• present an acceptance letter from the educational institution they wish to attend;
• provide evidence of enough money to pay for tuition and living costs;
• satisfy a visa officer that they will return home at the end of their studies;
• pass a medical examination if required; and
• meet other requirements for visitors, including a visa if necessary.

Student Visa Application Criteria

Student visa application criteria closely reflects the requirements for visitor visa application. However, a student visa is required for students who intend to study in Canada longer than 6 months.

After satisfying the visa officer that they meet the requirements of the Canadian Immigration Act and Regulations, and that they will be in Canada for a temporary stay, foreign students must also :

• have enough money to maintain themselves and their dependants in Canada and to return home;
• be in good health;
• be law abiding and have no record of criminal activity;
• not plan to work in Canada:
• understand that while visitor visas are granted for 6 months, the period for studying without an authorization is still only 3 months;
• not be a risk to the security of Canada;
• satisfy a visa officer that they will be able to return to their country of origin or be admitted to another country after their visit;
• produce any additional documents requested by the visa officer to establish their admissibility; and
• pay a non-refundable processing fee.