Applying for a visa to study and tourism in Canada

To obtain a student visa (study visa) or tourist visa for Canada, you will need to prepare the following documents:

1. Completed questionnaire in one of the official languages of Canada.
2. Completed "Family Information" form.
3. Valid foreign passport that remains valid for at least 3 months after leaving Canada. If you have two valid passports, both must be presented.
4. Previous passport(s) with visas, if applicable.
5. Two recent color photos, taken within the last six months, without ovals. The photos should measure 3.5 x 4.5 cm, with the image size from the top of the head to the chin measuring 36 mm. They should have a matte finish and a light background, with the upper part of the shoulders visible.
6. Confirmation of flight and hotel bookings, detailed itinerary, and proof of transportation arrangements within Canada.
7. Certificate of employment or parental employment certificate on company letterhead, with the employer's seal and signature. The certificate should state the salary, position, length of service, and contact details. It should also mention that the applicant has been granted leave for the trip, with job and position preservation. The certificate must be translated into French or English. If the applicant is financially supported by their parents, a certificate from their place of work is required.
8. Document proving sufficient funds, such as a credit card statement or bank account statement with a transfer.
9. Evidence of family, economic, and social ties to the home country, such as a marriage certificate, property documents, and birth certificates of children.
10. Original birth certificate for minors and notarized consent from both parents for the child's departure, or from one parent if the other is accompanying the child. The consent should be stamped with an "Apostille" certification.
11. Copy of all completed pages of the national passport.
12. Additional documents required for international applicants applying for a study and tourist visa to Canada:

• Original, copy, or fax of the invitation from the educational institution.
• Proof of accommodation arrangements in Canada for the entire duration of stay.
• Copy of student's record book (student's card) or certificate from the educational institution.
• Consent from parents/guardians for minors to enter the country independently, certified by a notary. The document should include the name of the guardian who will accompany the child in Canada.
• For minors, a guardianship document from Canada is required. For a group, a document can be prepared for the group leader and notarized.
• Completed personal essay with detailed explanations of the reasons for choosing the educational course.
• For long-term study visas, an extract from the bank account showing financial transactions for the last six months, including the balance that will cover the expenses of residence and study in Canada throughout the stay.

13. All referenced documents must be translated into French or English and certified by an authorized translation agency, including the translator's address and diploma number.

Important Information:

• It is permissible to submit copies of all pages of a valid foreign passport, and present the original passport at a later stage.
• Passport retrieval at the time of application submission is possible, if necessary.
• If the study visa is not ready but the course start date is approaching, there is no need to apply for a new course, as the visa is issued solely for entry into the country.
• Generally, the validity period of a study or student visa for Canada is two months less than the passport's validity.
• Original notarized agreements are not required as they will not be returned.

Note: In many cases, a standard document package may not be sufficient. SMAPSE specialists will analyze each situation and provide valuable recommendations to ensure the formation of the most optimal document package that guarantees a successful student visa application for Canada.

Please be aware that the visa officer may request additional documents at their discretion.

To apply for a long-term student visa (study visa) or tourist visa to Canada, you will need to prepare the following documents

1. Application forms: Two completed temporary resident applications in one of the official languages of Canada.
2. Completed "Family Information" form.
3. Valid foreign passport that remains valid until the applicant leaves Canada. If you have two valid passports, both must be presented.
4. Previous passport(s) with visas, if applicable.
5. Three recent color photos, taken within the last six months, without ovals. The photos should measure 3.5 x 4.5 cm, with the image size from the top of the head to the chin measuring 36 mm. They should have a matte finish and a light background, with the upper part of the shoulders visible.
6. Letter of acceptance or letter of admission from the Canadian educational institution (original, copy, fax). If traveling to Quebec, permission to enter the province from the Government of Quebec is required. The inviting party is responsible for preparing this document.
7. Student educational plan, which a foreign applicant writes independently. The document should be approximately one page and contains answers to the following questions:

• Why does the student have a desire to study at this educational institution?
• How can education in Canada contribute to the student's career goals and professional success?

8. Financial proof of payment for accommodation and for the educational course  in the selected educational institution, with a minimum amount of 12,000 Canadian dollars per year.
9. Proof of intent to return to the home country after graduation, including:

• Certificate of employment indicating salary, position, and length of service at the specified company.
• Copies of marriage certificates and birth certificates of children, if applicable (can be provided from parents).
• Spouse's employment certificate, if applicable.

All documents must be translated into English. Notarization of  all package of documents is not necessary

List of the additional required documents includes:

• Work reference stating salary, length of service, and position with a translation into English or French. A photocopy of the work record card certified by the personnel department is also required, with a translation.
• Company official booklet, business card, and copy of the registration certificate of the company if the applicant is the general director or owner of the company.
• If sponsored, a certificate from the sponsor's place of work is required, if applicable.
• Reference letters from employers, coaches, or teachers.
• For company-sponsored study, a letter of guarantee for tuition payment from the enterprise is required.
• If you stay in Canada more than six months, two applications in English for permission to continue study are necessary.
• Bank account statement with financial transaction history for the last six months.
• Additional documents for students:
  • Copy of the student's record book, student card, and original certificate from the university where the applicant is studying.
  • All listed documents must have an English translation.
  • If education is completed, a translated copy of the degree is required.

If a minor is traveling to Canada independently, notarized consent from both parents is needed. If one parent is accompanying the child, consent from the other parent is still required.

A notarized consent for guardianship in Canada is issued until the child reaches the age of majority specified by the Canadian province where they are going. The age of majority varies by province. For example, in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Prince Edward Island, consent for guardianship is required for children under 18 years old. In other provinces, this age has been extended to 19 years.

A notarially certified document of guardianship is also required, indicating the person, who is responsible for the child during their stay in Canada.

If a group of foreign minors is traveling with a supervisor, parental consent is sufficient instead of the above documents. The group leader assumes full responsibility for the international children throughout their stay in the country.

For a better chance to obtain a Canadian visa, it is recommended to prove strong ties to the home country. It is advisable to include the following documents:

• If you own a car, you can present a copy of the car registration certificate.
• All previous foreign passports with visas.
• Any documents indicating property ownership, such as real estate documents, sales contracts, and privatization certificates.

If the applicant intends to stay in Canada for more than six months (e.g., for long-term study), the consulate officer may request a medical document of healthy status after a positive decision has been made.

Medical examinations for immigration purposes are issued only after a positive decision has been made on the application.

Foreign applicants requested to undergo a medical examination must fill out a specific medical questionnaire. For preliminary examinations, an additional medical questionnaire form can be obtained from doctors at clinics accredited by the Government of Canada. All documents should be accompanied by translations or written in English.