Canada continues to be a preferred destination for immigrants thanks to the job and education opportunities it offers. However, obtaining a Canadian visa can be a challenging process due to bureaucratic difficulties.
In this article, you can learn what you should pay attention to when applying for a visa to Canada and what you need to do to avoid a visa refusal from Canada. If you haven't read it yet, you can also take a look at our article "2023 Canada Visa Guide".
"How to get a Canadian visa? What should I do when applying for a Canadian visa? What are the Canadian visa application documents? Who gets a visa refusal? What are the reasons for visa refusal? What can be done after a visa refusal?" You will find the answers to questions such as these in this article.
First, let's take a look at the types of visas in Canada to find out which visa to apply for before you go to Canada.
What are the Canadian visa types?
Before you start the process of obtaining a visa to Canada, you first need to determine which type of visa you need. Although each visa type is divided into many subcategories, there are basically 5 different visa types for Canada:
Canada Visitor Visa
Permanent Residency
Express Entry Program
Provincial Nominee Program
Canada Student Visa (Study Permit)
Canada Visitor Visa
A Canadian Visitor Visa, also known as a Temporary Residence Visa, is an immigration document that allows citizens of foreign countries to enter or travel to Canada. Unless you are from a visa-exempt country, you are mandatorily required to have a visitor visa to travel to Canada. This visa is usually issued for a period of six months.
Tourist Visa: This is a visitor visa that allows the visa holder to enter or travel to the country for tourism purposes only. It can be a single-entry or a multiple-entry visa.
Super Visa: A super visa is issued to grandparents or parents of Canadian citizens or people with Permanent Resident (PR) status in Canada so that they can visit their grandchildren or children.
Diplomatic and Official Visa: The Diplomatic and Official Visa allows officials and diplomats from foreign nations to visit Canada for official purposes. This visa is only issued to diplomatic or official passport holders.
Courtesy Visa: This visa is for people who do not meet the requirements to obtain a Diplomatic and Official Visa, but whose visit is nevertheless considered important because of their position and rank.
Business Visa: This comes under the Canadian business visa types. A business visa is issued to people who want to travel to Canada for business-related matters. This visa is usually valid for a period of up to six months.
Temporary Resident Visa: A Temporary Resident Visa is issued to a person who wants to visit Canada for various purposes and is a Temporary
Working Holiday Visa: This Canadian visa is for young individuals from thirty countries to travel to work. It is randomly selected from the applications.
Transit Visa: All foreign nationals from visa-requiring countries must obtain a transit visa in accordance with Canada's immigration rules. If they do not have a valid visitor visa, they must transit through the country in less than 48 hours.
Birth Visa: This visa is issued for women who are pregnant and want to give birth in Canada. However, they need to meet certain conditions. Once born here, the newborn baby becomes a Canadian citizen.
Organ Donor Visa: This visa is for people who want to travel to Canada to donate a life-saving organ to a permanent resident Canadian citizen in need of medical assistance.
Dual Citizen Visa: This visa is issued to Canadian citizens with dual citizenship. It is for citizens who do not hold a Canadian passport.
Temporary Work Visa: Canada temporary work visa is issued to applicants who have a job offer in the country for a period of less than 6 months. The applicant needs to submit a valid offer letter from the Canadian company.
Permanent Residence Visas
Permanent Residence Visas are issued to people who want to live, work or settle in Canada. Salaries by occupation in Canada are an important criterion for those who want to live in Canada.
Immigrant Investor Program: This program is for individuals who want to invest in the Canadian economy. Applicants must have a net worth of at least 800,000 Canadian dollars. They must also be able to invest at least 400,000 Canadian dollars. The Government of Canada will return this amount interest-free within five years.
Entrepreneurship Visa Program: This program is for individuals who want to develop themselves personally and contribute to the Canadian economy. They must have a net worth of at least 300,000 Canadian dollars. The applicant must be prepared to own and manage 1/3 of the business in Canada to create and sustain employment within 3 years of being in Canada.
Family Sponsorship Program: This program aims to reunite families. It allows dependents and spouses of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to immigrate to Canada permanently. However, sponsors must commit to supporting family members for 3-10 years.
Self-Employed Visa: This visa is granted to people with skills in culture, athletics, farming, recreation, agriculture, marketing or business. Applicants with this visa can start their own Canadian venture. However, they must demonstrate their skills in specific areas and explain how they will finance the business.
Caregiver Program: This visa is given to people who are qualified to take care of the disabled, elderly or children. They will need to stay in private homes while in Canada.
Express Entry Program Visas: Express Entry is one of the most popular types of Canadian visas for work. It is divided into three categories, each catering to different aspects of the Canadian economy.
Skilled Worker Visa: Visa applicants under this category must score at least 67 points in the CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) to be eligible. They must also demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to financially support themselves and their family members. Candidates selected from the pool will be eligible to apply for PR (Permanent Resident) status. This visa will allow the visa holder and family members to live and work permanently in Canada.
Skilled Trade Visa: An international skilled tradesperson is eligible to apply for permanent resident status under this category. All applicants are ranked based on their CRS score. The highest scoring applicants receive an invitation by lottery, if necessary.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC): Applicants applying for permanent residence under the CEC are eligible if they are already in Canada on a work permit or temporary foreign worker visa. However, they must meet the following criteria:
At least twelve months of work experience in Canada in the previous three years
Be prepared to reside outside Quebec
Meet minimum French or English language requirements
Provincial Nominee Program Visas:
The Provincial Nominee Program Visa is for workers who want to live in a specific province and become permanent residents of Canada. The candidate must have the education, work experience and skills to contribute to the local economy (i.e., the economy of the region or province in question). Each region and province has its own immigration programs with different requirements and targeting specific groups.
Canadian Student Visa:
A Canada Study Permit is a document that allows foreign citizens to continue their studies at certain educational institutions in Canada. However, this study permit is different from a visa that allows you to travel to Canada.
In addition to this study permit, you need to apply for a Student Visa, provided you meet the eligibility criteria. This visa is needed if the duration of your course is more than 6 months. International students must have a temporary residence visa if their course duration is less than six months.
What are the requirements for a Canadian visa?
Before obtaining a Canadian visa To be eligible to apply for a Canadian visa, applicants must meet the following basic requirements:
Have a valid passport.
Be in good health.
Have not committed a felony or immigration-related offense.
Convince the immigration officer that you have ties to your home country.
Convince the officer that you will leave Canada after your visit.
Have enough money to cover your stay in the country.
Provide a medical examination report if required.
Receive an invitation letter from a Canadian resident.
What are the documents required for a Canadian visa?
While applying for any Canadian visa, you need to submit a few important documents along with your application form to avoid visa refusal from Canada. If these documents are attached, your visa can be processed and you can be accepted. Here is a list of documents that are usually required for all types of Canadian visas:
Canadian visa application form: Obtain the appropriate application form from the Canadian embassy or consulate. You can also download it online from the official website of IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). Fill this form duly and submit it along with the documents from the checklist.
Valid passport: You must submit photocopies of the information page of your passport (the page with your photo, name, date of birth, place of residence, passport number, date of issue and expiration date). To learn about the most powerful passports in the world, you can read our article "List of the World's Most Powerful Passports".
Marital status and identity documents: You must include a copy of your identity and marital status documents with your application. These documents may include your national identity card, birth certificate or marriage certificate.
Visa fee receipt: There are two types of fees you need to pay (processing fee for the visa application and biometric fees). Include receipts for these with your application form. The fee will vary depending on your purpose of travel.
Photos: You will need to submit two passport size photos as per the Canadian visa requirements.
Proof that you will return to your home country: You will need to prove to immigration authorities that you intend to return to your home country before your visa expires. For this, you can submit lease agreements or title deeds of your properties in your home country, proof of employment or proof of your responsibilities in your home country.
Proof of sufficient financial resources: You must prove that you have enough money to support yourself while in Canada. You can submit your employment letter showing your annual income, bank statements, proof of income from your landlord in Canada, or proof of financial support from friends or family.
Medical test reports: You need to submit your medical test report issued by a doctor approved by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) panel. This report is proof that you are in good health. This report is only required if you are going to stay in Canada for at least six months.
Police clearance certificate: This certificate proves that you do not have any criminal record in the past and you are not a danger to the Canadian civil society. Therefore, you need to attach a copy of the police clearance certificate to your application.
Letter explaining the purpose of your visit: This letter can be in the form of contact information for people who support the purpose of your visit, an invitation letter from your Canadian sponsor, or any other document that supports your trip.
What are the reasons for Canada visa rejection?
Canada specifically asks you to state your purpose of travel. This detail is very important for your visa application to be accepted. You must provide documentary evidence of your reason for traveling to Canada, and if the documentation is not sufficient, your application may be rejected.
When you apply for a visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), or when you arrive at a port of entry, a Canadian immigration officer will decide whether you can enter Canada.
If you are found to be inadmissible, you will be denied a visa or ETA, refused entry to Canada, or deported from Canada.
Your application may be rejected for various reasons, such as
Security reasons:
Espionage
Subversion (attempts to overthrow a government, etc.)
Violence or terrorism
Membership in an organization established for these purposes
Human rights or international rights violations:
War crimes
Crimes against humanity
Being a senior official of a government that commits gross human rights violations or is subject to international sanctions
Committing offenses, including driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Organized crime, including membership in an organization involved in organized criminal activities, human trafficking or money laundering
Medical reasons:
Endangering public health,
Endangering public safety,
Causing excessive demand on health or social services (some applicants are exempt)
Financial reasons: If you are financially unable or unwilling to support yourself and your family members
Making false statements, including providing false information or withholding information directly related to decisions made under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)
Failure to comply with any provision of IRPA or having an unacceptable family member
Examples of non-compliance with IRPA include:
Temporary residents who do not comply with the conditions of their stay - for example, staying longer than permitted or working or studying without appropriate permits
Permanent residents who have not lived in Canada for the required period
People who have been previously deported and tried to enter Canada without written permission (In some cases, you may need a return permit to Canada to be admitted to Canada.
What are the approval and rejection rates for Canadian student visa applications?
According to the annual acceptance rates, the approval rate for student visa applications from Turkey to Canada decreased from 73% in 2019 to 66% in 2020, 47% in 2021, and 41% in 2022. You can find the acceptance rates for all countries on Canada's official website. For this reason, there are many factors to be considered when obtaining a student visa. With our experienced team, we make this process as easy as possible for you. If you would like to get support from us while shaping your future, you can request a 30-minute online consultation.
What are the reasons for a Canadian study permit refusal?
As an international student, getting accepted to a university or college in Canada is a great achievement. However, before you pack your bags and move to Canada, you need to obtain a study permit.
Canada welcomes international students as they strengthen the country's future workforce and the higher tuition fees paid by international students help subsidize local education costs.
However, in the aftermath of the pandemic, study permit applicants from many countries face a higher-than-average rejection rate due to the growing popularity of Canadian universities and colleges and the ongoing application backlog.
In 2021, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 329,213 student visas, with 60 percent of all student visa applications approved. In contrast, the study permit approval rate fell to 55 percent in the first quarter of 2022.
Reasons for Canada student visa refusal:
Not having an acceptance letter from an authorized educational institution
You can only qualify for a student visa if you are admitted to a Canadian-designated Learning Institution (DLI). A DLI is a university or college that is allowed to accept international students.
When you are accepted, your institution will send you a letter of acceptance (LOA) that you must attach to your application. If you apply for a student visa without an acceptance letter or if your acceptance letter is not from an authorized institution in Canada, your student visa application will be rejected.
Insufficient evidence that you will leave Canada after your studies
Visa officers want to verify whether you will leave Canada after completing your studies. As an international student, one of the conditions of your study permit is that you cannot stay in Canada illegally after your study permit expires.
While you may be able to apply for a study permit extension or a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) after graduation, emphasizing your intention to stay in Canada after your studies may result in your student visa application being rejected.
Unclear purpose of visit
If the visa officer is not convinced that your purpose for studying in Canada is genuine, your application will be rejected. This can happen if you do not provide a statement of purpose that clearly states why you want to study in Canada and how this particular study program will help you achieve your career goals. In such a case, the visa officer may think that you are not a real student, but that you want to work illegally in Canada.
Lack of financial assurance
Proving that you have enough money to cover the cost of your studies in Canada is very important for your student visa application. If you cannot provide sufficient documentation showing that you have paid or have the funds to pay your tuition fee for the first year and your living expenses during your studies, your student visa will be denied. You also need to prove where you get your funds from, such as savings, bank loan, scholarship, etc.
Inconsistent or incomplete academic history
You must submit your previous education information, transcripts and transcripts with your student visa application. Your academic records help you prove two things: The validity of your past degrees or certificates and your record as a good student. If your documents are incomplete or your past academic performance is inconsistent, the visa officer may reject your application.
Choosing a training program that is not compatible with your previous education or experience
The program of study you choose has a major impact on whether or not your student visa application will be accepted. If your program of study does not align with your envisioned career path, previous education or recent work experience, the visa officer may not be convinced that education is your primary motivation for coming to Canada. If your study program is not a logical next step after your previous education, make sure your statement of purpose clearly states why you chose this program and how it will help your career.
Unexplained gaps in your education or experience
Consistency in your education and work history is important. If you took a gap year during school or were unemployed for a period of time before applying for a student visa, this may be grounds for your application to be rejected. However, if there is a valid reason for a gap in your academic or employment history, it is important to explain this in your statement of purpose.
Low language test score
Proficiency in English (or French if you will be studying in Quebec or enrolling in a French-language program) is an important qualification criterion for a study permit. A low score on an approved language test such as IELTS, CELPIP, TEF Canada or TCF Canada will result in your student visa being denied.
Family ties in Canada and in your home country
Strong family ties in Canada can sometimes work against you when applying for a study permit. If you have siblings in Canada, pointing this out in your application may make the visa officer suspect that you will not return to your home country after graduation. Similarly, if you emphasize that you have no immediate family in your home country, the visa officer may think that you do not have enough reason to leave Canada after your studies.
High number of pending student visa applications
While there is not much you can do about the number of study permit applications processed by IRCC at a given time, a large backlog can sometimes result in a higher rejection rate. Visa officers may reject applications for minor issues if they are reviewing more applications than usual.
Refusal of admission on medical or criminal grounds
If you do not get a clean bill of health from your medical examination, your student visa will probably be denied. You may also be refused entry to Canada if you have committed a crime or been convicted of a crime in the past. However, if you were a minor (under 18 years old) when the offense was committed, your study permit may still be approved.
Inadequate or unacceptable travel history
When you apply for a student visa, the immigration officer will look closely at your previous travel history. Make sure you provide accurate dates for your international travels when filling out the application, as providing an incomplete or inaccurate travel history will likely result in your student visa being denied. Also, your study permit application will be denied if you are currently in your country of residence illegally or have previously overstayed your visa in Canada or any other country.
Missing documents
Missing required documents, submitting incompletely completed forms, and not providing sufficient justification for the purpose of your visit or other gaps in your application may result in your work permit being denied. In addition to your letter of acceptance, proof of financial support and proof of identity, you must include a statement of purpose (also called a letter of explanation) and, if you will be studying in Quebec, a Quebec Selection Certificate. Carefully review the document checklist provided by your local visa office, as applicants from some countries may need to submit additional documents.
Lying on your student visa application
Any inconsistencies, inaccuracies or exaggerations in your study permit application may be grounds for refusal. Immigration officials usually verify the information you provide and scrutinize your documents carefully. Make sure that the information you provide in your statement of purpose and application is correct. Submitting false documents or making false statements is a criminal offense and can not only result in your student visa being denied, but can also prevent you from entering Canada in the future.
Working with an unlicensed immigration consultant
If you are hiring an immigration or education consultant to help with your study permit application, you must make sure that they are authorized by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) in Canada. Approved educational consultants are called Regular International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) and each RISIA is affiliated with a university or college in Canada.
What to do if you receive a Canada student visa rejection?
As bad as you may feel, a study permit application rejection may not mean the end of your dreams of studying in Canada. If you receive a visa refusal from Canada, you have some options for a solution.
You have the option to reapply for a student visa or review the decision in court. However, to do either of these, you must first find out why your student visa application was rejected.
When your student visa application is rejected, you have the right to request the visa officer's notes on your application. These notes, commonly known as Global Case Management System (GCMS) notes, will give you more information about why your application was not approved.
However, non-residents cannot request GCMS notes directly. Instead, you need to hire an immigration consultant or agent who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and authorize them to obtain the notes on your behalf. Note that this process can take up to 60 days.
Once you have received and reviewed the notes, you should be able to assess whether your student visa has been denied for a legitimate reason. Depending on the validity of the visa officer's decision, you have three options:
Applying for a student visa again
If your study permit was denied for valid reasons, such as missing documents or insufficient proof of financial support, you can always reapply with additional documents. If possible, postpone your studies in Canada for a semester so that you have enough time to reapply and obtain your student visa.
Make sure your revised student visa application is more comprehensive and doesn't have the same mistakes or gaps as your first application. If you are not confident about how to strengthen your application, you may want to consider working with a counselor to guide you through the process.
Request a judicial review of your application decision
There is no formal appeals process for reconsideration of your study permit decision. However, if you are certain that your student visa was unfairly denied, you can ask the Federal Court to review the decision and determine whether it was reasonable.
To do this, you will need the services of an immigration lawyer authorized to practice law in Canada. Also, the Federal Court does not review all cases, so this approach should only be used as a last resort.
Cancel your acceptance from a university or college
There is also the possibility that your study permit was denied for a legitimate reason, but you failed to take corrective action.
For example, you may not have enough money for your studies in Canada or you may have lost your academic credentials. In such a case, your only option is to cancel your university or college admission and get your tuition fees refunded.
The learning institution may charge an administration fee before refunding your payment, so be sure to ask how much they will charge. If you purchased a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) to show financial proof for your application, you will also need to get this refunded.
Your dream of studying in Canada depends on qualifying for a study permit, yet the uncertainty of whether you will get one can often be stressful.
By following the tips we have shared, you can avoid the mistakes that most often lead to student visa application rejection. However, don't worry if your application is not approved. You can always strengthen your application and reapply at a later date.
What to do if you get a visa refusal from Canada?
If you have been denied a visa but have a reason to travel to Canada that is justifiable in your circumstances, you may be granted temporary residence.
To qualify for temporary residence, your need to enter or remain in Canada must outweigh health or safety risks to Canadian society, as determined by an immigration or border services officer. You must show that your visit is justified, even if the reason for your denial of admission seems trivial.
Check our article about TS2023!
How to apply for a temporary residence permit?
If you need an eTA and your eTA application was rejected, you may be granted a temporary residence permit. This depends on the nature and circumstances of the inadmissibility of your application and why you need to travel to Canada.
You must apply for a visitor visa and attach supporting documents to explain why you are inadmissible and why it may be justified for you to enter Canada.
You may need to attend an interview so that an officer can consider your application.
How long can you stay in Canada with a temporary residence permit?
A temporary residence permit is usually issued for the duration of your visit to Canada - for example, 1 week to attend a conference. You must leave Canada by the expiration date or get a new permit before your current permit expires.
This permit can be canceled at any time by an officer.
Once you leave Canada, your permit will no longer be valid unless you are specifically authorized to leave and re-enter.
You can contact us for all your questions about studying, working and living in Canada. You can request an online appointment to start planning your future.
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