The article discusses the difference between a student visa and a study permit. It explains that a student visa is a document issued by a country's immigration authority that allows a person to enter the country for the purpose of studying, while a study permit is a document issued by the country's education authority that authorizes an individual to study within that country. The article provides further details on the distinctions between these two documents and their respective requirements and processes.

1. What’s The
Difference Between a
Student Visa and
Study Permit?
In this article, we are discussing What’s the Difference Between a
Student Visa and Study Permit.
A study permit and a student visa have become terms that are used
interchangeably but are in fact two separate documents. Students will need
to apply for BOTH a student visa and a study permit before coming to

2. Canada. After deciding which university to attend in Canada, it is critical to
understand the distinction between a student visa and a study permit.
A student visa is a valid permission to enter in Canada. This is a conditional
authorization- which means that even if you have a student visa, the border
security officer has the authority to stop you from entering into the country.
To get more clarification on this issue and to make it easier for you to
understand, we've summarised the difference between Student Visa and
Study Permit below. So, Keep on reading this article!
What’s the Difference Between a Student
Visa and Study Permit
The student visa is technically a visitor visa or an electronic travel
authorization (eTA), either of which will allow the student to cross Canada’s
borders. However, to get this student visa/visitor visa/eTA a student will first
need to get a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a Canadian DLI. Once the
student enters Canada with their student visa, the Canadian Border Service
Agency (CBSA) will sign and hand the study permit to the student.
A study permit gives you the authority or the permission to stay in Canada.
It carries all the necessary details regarding your stay in the country. This
includes -
 your purpose for visiting the country
 the duration of your study
 the course that you will be studying
 any restrictions about your employability during your stay
So, the key difference between the two is-
Student Visa – Allows you to enter Canada
Study Permit – Allows you to stay in Canada
Study Permit In Canada - Eligibility
Criteria
You can come to Canada to study if you
 Are enrolled at a DLI
 Have enough money to pay for your tuition fees and can manage
living expenses
 Obey the law, have no criminal record and get a police certificate (if
required)
 Are in good health and get a medical exam (if required)

3. Who doesn’t need a permit to study in
Canada?
 You don’t need a study permit if you’re coming to Canada for a
program that lasts 6 months or less.
 You may not need a study permit if you’re a family or staff member of
a foreign representative to Canada that has been accredited by
Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
 If you’re a member of a foreign armed force on official duties in
Canada, you don’t need a study permit.
 You don’t need a study permit if you have Registered Indian status in
Canada, even if you’re a citizen of another country.
Is it hard to get a study permit for
Canada?
Even though it may seem like the difficult part is over once you receive a
letter of acceptance from a Canadian institution, obtaining a study permit
can be more difficult than you might imagine. According to the IRCC, about
30% of study permit applications are refused.
Due to its huge popularity, it follows a rigorous visa process. After COVID-
19, Canadian study permit rejection rate has shot up to 40-50%. In the pre-
COVID scenario, the Canada study permit rejection rate was nearly 15-
20%.
Canada Study Permit Rejection Reasons
Listed some of the popular reasons for the rejection of a study permit-
 Questionable Letter of Acceptance
 If the immigration officer questions your choice of program, your
study permit might get rejected.
 The chances of your study permit getting rejected are higher if your
identity documents are incomplete or uneasy to read.
 Lack of Sufficient Funds.
 The study permit is a temporary visa, and it has an expiry date. The
visa officer must be convinced that you will come back to your home
country after completing your studies. If the visa officer is not
satisfied and finds you a potential immigrant, then your Study Permit
can be rejected.
What Should You Do After Canada Study
Permit Refusal?

4.  Request a re-evaluation
 Submit a new application [This is the Best Option]
 Appeal against the decision at the federal court of Canada.
How long is the study permit valid?
According to subsection R222(1), the length of the validity of a study permit
corresponds to the length of the program of studies plus 90 days after
program completion.
When is the best time to apply for a
study permit?
As soon as you receive an acceptance letter from a Canadian institution or
university, you should apply for a study permit. It may take up to three
months to obtain study permission.
Conclusion
Many people cannot differentiate between the terms “Student Visa” and
“Study Permit”. A Student Visa is a document that allows you only to
enter/re-enter Canada as long as it's valid. A Study Permit, on the other
hand, is a document that permits you to study and stay in Canada legally
as a student as long as it's valid. Students will need to apply for BOTH a
student visa and a study permit before coming to Canada.
In this article, we have tried to cover everything related to Student Visa and
Study Permit. We hope your query regarding the difference between
student visa and study permit has been solved. We hope you like this
article!
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