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Planning your move to Canada in 2026? Before you book flights, accept an offer letter, or finalize your study plans, there is one question you must answer first, what is the real processing time for Canada visa? Many applicants underestimate how much this single factor can affect their entire journey. The truth is, the processing time for Canada visa depends on much more than just submitting an application.
Your visa category, country of residence, document accuracy, and even the time of year can change your waiting period dramatically. In this blog, you will read about all the details and processes that are involved in finalizing the student visa for a much smoother journey.
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What is the Processing Time for the Canada Visa?
The calculation period his period starts from the day the office receives an application and it ends the day when they decide on the final verdict. If the person applies for the visa via mail then the time starts the moment the application reaches the mailroom. Whereas, if the application is submitted in person then it starts from that very day.
The student needs to have a rough plan of the tentative timeline of how long the Canadian student visa will take for complete approval. According to the official Government of Canada website, it takes approximately 3-4 weeks to complete the processing of the application. Although the time might vary depending on the type of application. Please make sure that you submit all the necessary documents along with the application so that the processing starts as soon as possible.
Also Read: Difference Between SDS and Non-SDS
However, there can always be reasons which might affect the processing time of the application. Some of the factors are as follows:
- The nature of the application submitted
- Whether the application is complete or not
- The amount of time needed to verify the information
Canada Study Permit Processing Time for Indian Students
The study permit is issued to the students by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) which authorizes Indian nationals who want to go abroad to complete their further studies for a specified period.
The study permit lists several conditions for the student that they need to follow during their stay in Canada. In simple words, the study permit is granted by the government of Canada which allows international students to study at designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada.
To get a faster study permit, make sure that you complete these two important steps:
- Complete your biometric process as soon as possible
- Meet all the Canadian eligibility criteria requirements
Apart from this information, it is very important that you know some basic information about how the visa process works, the reasons behind the decline of the application process, and much more.
Processing Time for Canada Visa for Work Permit
Students who wish to work in Canada require a work permit. Usually, the processing time of a work permit is longer than other visas additional checks are involved. The processing time also depends upon various countries and also on the types. The processing time can also be extended if the immigration Authorities need to coordinate with other government authorities. Processing time is also affected by the accuracy and completeness of the application.
Canada Student Visa Fees
The current Canadian student visa fee is CAD 150 which can be paid online and offline mode. To pay the fee in offline mode a Demand Draft (DD) has to be issued or through cash at the Visa Application Centre (VAC).
Documents for Canada Visa
Here is a list of all the important documents which need to be submitted along with the application:
- Proof of acceptance
- Proof of identity
- Proof of financial support
- Declaration of the custodian (for minors)
- Any other documents, if requested.
Also Read: Canadian Student Visa: Eligibility Criteria, Documents Required, How to Apply
Common Reasons for Student Visa Rejection
When applying for a student visa, it is often possible that your application may be rejected. However, it is important to know why the visa was rejected. Some of the common reasons for a student visa rejection are as follows:
- Financial History – It is necessary that all students at the time of their interview need to prove that they have sufficient money to support themselves. After the embassy officials cross-check the application of the student only then will they approve the application.
- Letter of Acceptance – A Canadian study permit is applied based on a letter of acceptance from a designated university. If this particular document is not there in the required documents then there is a high chance that the application might get rejected.
- IELTS or TOEFL score – This is a foreign exam that needs to be given by any student who is planning to go and study abroad. However, if the minimum marks are not scored in the English Proficiency Tests then there is a high chance that the application might get rejected.
- Doubts over Resident Status – During the visa process, it is often possible that the immigration bodies feel that the candidate does not intend to return to their home country which may lead to rejection of the visa application.
FAQs
Processing times depend on the visa office and if you need to do any extra steps. If the application form is incomplete, the visa either stands cancelled or is put on hold. However, according to the official Government of Canada website, it takes approximately 3-4 weeks to complete the processing of the application.
The date indicated in the processing tool is in calendar days which includes weekends.
The current Canadian student visa fee is CAD 150 which can be paid online and offline mode.
You can track your visa application status online via the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website using your application number.
We hope the above information regarding processing time for Canada visa is helpful for the students. For more such information students must keep an eye on Leverage Edu. Remember to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin for day-to-day updates.
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