Study Permit for applicants from South Africa

Source: IRCC processing times, updated October 26, 2026

• Pretoria visa office checklist (IMM 5845, February 2026): original SAPS police clearance for everyone 23 or older if the stay exceeds 6 months; IRCC notes SAPS certificates take 6 to 8 weeks.
• Studies of 6 months or longer require a medical exam; you may do it upfront with a panel physician.
• Bank statements for the past 3 to 6 months from you, a parent or sponsor; property deeds or vehicle ownership are not accepted as funds.
• Students under 18 need a notarized custodianship declaration (IMM 5646) unless accompanied by a parent.
• South Africa was not part of the former Student Direct Stream. Proof of funds: IRCC's current living-cost figure for one student outside Quebec is CAN$23,448 a year plus tuition and travel (applications on or after 1 September 2026); any older dollar figure printed in a visa office checklist is superseded by the IRCC website.

Biometrics

Give biometrics (fingerprints and photo) at a visa application centre in Pretoria or Cape Town after paying the biometrics fee; biometrics given for a visitor visa or study permit stay valid for 10 years, and IRCC cannot issue a visa or permit beyond their expiry date.

Visa application centres: Pretoria, Cape Town.

Official IRCC page

Medical exam

South Africa is on IRCC's list of countries where an immigration medical exam is required for stays over 6 months, so most study permit applicants (and visitors staying more than 6 months, including super visa applicants) need an exam by an IRCC panel physician; your own doctor cannot do it. Find a panel physician: https://secure.cic.gc.ca/PanelPhysicianMedecinDesigne/en/Home The Pretoria study instructions confirm that studies of 6 months or longer require a medical exam and that an upfront exam is allowed.

Police certificate

The Pretoria study checklist requires an original SAPS police clearance certificate, issued within the past 6 months, for every person aged 23 or older on the application if the stay will exceed 6 months. Private 'Criminal Inquiry Certificates' and Ideco Biometrics certificates are not accepted. No upfront certificate is listed for visitor visas.

South Africa's certificate: Police Clearance Certificate (South African Police Service (Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management, Pretoria)).

Official IRCC page

• ircc.canada.ca/english/information/applications/student.asp?countrySelect=ZA
• ircc.canada.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/imm5845e.pdf
• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/police-certificates/how/south-africa.html
• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents/financial-support.html
• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/medical-exams/requirements-temporary-residents/country-requirements.html

Checked against these pages on October 11, 2026. Visa offices update their checklists; always use the version linked from your application.

• Bangladesh
• Cameroon
• Egypt
• Ghana
• India
• Kenya
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Philippines

• Visitor Visa from South Africa

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