Are you planning to study abroad
Your study visa will be an essential travel document?
Study visas are granted to people who wish to move and study at an officially recognized educational institution. This includes the study of different programs, fields and subjects. It is valid for the duration of the course for which they are issued, alternatively 36 months for school and 24 months for other institutions.
As a holder of a study visa, you may also apply for permission to work for the purposes of getting work experience, as part of your studies to obtain a diploma or degree by submitting:
An offer to take practical training
consent from the educational institution
proof that you are still a registered student
The Department’s consent to get practical training as part of your studies is issued free of charge provided that you are a registered student and that your study visa remains valid for the entire duration of the training period.Alternatively, as a foreigner studying at a higher educational institution with a valid study visa, you may work part-time for no more than 20 hours per week.
Studying abroad requires studious planning to say the least. Students are always advised to plan their admission/ application process keeping in mind university deadlines and working backwards. Students are required to appear for English eligibility tests as per the university policy and also have required documents in place for the smooth processing of their application. Hence, students are always advised to apply 3-4 months in advance to avoid any last-minute rush. Applicants seeking financial aid, scholarships and education loans should add another couple of extra months to the process as these applications take more time.
Study Visas are often classified on the basis of two broad difference points.
Study Visa is Classified Based Upon Subject’s Program Duration
Depending on the length of occupancy of the program the applicant is planning to undertake, the countries often divide the student visa into Short Term Student Visas or Long-term Student Visas. Often, the short-term visas are given to students who plan to take a short course of a language or a diploma certificate course and the entire duration is often limited to 90 days (3 months). Long term visas, on the other hand, are given to students who are planning to take up degree courses extending beyond the 3-month period. These could include the intern ships and small certificate programs of 6 months and so on. European Union Countries often have this broad classification.
Study Visa Classification Based upon Type of Study Program
Irrespective of the duration of the course, some countries classify the study visas basis the type of student. This could be the level of degree applied for (undergraduate, graduate or doctoral), exchange student or student applying for a vocational/ diploma course. Broadly speaking, as these visas also depend on the type, of course, the student is applying for, these are somewhat linked to the tenure. However, in these categories, the first point of distinction is not how long the program would be for. If you are, for an instance, an exchange student, you could be going for 3month or 3 years, the category would still be based on the type of student and not the occupancy.
Scholarship for Study Visas
Gaining a quality education in top international universities is a dream for many students however, arranging funds can prove to be a major obstacle to fulfil those dreams. In order to overcome this inconvenience, many organizations, universities and governments give scholarships to talented students, so, they are don’t challenge quality of education.
Even when you centre all attention and energy to choosing the appropriate study course at a reputable university, you should give proper and more importance to acquiring a valid study visa well before your course starts, and ensure that your visa will cover the entire period of your stay to the desired country.
Here’s is our team advices for a top visa application.
1. Do not delay
* 1-3 months in advance: You have to apply at least 1-3 months before to the course start-up date, depending on which country you are applying for.
Visa category:
Ask your desired institute which category of visa you need, or consult with the suitable embassy. This is very much important as study visa requirements for different regions within the same country can differ significantly.
* List of documents: Check the complete list of documents required well in advance on the visa section of the country’s government website, so that you have them ready at the time of visa application submission.
2. Acceptance letter from Institute
You can apply for a study visa only after you have been accepted into an academic course in the country where you dream to study. You have to submit the acceptance letter and pay for some or all of your tuition fees when you apply for the study visa.
The length of your course will decide the type of study visa you have to apply for. For example, if you have chosen for a course that is shorter than six months, you may need to enter on a short- term study visa. This visa may not allow you to work while studying.
3. Are you healthy enough?
Some countries have health restrictions on their student visa categories. For understanding, you may need to do medical tests to prove that you do not carry any infectious diseases, or, prove that you have been vaccinated if your home country has lately had an outbreak of diseases such as cholera or yellow fever etc. Some countries require you to take a compulsory health insurance before they accept your a study visa.
4. Collect your documents
You’ll need original copies of important documents, such as your English Language test scores or your academic results and certificates (depending on the check-list specifications), and of course your current passport that must be valid for the next 6 months.
There are some common documents which you need at the time of the visa interview, some of them must be original copies like:
- Passport
- Photos
- Letter of Acceptance
- Financial Statements with proof of funds
- Study loan approvals (if any)
- Qualification Certificates
- English language Test qualifications Score report
- Proof of international student health cover
5. Some Conditions before you fly on Study Visa
Take time to understand the great side of your visa category once you get your visa.
- What does that Visa stamp mean?
- Can your family fly with you?
- Can you work there as a part-time?
- If so, how many hours per in a week?
- After graduation, can you apply for a work permit, and if so, for how long it will be valid?
Make sure you know all your right before hand, as every country has different requirements.
The above advice is in general and are not specified to any country. Want to know more about study Visa, applicants are advised to confirm country and more specific details on our website.