Canada has become Nigerians’ favourite relocation destination. You can process the Canada student visa in Nigeria. Canada is a country with a highly recognized and standard educational system. Also known as a country that has a great quality of life and a thriving economy, Canada is an amazing place to be. To study in Canada, you need to first process the Canadian study visa in Nigeria.
I am sure that no one will ignore the chance to have a quality education that does not involve strikes or unnecessary delays. Similarly, having a certificate that is relevant anywhere in the world without the need for extra proof is worth the chase.
Study hours are quite flexible in Canada and you also get the opportunity to work and study at the same time, for specific hours during school sessions and unlimited off-school seasons.
Also, studying in Canada gives you a chance to connect with people from different countries in the world and also get a world-class education. More importantly, a certificate that allows you to work anywhere in the world. As a graduate from any Canadian institution, you are positioned for a great career prospect, whether it is a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s or Postgraduate study.
Likewise, studying in Canada is not as expensive as compared in other developed countries. It is not so difficult to obtain a permit once you meet all the requirements. All you have to do is follow the required steps carefully without skipping any.
I have categorised the important information you need to know if you are planning to study in Canada from Nigeria. Read on and find out more;
Also Read: How to Apply for US Visa
Why Study in Canada
Quality Education: Canada is one of the best countries to study in the world. The schools are highly ranked and offer quality education.
Easy to migrate: With a Canadian student visa, It is easy to migrate permanently to Canada.
Affordable Education: Canada offers affordable education when compared to other top countries in the world.
Safe and Peaceful: Canada is one of the most peaceful countries in the world. This is one of the reasons why you should study in Canada.
Top Universities in the World: Canada has some of the most highly ranked universities in the world.
Gather Work Experience: With your Canada study visa, it allows you to also work part-time while schooling. This will allow you to gather enough work experience before you graduate.
Quality Life in Canada: The quality of life in Canada is second to none. Citizens have a high life expectancy.
Job Opportunities: There are so many job opportunities in Canada from healthcare to engineering, programming, science, media etc. Studying in Canada opens new doors to these job opportunities.
World Class Health Care Service: Canada has one of the best health care services in the world.
Good Return on Investment: Studying in Canada is one of the best investments you can do for yourself. Over time, the return on investment is non-quantifiable.
Also Read: Top Countries to Relocate to in the world
Cost Of Tuition in Canada
The cost of tuition in Canada ranges between 14,000 and 30,000 CAD
The Canadian Student Permit
To study in Canada you need a Study Permit. Canada study permit is quite different from a regular visa. It is a document that the Canadian government hands to you as a foreign citizen, that allows you to study at designed learning institutions also known as DLIs in Canada.
The Canadian study visa is your license to enter Canada. It is issued along with a study permit but you need to first meet all the requirements laid down. This means that you can get an electronic travel authorization or temporary resident visa when your study permit application is successful.
Who needs a Canadian study Visa?
- Citizens of a foreign country who intend to study for more than 6 months in a designated learning institution in Canada.
- Citizens of a foreign country who want to engage in academic, vocational, professional or any form of training in Canada.
- Any foreign citizen that intends to apply for another course of study outside the current one.
- In addition, some individuals do not require a study permit but just a temporary resident visa or electronic travel authorization. This means that;
- Your course of study in Canada is less than 6 months.
- Minor children do not require a study permit, for those in pre-school or kindergarten and have parents with a valid work permit.
- Refugees or children of refugees
- Anyone who is a member of the armed forces in a foreign country does not exempt family members.
- Relatives of Canadian ambassadors that are approved by the Global Affairs of Canada.
Canada Designated Learning Institutes
You also need to know the list of designated learning institutions in Canada.
Enrollment in a Designated Learning Institution is a requirement to obtain a student visa for Canada (DLI). Schools and universities that have received the provincial or government’s approval to accept foreign students are known as DLIs.
In Canada, all elementary and secondary schools are automatically designated as DLIs; however, many universities and other institutions of higher learning are not recognized as DLIs. Since you won’t be allowed to go even if they accept you, you shouldn’t apply to those.
On the Canadian application website, there is a list of institutions recognised and accepted by the Canadian government.
What Are The Top Universities in Canada For International Students
These are the top Universities in Canada
- Mount Allison University
- Acadia University
- University of Waterloo
- Cape Breton University
- Brock University
- Cambrian College
- Fanshawe College
- Georgian College
- McGill University
- University of Montreal
- Kings University
- Nipissing University
- Simon Fraser University
- University of Alberta
- University of Calgary
- Dalhousie University
- University of Windsor
- University of Regina
- Niagara College
- University of Toronto
You also need to know the list of designated learning institutions in Canada.
Enrollment in a Designated Learning Institution is a requirement to obtain a student visa for Canada (DLI). Schools and universities that have received the provincial or government’s approval to accept foreign students are known as DLIs.
In Canada, all elementary and secondary schools are automatically designated as DLIs; however, many universities and other institutions of higher learning are not recognized as DLIs. Since you won’t be allowed to go even if they accept you, you shouldn’t apply to those.
On the Canadian application website, there is a list of institutions recognised and accepted by the Canadian government.
Qualification Requirements to apply for Canada Student Visa
If you meet the following requirements, you may apply for a Canada Study Visa:
Admission from a DLI: Proof that a designated learning institution(DLI) has accepted and granted you admission.
Proof of Fund: You must demonstrate that you have the money to cover both your living expenses and tuition. This is usually a six months statement of account. You must also show that you have enough funds to return to your destination when you are done studying.
Police Clearance: You must demonstrate that you are law-abiding and have a spotless background. The candidates must present a police verification certificate to demonstrate this.
Medical: You must get a health checkup and present a doctor’s note attesting to your excellent health.
Negative Covid 19 Test: Also, you must have been vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus or provide a negative covid 19 test.
Complete Application: You are expected to fill out a visa application centre (VAC) form
You need to be able to convince the immigration officer that you do not have ulterior motives asides from studying and that you will leave immediately after studying.
Things to note when applying for a Canadian Study Permit
First, you need to understand the options available to your country.
You can apply for a study permit if you are within the Canadian borders or upon entry into Canada. To be able to do this, you must have a temporary resident visa stamped along with your passport.
Based on the length of your study, consider your choice of study visa application.
It takes between 2 to 6 months to successfully process a Canadian study permit in Nigeria.
Documents required for the Canadian study visa
International Passport
A valid passport is needed for you to apply for a Canada study visa. This means that your passport has not expired, is not torn or damaged and is valid for at least six months before your travel date.
To add to this, it is important to start your application as early as possible, this will help you avoid wasting resources and time.
When applying online, you are to upload a copy of your passport online first for approval, then you can send the original passport afterwards.
Acceptance letter from an approved Canadian institution
While this is not limited to higher institutions of learning, an approved Canadian institution is also referred to as a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). On the Canadian application website, there is a list of recognized institutions in Canada so you do not go wrong.
Furthermore, there must be evidence on the letter that you have been accepted to study. It will also include your program of study, the duration of your stay from start to finish and the degree you will get at the end of your study.
In case your acceptance into the institution was based on the need for you to take prerequisite courses, it will affect the duration of a study permit.
This is done so that you can fulfil all the conditions and then apply for another study permit when you have completed the short year of study.
Evidence of Funds/account statement
This is one of the requirements to study in Canada. You must be able to provide a six months account statement. This is otherwise known as proof of funds. When you apply to relocate to Canada for study, you are expected to be able to finance the course and support yourself or any other dependent you are coming with.
Ways to Prove Your Financial Status
* Note: The following are the ways to prove your financial status
a. Evidence of a personal Canadian bank account
b. Proof that you have applied for a loan to fund your study
c. Bank statements, for at least four months consistently
d. Evidence that you have paid your tuition
e. You also need to show that you paid for a place to stay
f. In the case of scholarships, you need a letter from the educational institution that wants to fund your study. This letter will reveal that the tuition has been covered, or proof can be shown
g. Whatever document is required from you, you need to check back online for current updates and do the needful.
h. Currently, the required amount for proof of funds stands at CAD 10000 for individuals, when coming with another family member, you will add an extra CAD4000
i. The province of Quebec states otherwise, just a little addition to the required proof of funds, presently, it is about CAD11000
Passport Photograph
You are required to present a recent passport photograph.
If you are submitting a manual application in paper form, you will have to write your full name and date of birth on the back of the passport photograph. Then carefully attach this to the form.
For online applicants, a digital copy of the photograph should be uploaded to the website, according to the required size. The photo should be clear and not more recent, at least four months old.
Letter stating your travel intentions
This is another document needed when applying for a Canada student visa. In this letter, you are to clearly state your intentions for travelling. This should include why you want to study in Canada and what is expected of you as a student. This is usually in the form of a statement of purpose.
You also need to be aware that you are travelling strictly for studies and you should not be involved in crime or illegal activities.
Custodian Declaration Form
If you are below the age of 18, you will need a written note from your sponsor, parent or guardian or the adult you will be staying with within Canada. This form should be signed and acknowledged.
English Proficiency Examination Band Score
To assess your ability to speak the English Language fluently, Canadian universities expect that you take the IELTS examination. This is because English is the official language spoken in Canada. Therefore, individuals coming from a non-English speaking country or otherwise need to write this examination as a prerequisite.
IELTS is mainly to test your reading, listening, speaking and writing skills.
To qualify for a study visa in Canada, a student must receive an overall IELTS score of at least 6.0 and a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four IELTS bands for undergraduate and diploma programs.
Graduate courses, on the other hand, call for an overall IELTS score of 6.5 or above and a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 in each band. The minimum IELTS score is 7.0 overall and per band if you opt to pursue a degree in engineering, teaching, or education studies.
Medical Certification
You are required to run a few tests to examine your health status when applying for a study visa to Canada. However, you need to know the list of medical tests to take, therefore wait until you are prompted to go ahead.
There are approved physicians and healthcare facilities that can help you with this test. You should schedule an appointment with them as soon as possible to meet up with the submission of the documents.
Approved physicians will conduct a series of laboratory tests and x-rays to check for fitness. The results will be forwarded to the Canadian Immigration Centre afterwards.
How much does it cost to apply for a Canadian study visa?
At the moment, the Canadian study visa costs CAD 150. You can pay online with a master card or an authorized visa card.
How to apply for a Canadian Study Permit
There are three ways to apply for a Canadian study visa; it is either
You apply outside the borders of Canada
An extended visiting visa and a study permit must be applied for if you are an international student who has been admitted to a Canadian DLI but who is currently outside of Canada.
If you come from a nation where a visa is not required to enter Canada, you will need to apply for both a study permit and an electronic travel authorization (eTA).
You do not need to have them individually because the application is completed through a single process. You will receive a study permit if your application for the visa is approved.
Applying for a Canada Student Visa and Permit from outside of Canada follows the same procedure as applying for a temporary resident visa.
You apply within the borders of Canada
Only a few of the following circumstances apply if you want to apply for a study permit in Canada:
Attend a primary or secondary school as a minor;
You study abroad or temporarily in Canada;
If you have finished a course of study or program for a brief period (less than six months) in Canada;
You or a member of your family have a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) valid for at least six months;
A spouse, common-law partner, or someone who has sought permanent residency or is being sponsored to immigrate to Canada;
If You want to extend your foreign-issued study permit for Canada;
A member of the family of a Canadian sports team;
A member of the church, a member of the media, or a member of the armed forces stationed in Canada;
You work as a private employee or member of the family of a foreign representative in Canada.
To apply, you must visit or make arrangements to visit your nation’s embassy in Canada to present the required paperwork in person and pay the applicable fees.
Your study permit will be mailed to you since you are presently in Canada.
You apply on entry or arrival to Canada
Another choice of applying for a study permit on your academic tour to Canada is at the port of entry. However, you may effectively apply on the POE in case you satisfy those conditions:
Citizen of America (USA).
You are a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the US.
If you are a resident of Greenland or Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.
To apply on the POE, you’ll first get an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) after which you present the files cited at the Canadian Port of Entry. The officers will evaluate those files and could make a selection on whether or not to provide you with the study permit.
Considering the above, you should select the way you want to apply. While you are looking into this, also check for the options available to your country.
Quickly let us review the steps to apply for a Canadian study visa one after the other.
What is the Validity of a Canadian Study Visa?
Your electronic travel authorization (eTA) or visitors visa is valid for 5 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Also, it is valid throughout your study in Canada.
How Long Does It Take To Process Canada Student Visa?
It takes 3-4 weeks to successfully apply for a Canadian study visa. This applies to your promptness and presentation of accurate information.
Steps To Applying For a Canadian Student Visa in Nigeria
Step 1: Choose whether to apply online or offline.
Kindly note that you can either apply online or offline. Applying online means that you are ready to scan some required documents and send them to the Canadian immigration website. The documents should be properly scanned and emailed.
Also, if you choose to go with the paper format, you have to download all the forms and fill them carefully, ensuring that no mistake is in them. Then upload it online by scanning it with the other documents required from you.
Step 2: Fill out a visa application form with the requested information and documents.
The document required for you to apply for the Canadian study visa has been listed above. Get all ready in advance, so that you will not have to pause and start all over.
It is a one-time process, therefore you cannot stop at any point because one document is not ready as at the time of application.
Step 3: Pay the visa processing fee via certified cheque or bank draft.
The Canadian study visa is CAD150. This is the recent amount at the time this content was gathered. However, it is in your best interest to look out for an update because of the fluctuations in exchange rates.
Likewise, keep all receipts printed from the payment websites. You will need it all later.
Step 4: Visit the nearest Canadian visa application centre with your passport, photographs, and other documents for your interview.
During your physical interview, you are required to be composed and organize all the documents needed beforehand. Therefore, keep to time and do not miss your interview.
You also need to arrange copies of the documents and present them to the interview officials. Then answer all questions asked and do not give room for immigration officers to doubt you in any way. Documents you have submitted online should tally with the ones you have with you for physical submission.
Step 5: You need to Do the biometrics
The fingerprint and biometrics appointment will be scheduled by the Canadian embassy in your country. It costs an extra fee of CAD85 currently, prices might change anytime. It is always good to refer to the embassy’s website for updates.
Furthermore, it is good if you can get to this stage on time so that your application process is not delayed.
Next, the following is required;
Step 6: Submit your visa application
You can submit your application form at the Canada visa application centre.
Step 7: Get Receipt
Get the receipt from the application centre containing the unique tracking number.
Step 8: Track your application
You can track your application online using the Unique Tracking number.
What to do after applying for a Canadian study visa?
After applying for your visa, you may be asked to:
To send more information
Get a medical exam
Get a police report
If you applied for your study permit from outside Canada,
You will be sent a letter of introduction at the port of entry confirming your eligibility to study in Canada. This letter is not a permit to study.
When you enter Canada, you must have this letter with you and present it to a border services official. If you require a visiting visa (temporary resident visa) to enter Canada, you will also be issued an electronic travel authorization (eTA).
If you come from a nation where you require an eTA, information about your eTA will be included in the letter of introduction. Your eTA will be associated with your passport and will be good for five years or until the expiration of your passport, whichever occurs first. You must travel using the passport you applied for when you requested your study permit.
Application Rejection
To end this, if your application is rejected, the reasons will be revealed to you in the rejection letter. Most times, it is because you have failed to do all that is expected of you or maybe you have skipped a step.
Also, submitting an incomplete or inaccurate document will cause your application to be denied or rejected. You can also write to the visa office requesting reasons why your application was not granted.
The Canadian Visa Application Centres (VACs) in Nigeria
This is where you can Apply For Canada Student Visa in Nigeria
Lagos: Visa Application Centre
The Lagos Visa Application Centre, Ground Floor, The Manor Plaza, Plot 110, Admiral Ayinla Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Nigeria.
Abuja Visa Application Centre
Sterling Bank Plaza, 3rd Floor Plot No 1083, Mohammadu Buhari Way,
Central Business District, Abuja, Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions For Canada Study Visa In Nigeria
Q. How Long Should I wait Before I start Applying for Canada Study Visa in Nigeria?
A. It is always better not to wait, the earliest you can start the better you can get early admission and start providing all the necessary documentation. At least you should start processing between 5 to 7 months before your resumption date.
Q. Can I do A master’s Program in Canada with HND or Third class?
A. You can not directly do a master’s program in Canada with HND or a master’s. You will have to first do an undergraduate program in Canada.
Q. Will I Pay a Complete Tuition Before Applying for A Canada Study Visa in Nigeria?
A. You are not required to pay your full tuition when applying for a Canada study visa in Nigeria. Some institutions will require you to pay deposits. There are also instalment payment plans for international students.
Q. How Long does it take to process Canada Student Visa?
A. Usually it takes between 2 to 6 months, this depends on factors such as the time that you applied for the visa, the school, and your ability to provide all the necessary documents.
Q. Do I need English Language Proficiency Tests like IELTS, TOEFL etc.)
A. It is a major requirement from most of the schools in Canada for Nigerian nationals. However, some schools in Canada exempt Nigerians from writing English Proficiency tests.
Q. Can anyone Sponsor me?
A. You can sponsor yourself and also, and you can be sponsored by your parents, guardians, family members, relatives, organizations, your company etc.
Q. Can I work while schooling in Canada?
A. Yes, you can work while schooling in Canada, however, you are limited to 20 hours of work in a week.
Q. Can I Travel with my Family?
A. You can travel with your family as dependents while you are schooling in Canada. You can travel with your parents, spouse, family members, children etc.
Q. Can My Spouse Work while I am schooling in Canada?
A. Yes, your spouse can work full time while you are schooling in Canada.
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