Services

Students Visa

Thousands of students come to Canada each year for their studies. Foreign students bring a rich culture to Canadian classrooms. Their knowledge and skills are more than welcome to Canada.

This section gives you some reasons to study in Canada. Why study in Canada?
Canadians place a premium on education and demand first-rate schools. Canada spends more per capita on its education system than any other country in the G-7 and is among the top three countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). A degree from a Canadian university is recognized world-wide and as a result, international students who graduate from Canadian universities enjoy successful and prosperous careers.

Canadian education is competitively priced and boasts an average of $7,100 for tuition fees, $8,100 for livings costs for international students.

Canadians enjoy a standard of living among the highest in the world. More than 65 per cent of Canadians own their own homes, with a higher percentage owning durable goods, such as automobiles, refrigerators, washing machines, television, telephones and radios.

Canada is a country of immigrants and has both a tradition and policy of encouraging multicultural diversity.

Almost all of the world’s ethnic groups are represented in Canada. As a result, most ethnic foods and recreational activities associated with specific cultures are available in Canada. Clubs, informal clubs and associations representing a multitude of ethnic backgrounds are also easily accessible. International student advisors at schools can help students get in touch with such groups.

All major urban centres have a variety of shopping malls, restaurants, theatres, art galleries and museums. Canadian cities provide numerous parks, gardens and beaches for public use, as well as excellent sports and recreation facilities.

Students who come to Canada will witness one of the most beautiful, natural environments in the world. Canada is also a country of diverse geography, and there is much to experience in its great outdoors: from the lush coastline of British Columbia, the majestic Rocky Mountains of Alberta, the big skies of the prairies, to the ‘maple sugar country’ in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence and the rugged hills and picturesque coastline of the Atlantic provinces

Canada is well-known as a safe, just and peaceful society. Canadian crime rates have been falling steadily since the 1990s. In 1997, Canada’s police-reported crime rate decreased for the sixth year in a row, falling by five per cent. Violent crimes declined for the fifth year in a row in 1997 and Canada’s homicide rate now accounts for less than one percent of all reported violent incidents. Unlike its US neighbours to the south, firearms are strictly controlled and generally are not permitted in Canada.

Canada is an international leader in computer and information technologies and has a reputation for excellence in such sectors as telecommunications, transportation and engineering; and specifically, aerospace, urban transport, microelectronics, medical devices, advanced software, hydroelectric and nuclear power, lasers and opto-electronics, biotechnology, food and beverage processing, geomatics; and ocean and environmental industries.

Canada is a bilingual country with two official languages, English and French. The vast majority (75 per cent) of Canada’s French-speaking inhabitants live in the province of Québec, which is located in the eastern part of the country but there are French-speaking communities throughout the country.

According to a 1991 census, French is the mother tongue of 82 per cent of Québec’s population and is spoken at home by 83 per cent of Québecers.

Internationally, it is estimated that some 800 million people speak English and 250 million speak French. As a bilingual nation, Canada offers superior English as a Second Language (ESL) and French as a Second Language (FSL) training for students wishing to learn either or both languages.

Do I need a student visa?

• Not everyone needs a Study Permit to study in Canada. To find out if you need a Study Permit or not kindly contact Pinoys2Canada.

Who needs a Study Permit?

• Most foreign students require a study permit to study in Canada. However, in some cases, there are some exceptions:

If you wish to study in a short-term course or program:

• You do not need a Study Permit if you are planning to take a course or program in Canada with a duration of six months or less. You must complete the course or program within the period authorized for your stay in Canada.

If you are a minor child already in Canada:

• You do not need a Study Permit if you are a minor child already in Canada, and your parents are not “visitors” in Canada. For details, see Minor Children Studying in Canada.

Foreign representatives to Canada:

• If you are a family or staff member of a foreign representative to Canada accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, you do not need a Study Permit to study.

Having a study permit has numerous benefits, some of them being:

• apply to renew your Study Permit from within Canada, if you decide to continue studying in Canada; and
• work part-time on campus at the college or university at which you are registered as a full-time student.

Getting a visa
Depending on your country of origin and the type and length of study, you may require:

• a visa
• a student authorization
• both a student authorization and visa
• or, none of the above
• The type of documentation required depends on your country of origin, the program you are taking, and the length of your study:
• Short-term programs of six months or less do not require a study permit.
• All other programs require a student authorization.

NOTE:
A visa may be required depending on your country of origin. Please see the list of countries that require a visitor’s visa as provided by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.