Politeness is the default
Queueing, apologising and holding doors are automatic. Directness that works elsewhere can read as rude here.
π¨π¦ Study in Canada
Study in Canada, from provincial letter to study permit.
A Canadian study permit now needs a Provincial Attestation Letter as well as a school offer. Miss that step and the application cannot move at all. Once the permit is granted, Canada is one of the more straightforward countries to live and work in as a student.
- First year: VND 610Mβ1B
- 24 hours a week in term
- 4 pathways
Why students choose Canada
Canada is used to newcomers, and it shows. Cities are multilingual, universities have proper support offices, and people are patient with an accent. Winters in most of the country are genuinely cold, and that is worth planning for rather than being surprised by.
Work while you study, and after
Study permits usually allow part-time work, and graduates of eligible programmes can apply for a work permit afterwards.
Built for newcomers
Cities are genuinely multilingual and universities have proper support offices for international students.
Strong universities, public system
Most universities are public and the quality gap between them is smaller than in some countries.
What it is actually like
The parts of living abroad nobody puts in a brochure, the customs that catch people out and the ones that make it worth it.
Winter is a season, not an excuse
People ski, skate and walk through it. Proper clothing changes the experience completely.
Budget for the winter kit
A proper coat, boots and gloves are a real cost in your first month, and not optional.
The post-graduation work permit
Graduates of eligible programmes can apply to stay and work. Check eligibility before you choose a school.
Where you could live
Where you study changes what you pay and how quickly your language improves. These are the places we place students most often.
Toronto
OntarioThe largest city and the most international. Most jobs, highest rents.
Known for: Jobs, diversity, city life
Living cost / month
VND 27Mβ46Mβ CAD 1,400β2,400
Cheaper
Pricier
Vancouver
British ColumbiaMountains and sea together, with the mildest winters in the country and very high rents.
Known for: Mild winters, mountains, ocean
Living cost / month
VND 29Mβ49Mβ CAD 1,500β2,600
Cheaper
Pricier
Montreal
QuebecFrench speaking, culturally distinct, and much cheaper than Toronto or Vancouver.
Known for: Affordability, culture, French
Living cost / month
VND 17Mβ30Mβ CAD 900β1,600
Cheaper
Pricier
Calgary
AlbertaClose to the Rockies, lower taxes, and a strong job market outside the big two cities.
Known for: Mountains, jobs, lower costs
Living cost / month
VND 19Mβ34Mβ CAD 1,000β1,800
Cheaper
Pricier
What nobody tells you before you go
The practical detail behind each stage, how school actually runs, where you will live, what work is really allowed and the admin that catches everyone out.
The provincial letter and study permit
Two documents now, in a strict order, and skipping one stops everything.
Where you will live
Residence in first year, shared housing after, and rents vary hugely by city.
Surviving your first winter
It is colder than you think and the right clothing solves most of it.
Working during and after study
Part-time work is usually allowed, and a work permit may follow graduation.
Studying there
1
The provincial letter and study permit
Two documents now, in a strict order, and skipping one stops everything.
The provincial letter and study permit
Two documents now, in a strict order, and skipping one stops everything.
You need a school offer, then a Provincial Attestation Letter from the province where you will study, and only then can the study permit application go in. The letter is issued in limited numbers, so applying early genuinely matters.
Confirm your school can issue the provincial letter before you pay any deposit.
Living there
2
Where you will live
Residence in first year, shared housing after, and rents vary hugely by city.
Where you will live
Residence in first year, shared housing after, and rents vary hugely by city.
University residence is the simplest start and often includes meals. After that most students share a house or apartment. Toronto and Vancouver are dramatically more expensive than Montreal or Calgary, and that gap should influence which school you choose.
Surviving your first winter
It is colder than you think and the right clothing solves most of it.
Surviving your first winter
It is colder than you think and the right clothing solves most of it.
Most of Canada gets properly cold, well below freezing for months. A rated winter coat, insulated boots, gloves and a hat are essential rather than optional, and buying them locally after you arrive is usually cheaper and better than bringing them.
Buy the coat in Canada. Local shops sell for the actual temperature outside.
Working there
1
Working during and after study
Part-time work is usually allowed, and a work permit may follow graduation.
Working during and after study
Part-time work is usually allowed, and a work permit may follow graduation.
Study permits generally allow a limited number of work hours during term. After finishing an eligible programme you can apply for a post-graduation work permit, which is a major reason students choose Canada. Not every programme qualifies, so check before enrolling.
Check that your exact programme qualifies for the work permit. Some short and private ones do not.
Culture and etiquette
1
Fitting in
Apologise often, queue properly, and expect small talk.
Fitting in
Apologise often, queue properly, and expect small talk.
Canadians apologise reflexively and value not making a fuss. Small talk with strangers is normal and friendly rather than intrusive. In Quebec, even a few words of French changes how you are received completely.
Practical matters
1
Your first two weeks
Social insurance number, bank account, phone and provincial health cover.
Your first two weeks
Social insurance number, bank account, phone and provincial health cover.
You need a Social Insurance Number to work, and it is quick to get. Open a student bank account, which is usually free, then a phone plan. Health cover is provincial and the waiting period varies, so check what your province requires as soon as you arrive.
Ask your university about health cover in week one. Some provinces have a waiting period you must bridge.
Choose your pathway
Most students take more than one of these in sequence. Pick the one you would start with.
English or French programme
Best if: Students below the required language band
Language study before a college or university programme.
- Typical duration
- 12 months
- Language requirement
- None for entry
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education required
- 12 years
College diploma
Best if: Career-focused students
Two- and three-year practical programmes at a designated learning institution.
- Typical duration
- 24 months
- Language requirement
- Commonly IELTS 6.0
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education required
- 12 years
Undergraduate degree
Best if: Students with completed secondary schooling
Four-year bachelor programmes.
- Typical duration
- 48 months
- Language requirement
- Commonly IELTS 6.5
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education required
- 12 years
Postgraduate programme
Best if: Graduates seeking a specialist qualification
Masters study or a post-graduate certificate at a college.
- Typical duration
- 20 months
- Language requirement
- Commonly IELTS 6.5
- Minimum age
- 20
- Education required
- 15 years
Where Sakura comes in
From your level today to a real intake date
Most delays are language delays. Tell us where you are and the pathway you want, and we show the courses that close the gap and the first intake you can realistically make.
Choose your level and pathway to see your route.
What we actually do for you
English or French from where you are now
Reach the level your school asks for, taught here before you go.
What this means in practice
Schools want evidence, not confidence. We teach to the level your chosen school actually requires and give you the certificate to prove it, on the timeline the intake needs.
Working out which route is yours
An honest talk about your goal, your budget and your timing.
What this means in practice
We would rather tell you now that a plan does not work than let you find out at the visa stage. That conversation changes which schools we shortlist and how much you need to save.
Choosing schools and applying
A shortlist you can realistically get into, then the application itself.
What this means in practice
We shortlist schools that will accept a student at your level, in a city you can afford. Then we prepare and submit everything with you, including the personal statement, which schools read closely.
The document and funding file
Every paper checked and formatted before it goes anywhere.
What this means in practice
Most refusals are about paperwork, not the student. Bank statements in the wrong name, a sponsor letter that does not explain the relationship, a translation nobody certified. We check the file against what the school and the authorities actually want.
Provincial letter and study permit
We track the application and prepare you for the step that follows.
What this means in practice
This is the step everything else waits on, so we count backwards from your intake date rather than forwards from today. You always know what is outstanding and who is holding it.
Your first two weeks
Housing, registration, health cover, bank and phone, in the right order.
What this means in practice
Arrival admin unlocks in a sequence. Some things need an address, and the address needs a registration. Do it out of order and you lose weeks. We give you the order and stay reachable.
Sakura Academy, study-abroad plan Β· 15 Oct 2026
My study-abroad plan: Canada
Pick your intake and every date is counted back from it. Tick documents as you get them; your progress stays on this device.
My target intake
Intake: May 2027
We do this
Eligibility confirmed
We check your academic history, language level and funding.
You
Service package started
You
Language test booked
IELTS, or TEF for French-language programmes.
You
Language test result received
We do this
Document checklist issued
You
All documents submitted
The deadline students most often miss.
We do this
Documents reviewed and approved
We do this
Applications sent to institutions
Only designated learning institutions can host a study permit holder.
The school
Letter of acceptance received
You
Tuition deposit paid
Usually required before the institution requests your attestation letter.
We do this
Provincial Attestation Letter requested
Provinces issue these in limited numbers, so timing matters.
The school
Legal deadline
Provincial Attestation Letter received
HARD REQUIREMENT: the study permit application cannot be submitted without it.
You
Guaranteed Investment Certificate purchased
Commonly used to evidence living costs. IRCC sets the amount and updates it; check the current figure before you buy.
You
Study permit applied for
Processing times vary widely by country of application.
You
Biometrics submitted
Must be given within the window stated in your biometrics letter.
You
Medical examination completed
Required for stays over six months.
Immigration
Study permit approved
You receive a port of entry letter, not the permit itself.
You
Flight booked
We do this
Accommodation confirmed
Residence or homestay for the first term.
We do this
Pre-departure briefing
Covers arrival, the port of entry interview and winter preparation.
You
Arrival in Canada
Your study permit is issued at the border, not before you fly.
You
Bank account opened
Usually the same bank that issued your GIC.
You
Social insurance number applied for
Needed before you can work on campus.
You
Provincial health coverage arranged
Rules differ by province; some have a waiting period.
We do this
30-day check-in
We do this
90-day check-in
We do this
Post-graduation work permit planning
Eligibility depends on your programme and institution - check before you enrol, not after.
0%ready
What you will need
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What it really costs, 2026
Every cost in Vietnamese dong, with the currency you actually pay in underneath. Always a range: the real figure depends on the school and the city.
Where will you live?
Total for your stay (12 months)
VND 610Mβ1B
β CAD 32,100β52,700
Per month
VND 25Mβ44M
β CAD 1,300β2,300
First year
VND 610Mβ1B
β CAD 32,100β52,700
Paid before you fly
VND 17Mβ32M
β CAD 900β1,700
| Item | For your stay |
|---|---|
| Language programme tuitionPer week. | VND 296Mβ445Mβ CAD 15,600β23,400 |
| Campus residencePer month. Often includes a meal plan. | VND 182Mβ319Mβ CAD 9,600β16,800 |
| Living costsPer month, excluding rent. | VND 114Mβ205Mβ CAD 6,000β10,800 |
| Winter clothingOne-off, in your first autumn. Genuinely necessary, and routinely forgotten. | VND 5.7Mβ13Mβ CAD 300β700 |
| Health insurancePer year where provincial cover does not apply. | VND 11Mβ19Mβ CAD 600β1,000 |
Estimates, not quotes. Excludes flights and visa fees (see the fee table below). Many agencies quote only the amount paid before you fly; the first-year figure includes a full year of living costs. Exchange rate used: 1 CAD = VND 19,000, updated 1 Oct 2026. Figures reviewed 1 Oct 2026.
The money you must show (financial proof)
Unclear financial evidence is the most common reason applications are refused. This is what is usually asked for, and how long the money must have been there.
Study permit
Balance usually required
VND 435M
β CAD 22,895
- Held in the account for
- at least 4 months
- Set by
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Whose name: Funds can come from you or your parents. Show where the money came from.
This is the living-cost amount for one person, on top of your first-year tuition and travel. A GIC is the most common way to show it. IRCC updates the figure; check the current amount.
No separate figure for this pathway. Ask us and we will check with the school.
Requirements change and schools add their own. Always confirm the current figure with the embassy and the school before you open an account. Never use borrowed money or arranged documents: it is fraud and leads to refusal and bans. Figures reviewed 1 Oct 2026.
Part-time work: the honest numbers
What you can legally earn, against what a month costs. Families who plan on part-time income to pay fees are the ones who end up in debt.
- Legal limit in term
- 24 hours a week in term
- In school holidays
- Full time during scheduled breaks such as summer and winter holidays
- After graduation
- Eligible graduates can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit of up to three years. Field-of-study and language requirements apply; check before you choose a programme.
Off-campus work is limited to 24 hours a week during academic sessions and only if your study permit allows it. Students in a stand-alone language programme generally cannot work.
- Typical hourly pay
- CAD 17.60β20.00
- You could earn per month
- A month of living costs
- VND 28Mβ50M
- Your family still covers
Share of living costs covered by work:
Do not count on this money. Finding work takes weeks, hours are not guaranteed, and tuition must be paid before you arrive. Working over the legal limit can cost you your visa.
Every fee, written down
What you pay us, and what you pay everyone else. No "all-inclusive" packages that hide the split, and no new fees after a deposit.
Our service fee
Essentials
For confident students who mainly need structure and deadlines.
Quoted in writing at your consultation
- Full country guide in your language
- Eligibility assessment and pathway recommendation
- Application to 1 partner institution
- Document checklist with deadline reminders
- Document vault
- Email support (5 working day response)
- Pre-departure guide
Full Support
Everything in Essentials, plus the human document review that prevents most refusals.
Quoted in writing at your consultation
- Everything in Essentials
- Applications to up to 3 partner institutions
- Human document pre-review with correction rounds
- Financial documentation coaching
- Personal statement drafting support
- Named case manager (1 working day response)
- Application tracking with proactive updates
- Visa appointment preparation
- Accommodation placement request
- Arrival checklist with hard-deadline alerts
- Airport pickup coordination
- First 90 days check-ins
Premium Concierge
For families who want someone accountable at every step, including on arrival.
Quoted in writing at your consultation
- Everything in Full Support
- Unlimited applications with shortlisting consultation
- Parent portal with updates in the parent's language
- Physical arrival escort: airport, registration, bank, phone
- Bank account and SIM setup accompaniment
- Progression planning into degree study
- Priority messaging (4 hour response in business hours)
- Quarterly review call with student and sponsor
Paid to others, not to us
| Fee | Paid to | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Institution application fee Per institution | The institution | VND 1.9Mβ4.8Mβ CAD 100β250 |
| Study permit fee | IRCC | VND 2.9Mβ CAD 150 |
| Biometrics fee | IRCC | VND 1.6Mβ CAD 85 |
| Immigration medical exam | Panel physician | VND 3Mβ5M |
| IELTS test fee | Test centre | VND 4.6Mβ5M |
| Certified translation of documents About 10 to 20 documents | Translation office | VND 1.5Mβ4M |
| One-way flight to Canada | Airline | VND 15Mβ35M |
Third-party fees are set by embassies, schools and airlines and change without notice. We show them so nothing is a surprise; we do not add a margin to them.
Scholarships worth knowing
Long-running programmes only. Deadlines move each round, so treat dates as a guide and check the official page.
Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship
University of Toronto
Covers: Tuition, books and residence for four years
Requires school nomination for exceptional final-year secondary students.
Deadline: 15 Jan 2027 (expected)
Official page
Protect your family
Warning signs, whoever you choose
Embassies regularly warn Vietnamese families about these. If you hear any of them, from us or anyone else, walk away.
- A guaranteed visa, or a "98 to 100% visa success" figure nobody can check. Only the embassy or immigration decides.
- Promises that part-time work will pay your tuition, or that you can earn back your costs quickly.
- Offers to "arrange" a savings book or financial documents for you. Fake documents are a crime and lead to bans.
- An all-inclusive price with no written breakdown, or new fees after you have paid a deposit.
- Pressure to sign or pay today, or a contract you cannot take home to read.
- No business licence, no real office address, or payment requested to a personal account.
Questions students ask
What is a Provincial Attestation Letter?
It is a letter from the province confirming your place counts against their allocation. Without it the study permit application cannot proceed.
Can I work while studying?
Study permits generally allow limited part-time hours during term. Confirm the current limit before relying on it.
Can I stay after I graduate?
Graduates of eligible programmes can apply for a post-graduation work permit. Not every programme qualifies, so check yours before enrolling.
How cold does it actually get?
In most provinces it stays below freezing for months, and well below in the prairies. Vancouver is the mild exception.
Talk it through with us, free
Forty-five minutes with a counsellor, in person, by Zalo video or by phone. Bring your questions and your parents. You leave with a written plan and our fee in writing, whether or not you choose us.