Student Visa Requirements
Studying hard and getting the required academic grades for admission into your target universities is the first step of your journey to study abroad. The last step is the tedious and yet extremely crucial step of applying for a student visa- the document that will grant you permission to stay in the country where you will be studying. Knowing about the required documentation can help you be properly prepared when it’s time to apply and your fears will be lesser when you apply. All the small details of this process can leave you exhausted so here is a broken down picture of the whole process.
Types of student visas
When applying for the visa, the country’s embassy websites provide a huge amount of information for all kinds of visas. You go into the student visa section and get even more confused by all the pathways in front of you. There is a solution out of this maze- confirm with the program what kind of visa they will be requiring by emailing them. Every country has its own types of student visas depending on the location of the city and the subject- you will have to look which one is applicable to you before applying for the visa and collecting your documents
US student visas
- F1 visa- for studying in any college, university or English language school
- J1 visa- for exchange programs at high school or university level
- M1 visa- training for non academic purposes
UK student visas
- Short term student visa- for less than 6 months of study
- Tier 4 student visa- The general student visa required for study of more than 6 months
Canada student visas
- Study permit- for long-term study purposes
- Travel visa- for less than 6 months of study
Australia student visas
- Student Visa (subclass 500)- for international students coming to study for more than 5 years
- Visitor Visa (subclass 600, 601, 651)- for international students coming for three months or lesser
- Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417 and 462)- for study of four months or less
- Student Guardian Visa (subclass 590)- this is for guardians of students who have to study for 3 months or less or have to fulfil ELICOS requirements
- Training Visa (subclass 407)- for vocational training or professional development purposes
Turkey student visas
- Internship visa- 90 days visa for exchange programs, short courses or trainings
- Turkish language course visa- visa issued for up to 11 months
- General student visa- for more than 6 months of study
These requirements will differ for students applying in Northern Republic of Cyprus
Germany student visas
- Language course visa- for three months to a year in order to study German language
- Student applicant visa- issued for three to six months for students who have to appear for entrance exam and have not received admission letter yet
- Student visa- for students who have received their admission letter
Eligibility criteria for a student visa
The eligibility criteria for all of the visas mentioned above is different. It depends on the country you are applying to and the purpose of your travel but here is a general list of documents that you must keep prepared if you are planning to study abroad
- Valid passport- check the exact requirements of the visa and for how long it should remain valid even after the course of your studies is over
- Proof of enrollment from the institute you will be attending
- Language proficiency– you have to prove that you can speak in the language of the natives in the country you are going to. For this, you have to take the required test and fulfil the minimum score threshold
- Proof of financial capability to show that you can afford your living expenses while pursuing your education in the country
- Be of sound character with no criminal records (a police clearance certificate will be required)
Required documents for a student visa application
As you can see in the eligibility criteria above, there are certain things you need to prove to the immigration authorities before moving to the country. All of these abilities require a certain proof by submitting certain documents. As soon as your acceptance letter arrives, you will be rushing to collect all these documents and arranging for the visa fee so having the proper knowledge of the documents required can keep you prepared for the visa process
Completed visa application form
Properly and clearly fill everything on the application form and see if any extra documents need to be attached
Passport
A valid passport with space for at least two visas and it should not expire during your stay in the country (check the requirements of the visa you are applying for the exact duration of passport validity required)
Acceptance letter
Official document from the university which confirms that you have got admission in the institute
Language proficiency test scores
These scores are either IELTS, TOEFL or PTE exam scores that prove your proficiency in English. For Germany, you would require a CEFR (The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)
Personal ID documents
These could be your National ID documents, your birth certificate or your marriage certificate (if applicable)
Evidence of financial resources
There is a list of documents required for proof of sufficient funds:
- Record of parents’ bank accounts and assets
- Provide a record of the minimum amount of money in the bank account to prove that you can sustain yourself during your education. If there is someone sponsoring you, provide a letter of commitment of the sponsor
- If you have earned scholarship, provide the scholarship certificate with details about what it will cover
Payment of language course
Proof of tuition payment of the language course (this is for Germany particularly but check if the country you are going to needs this as well) that you will be studying
Academic records
Certificates of all your previous education transcripts and in some cases, a leaving certificate will be required. Copies of these documents should be attested
Health and travel insurance
These are provided by the government of the host country usually and you must have proof of this insurance coverage. You might also be required to provide results of a health examination
Proof of intent
This is a document that proves you are moving to the country only for the purpose of education and not permanent settlement. This may not be required in some cases
Proof of payment of visa fees
Attach the proof of payment of visa fee with the application
Applying for a student visa
You have to check the visa processing time and apply for the visa accordingly (sometimes it can even take several months). The timing should be such that the visa should arrive at least a month before the commencement of your study program
After you fill the online application form and attach the required scanned copies of documents (or send copies through courier to the embassy), you will get a date for the visa interview. You must take your documents on the day of the interview.
Visa interview process
The interview is meant to check the authenticity of your intent to study so the questions are also centred around your motivation and reason to study. Keep original academic and financial documents with you for this process and answer as honestly as you can.
Maintaining legal status while on a student visa
You must abide by all the rules of your student visa in order to maintain your legal status in the country. These rules will differ for each country but the general expectations from you would be to:
- Abide by the country’s and university’s laws
- Register with the authorities for residence permit and keep them updated about residence changes or transfer to new school
- Study the minimum amount of courses each semester and maintain attendance
- Abide by the working hours allowance in your student visa
Extension of stay or change of status
There are certain ways to extend your stay in the country after the grace period of your period of study ends. Keep in mind that there is a processing time for applying for a different visa so apply accordingly. You can change your status by doing the following:
- Getting a job or training opportunity in a related field
- Studying further
- Getting a permit to look for job in a certain period of time
- Applying for a work holiday or tourist visa
Departing from the host country after completing studies
After the completion of studies, there is a grace period allowed by the authorities (usually 30 days) during which you can prepare to leave and take care of any financial or residential business.
Dependents and family members of a student visa holder
As an international student, you are allowed to bring your dependents- which includes your partner and children under a certain age (and in some cases, support for their work visas as well) to the country you are moving to. There is only one problem for this, you will have to apply for a permit and this could influence the decision of the visa officer as it makes the officer suspect that you might not return after the study permit expires.
Working while on a student visa
In order to work while studying, you must have work authorization under the type of student visa you have. You must not exceed the number of hours you are allowed to work as your primary focus should be on your education.
When you work with a student visa, you are given the same rights and protection as other full-time workers in the country.
Travel and reentry considerations for student visa holders
After a certain period of time has passed in the country, you can apply for international travel by submitting certain documents. When you are re-entering the country, you must not carry any illegal substances so read the list of things that you are not allowed to bring.
Resources for international students seeking a student visa
You can check out the following resources for further reading up on student visa policies and application details:
