If you’re considering sending your child to Canada for education, sending them to high school first is the best strategy.
It improves your child’s Canadian study visa approval chances, helps them with university admissions, and provides a smoother transition to life in Canada.
Why is a Canada student visa for high school easier?
It is generally easier for international high school students to get a Canadian study permit compared to university students. Here’s why:
1. Lower Rejection Rates for Younger Students
The approval rate for K-12 (elementary & high school) study permits is usually higher than for post-secondary students.
This is partly because younger students are seen as less of an immigration risk. That is, they’re expected to return home without overstaying their visas, or continue within Canada’s education system.
According to IRCC, as of September 30, 2024, there were 218,890 K-12 study permit holders. That makes 16.9% of the total international students in Canada.
2. Fewer Financial & Immigration Concerns
University applicants are required to demonstrate higher financial requirements to immigration officers.
By comparison, the IRCC has lower financial requirements for high school students, because their tuition and living costs are usually lower.
High school students often have their parents sponsor their study permit application. This strengthens the application in the eyes of the IRCC and provides evidence of financial stability.
3. Boarding Schools Offer More Structured Support
Many boarding schools assist with the study permit process, making applications stronger.
Boarding schools are unique in that they usually provide custodianship arrangements, which reassures immigration officers.
If you (the parents) are going to stay in your home country, and your child is 17 or under, they are required to have a custodian caring for them while in Canada. This involves a notarized document signed by the custodian in Canada and the parents or legal guardians in the home country.
4. Pathway to University & Immigration
High school students already in Canada are more likely to get accepted into a Canadian university, giving them an advantage when applying for a university study permit later.
Because they gain education history in Canada and become familiar with the system, they can transition into university more smoothly without facing the recent restrictions on direct international university applicants.
Starting school in Canada earlier could also improve your child’s future immigration prospects. It opens pathways to permanent residency, as policies often favour people with Canadian educational credentials.
5. Study Permit Caps Affect University More
Canada recently introduced caps on study permits. They mostly affect post-secondary applicants (colleges & universities).
The caps don’t affect K-12 students in the same way, so children in their high school years will have an easier time applying for a study permit.
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