How can students improve their chances of getting a Canadian visa?

Canada has adopted a Zero Net Growth model for allocating study permits this year — for every student who leaves the country, one more can enter. Here what you need to do to maximise your chances of getting a student visa.

In January, 2024 Canada capped the number of visas it will issue to international students. Now, it has revised the final allocation of attestation letters, a mandatory document for the issuance of study permits for international students by a province or territory.

Notably, some provinces have been allocated more attestation letters than others, meaning that despite Canada’s cap on visas, students can increase their chances of getting a visa if they choose their destination carefully.

Here is how:

Canada has adopted a Zero Net Growth model for allocating study permits under the national cap this year, signifying a one-for-one replacement policy — for every student who leaves the country, one more can enter.

According to the revised allocation, provinces and territories in Canada can issue a total of 552,095 attestation letters, with an estimated approval of 291,914 study permits, a 28% decrease compared to the previous year.

Moreover, around 20% students in the current national cap will be those who apply for an extension of their study permit each year.

There are also exemptions for specific student categories such as primary and secondary school students, and masters’ and doctoral degree students The number of such students was around 140,000 in 2023, and is expected to remain the same this year.

Examining provincial allocations key:

Students have historically preferred study in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta provinces. Ontario’s Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and BC’s Surrey and Vancouver have been the top destinations.

“Out of 10 students, 7 or 8 prefer these three provinces,”

Now, students should instead prioritise provinces and territories that have seen a substantial increase in attestation letters and, consequently, study permits.

Despite overall cap, some provinces see increased allocations. Alberta received an allocation of 40,894 attestation letters, leading to a projected approval of 24,537 study permits (SPs). This marks a 10% increase from the previous allocation. Similarly, Quebec was allocated 1,17,917 letters, compared to 72,716 earlier, also resulting in a 10% increase of projected SPs approved (43,629).

Saskatchewan received an allocation of 15,054 attestation letters, representing a 10% increase, with a projected 7,226 SPs to be approved.

Newfoundland saw an allocation of 3,153, again a 10% increase from the previous year, with approval of 1,419 SPs projected. Nunavut received 333 allocations this year, marking a staggering 6,567% uptick from 2023, with a projected SPs at 200. Similarly, Northwest Territories received 333 allocations, also reflecting a remarkable 4,900% increase from 2023, with a projected SPs at 200.

Although Nova Scotia experienced an increase in allocation letters from 12,906 to 20,378, the projected SPs approval rate remained unchanged at 7,744. Finally, Yukon also witnessed a significant increase of 205 per cent in allocation, with 417 attestation letters issued and a projected SPs of 250.

Look beyond traditional destinations:

Experts suggest while Ontario remains a preferred choice due to its large allocation, considering less-fancied provinces might yield better results. Ontario with 2,35,000 attestation letters allocated, projects to issue roughly 141,000 SPs — a 41% decrease as compared to 2023. Given the sheer number of applications that this province receives, the chances of rejection are very high.

Similarly, British Columbia has experienced an 18% decrease in allocations.

In a nutshell, while the revised allocations may pose challenges, strategic planning and exploration of diverse study destinations can significantly improve students’ visa success rates in Canada.

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