.

    • Smart Prep is a clear path to test day, guiding you through the official paid and free resources available for your test

    • It can be accessed whether you’ve booked a test or not – just create, or sign in to your myPTE account

    • Preparation materials include guided practice tests, introductory videos, video courses and test tips.

    Ready to get started?

  • Image- Students at library- 800px
    Part 3: Listening Test Introduction
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Part 3 of PTE Academic will take 45-57 minutes to test your listening skills.

    This section is designed to test your ability to listen, read and write. PTE Academic is an integrated skills test, therefore, this test contains multiple question types that test up to 2 skills each.

    There are eight question types in the listening section. A breakdown of these question types is as below.

    Summarize Spoken Text

    The first question type you will need to complete is Summarize Spoken Text, which will tests listening and writing skills.

    To complete the task, a recording between 60-90 seconds long will be played for you to listen to. As you listen, try to use the Erasable Noteboard Booklet to take notes of key points to help you understand the context.

    After the recording, you will have 10 minutes to write a summary of what you heard.

    To answer this question type, you must write a minimum of 50 words but no more than 70 words.

    You can receive a maximum of 2 points for content, 2 for form, 2 for grammar, 2 for vocabulary and 2 for spelling.

    Multiple-choice, multiple answer

    The second question type, Multiple-Choice, Multiple Answer will test listening skills.

    First, you will be given information to help answer the question. You only have 7 seconds to read this. A recording will then play that is between 40-90 seconds long.

    Select all the response options that you think are correct.

    In this question type, you can receive 1 point for each correct option, but will lose -1 point for each incorrect option. You cannot score below 0.

    Fill in the blanks

    In the third question type, Fill in the Blanks, listening and writing skills will be tested.

    Similar to the previous task, you will be given 7 seconds to read some information before hearing the recording.

    A recording between 30-60 seconds will play. As you listen, type each word in the blank spaces as you hear them so that you do not miss any.

    Do not leave any spaces blank, you can review them at the end.

    You receive 1 point for each correct word which is spelled correctly.

    Highlight correct summary

    The fourth question type, Highlight Correct Summary, will test listening and reading skills.

    You will be given 10 seconds before the recording starts to read the options. A recording will be played that is between 30-90 seconds long.

    To complete the task, select only one correct response. If unsure, choose the one you think is correct as you cannot lose points in this question.

    Your response will either be marked as correct or incorrect.

    Multiple-choice, single answer

    The fifth question type, Multiple-Choice, Single Answer will test listening skills.

    To complete this task, you will be given information to read for context, you will then need to listen to a recording between 30-60 seconds long.

    Choose the option that best suits.

    Your response to this question type will be marked as correct or incorrect.

    Select missing word

    In the sixth question type, Select Missing Word, will test your listening skills.

    A recording between 20-70 seconds long will be played and you will need to predict the last word or words of the text to complete the task.

    You will be marked on this question type as either correct or incorrect.

    Highlight incorrect words

    In the seventh question type, Highlight Incorrect Words, your listening and reading skills will be tested.

    In this question type, you will be shown information and have 10 seconds to read it before a recording starts.

    A recording between 15-50 seconds will play and you will need to select the words that are incorrect and do not match the recording.

    You can receive 1 point for each correct word and lose -1 point for each incorrect word. You cannot score below 0.

    Write from dictation

    The eighth and final question type, Write from Dictation, tests listening and writing skills.

    You will have 7 seconds to read the instructions before the recording starts. The recording is between 3-5 seconds long and once it starts, listen and type the sentence in the response box.

    You can receive 1 point for each correct word you write. Write the words in the right order and spell them correctly in order to receive 1 point. Points are not lost for incorrect words.

    What's next?

    We recommend reviewing the core listening skills required for PTE Academic.

    Want more prep ideas?

    Plus, explore Smart Prep, which combines all our practice materials in one place, so it's easier for you to stay on track with your PTE preparation.

    • Smart Prep is a clear path to test day, guiding you through the official paid and free resources available for your test

    • It can be accessed whether you’ve booked a test or not – just create, or sign in to your myPTE account

    • Preparation materials include guided practice tests, introductory videos, video courses and test tips.

    Ready to get started?