Harv’s Air welcomes students from around the world. It’s an honor and privilege to have students travel to our school from abroad. Our wish is to make your travels as smooth as possible. Please READ and STUDY the following very carefully! If you have questions, please contact us, but remember we’re pilots not immigration lawyers.

The student authorization process is fairly straightforward, but is intolerant of missing documentation, missed deadlines, missed fees, and abuses of the system so again, please READ the following documents very carefully.

There are lots of external links on this website, if some go stale please let us know.

A student visa is not required when course is less then 6 months from when you arrive!

• If you are training toward a licence or rating such as: Time Building, Recreational, Private, Commercial, Instrument, Multi, or Instructor rating then NO student visa is required.
• If you are planning on taking the Professional Pilot Program (9-12 month course) students should obtain a student visa as the course will take longer then 6 months.
• In order to come without a student visa, please fill out our online application.
• Also email us to arrange your accommodations.
• We’ll let you know within 48 hours if we accept you as a student and if we have room for you at the requested time.
• Then it depends on where you are from. If you are a citizen of one of the following countries we’ll fax or email a letter of acceptance within 48 hours and you can start your training whenever you’re ready.
  • Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (National Passport holders only), Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Republic of Korea, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Slovenia, Switzerland, United States, and Western Samoa.
• If you are a citizen of one of the countries listed on this webpage then you will need a visitors visa. To obtain a visitors visa contact your travel agent, closest Canadian embassy, or Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Website.

A student visa is required when course is more then 6 months from when you arrive!

This process takes 6 weeks in Europe, up to 3 months in Asian countries after submitting the documentation. Delays will result if there are errors and/or missing documents/fees.

Download and print all these PDF documents:

• Guide [IMM 5269]
• Application for a Study Permit [IMM 1294]
• Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union [IMM 5409]
• Authority to Release Information [IMM 5475]
• Document Checklist [IMM 5483]

1. Read and study the Citizenship and Immigration Student Visa website and the website of the closest Canadian Embassy to you.
2. Download all the documents including the student authorization guide and application located here. Read all the documentation and fill out the application form (Form IMM1294).
3. Fill out our online application
4. Also email us to arrange your accommodations.
5. We’ll let you know within 48 hours if we accept you as a student and if we have room for you at the requested time.
6. You need the ORIGINAL letter of acceptance for the student visa officials. We’ll send the letter via post (2-4 weeks) at no charge, or via FedEx (3-6 days) for $100. Payment is fastest with credit card, or couriered certified check.
7. You may need a medical examination. This is not the same as the aviation medical exam. If you are a citizen of the these countries you need a medical exam. It can take weeks to schedule an examination so do not delay in making an appointment. For a listing of doctors by country visit this website.
8. You’ll need a NON-REFUNDABLE processing fee of $125 Canadian dollars. Payment for a study permit application must be made by MANAGER’S CHEQUE, CERTIFIED CHEQUE, POSTAL MONEY ORDER or BANK DRAFT payable to the “Canadian Embassy”. Cash will not be accepted.
9. Proof of funds (e.g. bank drafts, fixed deposits, a bank statement showing the account balance, etc.). These proof of funds must be under YOUR name. Students are permitted to enter Canada to study on the understanding that they have access to sufficient funds for living expenses, full tuition, return transportation and other necessary costs. Costs in Canada vary according to the location of the institution and room and board facilities. As a guideline, $10,000 Canadian dollars (in addition to tuition fees) per  year would be sufficient.
   • If you are a citizen of one of these countries, the embassy officials are concerned that you are looking for an illegal way into Canada, and you’ll never return to your home country. They also want to be sure you are going to commence your training program. Thus it’s highly recommended (if you want to guarantee obtaining a student visa) to send payment for the first year of tuition fees for a full academic year or for the duration of the course of study if the course of study is for less than one year in the form of:
     • An official receipt from the institution; or
     • A counterfoil copy or a certified true copy of a bank draft in your name or in the name of the institution
   • If for whatever reason you are refused a student visa or unable to attend, we’ll refund all of your money less $300.
   • Sending the entire course fee is optional, but will substantially increase your chances of obtaining a student visa . Contact the embassy closest to you and see what they have to say.
10. Police Checks -- You may also have to prove to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) officers that you are a responsible person and that you do not have a criminal record. Police agencies may do a criminal or security background check. These checks are done on anyone over 18 years of age who applies for a Study Permit.
11. The embassy will require the original passport or valid travel document. (Alternatively, you may submit a photocopy of the identity pages and the page showing the expiry date of your passport or travel document and once processing of your application is completed, we will ask you to submit your passport so that a visa can be issued.) Your Study Permit will normally be valid for the duration of your course. We suggest that you ensure that your travel document is valid for the full duration of your course of study in Canada.
12. In order to ensure the protection and well-being of prospective students under the age of majority (18) destined to institutions in Canada, all unaccompanied students under the age of 18 are required to submit with their application for a notarized declaration signed by the parent or legal guardian of the applicant in the country of origin and a notarized declaration signed by the custodian in Canada. These declarations must be notarized by a notary public, by a Commissioner for Oaths, or by a lawyer. The signed declarations must indicate that arrangements have been made for the custodian to act in place of the parent or guardian at all times. In addition, the custodian in Canada must provide proof that they are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada at least 19 years of age and prepared to act in place of the parent or guardian. In the case of a minor child attending a boarding school, this declaration may be signed by the school principal.
13. Three passport-sized photographs of yourself and any accompanying family members.
14. Send all of this to the embassy closest to you. You may have to have an interview. Remember that a student visa does not allow you to live and work in Canada. If you can, contact them first to see what can be done to speed your application.

Tips for obtaining a student visa.

• Allow for 2-3 months to process a student authorization. Less time is possible, but understand that we are dealing with a giant bureaucracy that moves when it wants to move.
• You must get the paperwork right. Missing paperwork is not tolerated at all by embassy officials. Get help if you are unsure.
• When submitting a student visa application, embassy officials are concerned with:
  • The student has enough money to complete the training including cost of the training, accommodations, living expenses, and transport back to your home country. All of this money must be under your name (not a family member or friend).
  • English speaking ability. A TOEFL test is not required by our school, however if your English is marginal you may need to impress the embassy officials and a good TOEFL score will help you do that.
  • The student will return to his home country when the training is complete. Offer them some proof that you will do this. (property, family, promises of jobs).
  • One must have money for transportation to and from the school, $10,000 for a year (or pro-rated at $833 per month), plus the cost of tuition. (Canadian Dollars). Students can live on much less ($500 month is not a stretch), however the government requires that you have $833 for each month.

Helpful Links:

• Wondering where we are or about Steinbach? Manitoba? Canada?  How do I get there?
• Locations of Canadian Embassies
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada
• Study in Canada