Canada offers Colombian students a safe, welcoming, multi-cultural society to advance their education, so it’s no wonder so many students choose Canada. Study costs for international students are generally lower in Canada than many other English-speaking countries, crime rates are low, and the country offers various pathways to obtain full-time residency should students choose to stay in Canada after graduation. Learn what Colombian students should know about student visas in Canada.
1. Pick a college program
Before prospective students can even apply for a student visa in Canada, they need proof of an acceptance letter from a designated learning institution (DSI).
Canadian colleges with good programs for Colombian Students
Colombians have a wide range of colleges to choose from, and it really comes down to subject of study. The following colleges are known for providing great study programs and scholarships for international students, and many Colombian students have found success at these institutions.
- Centennial College, outside of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles in Gaspe, Quebec, Canada
- George Brown College in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Seneca College outside of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Fanshawe College in London, Ontario, Canada
- Humber College in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Looking at the list, you’ll start cluing in to one of the many reasons why small communities of Colombians are growing in Canada, and why so many Colombians choose to live in two provinces: Ontario and Quebec. Many immigrants in general choose to live in Ontario, in part to its wide range of study programs.
Scholarships for Colombian students
There are many newthings Colombian immigrants should know about Canadian culture before moving there, and one of them is free healthcare and education. One of the biggest draws to studying in Canada is the relatively low cost for high-quality education.
On top of that, both Canada and Colombia offer a variety of scholarships to help Colombians affordably study abroad in Canada. Here are a few specific programs Colombian students should look into:
- Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP)
- Colombian Institute of Educational Loans and Technical Studies Abroad
- Colombia’s Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation
Of course, there’s hundreds of additional scholarships for specific types of study as well, such as the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship for doctoral students.
2. Get a study permit in Canada
Once a Colombian student has been accepted into a Canadian college or university, they need a study permit.
How to get a study permit in Canada
Before a student applies for a study permit in Canada, they need the following:
- A letter of acceptance from a designated leaning institution (DLI)
- A valid passport
A designated learning institution (DLI) is a school approved to host international students by the province or territory. If a school of choice loses its DLI status while a student is enrolled there, they can keep studying there until the study permit expires.
Once a student acquires those two items, they should apply for a Canadian study visa as soon as possible because it can take up to three months to process. They can apply online or at a visa application center in Colombia. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website updates the status daily.
A student may stay in Canada as long as they are enrolled in a Canadian school, make progress towards finishing their program of study, respect the conditions on the permit, stop studying when they no longer meet the requirements, and leave Canada when the permit expires.
How Colombian students are eligible for Student Direct Streams (SDS)
A handful of countries are eligible for an expedited study permit program at a post-secondary institution, and Colombia is one of them. Rather than waiting three months for a decision, you get your student visa in 20 days. If applicants can provide the following materials, they can get their student direct stream (SDS).
- Proof of a valid language test result
- Proof of a guaranteed investment certificate of CAN $10,000 or more
- Proof of full payment of tuition for the applicant’s first year of study
- Letter of acceptance from a post-secondary DLI
- Most recent educational transcript
- Proof of completion of upfront medical examination
Additionally, family members of principal applicants who are applying under SDS are eligible for concurring processing if they apply at the same time. So, applicants with spouses and/or children can gain visas concurrently.
How to transfer money between Colombia and Canada
Once a student moves to Canada, they can face a couple financial hurdles between Colombia and Canada. How does a family send money to support their child in Canada? How does a student in Canada send money to family in Colombia? The value of the Canadian dollar and Colombian peso are very different, and the conversion rate will affect the transfer.
Don’t fret; these questions don’t have to be hard to navigate when going through a big move for the first time. Western Union takes pride in helping people transfer money from one country to the next so they can prepare for what’s next.
Download our mobile app for easy money transferring and tracking. Additionally, go to our website or visit an agent location to get started as well. We are happy to walk you through the set-up process. And once you set things up, we make transferring and tracking transfers easy so you can focus on your studies.
