S1 and SW1 are two types of study visas which are offered to international students who want to study in Canada. These visas will be issued to you by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) depending upon your program. Canada offers two types of programs- one which has a compulsory Co-Op option and the other which does not offer compulsory Co-Op options. You are eligible to get a SW1 visa if your co-op placement or internship totals 50% or less of your study program.
What are Co-Op options?
Co-ops are those unique, structured programs that combine classroom instruction with real-world work experience. In these Co-Op programs, your work experience will be counted towards your academic credits. These Co-Op options have work experience as a part of your curriculum. You must complete the industry experience in order to complete the program. If it is mentioned in your letter of experience that you are required to complete the practical component of your program in order to complete the program, you will get a SW1 visa. To know more about Co-Op programs, visit
What is a Category SW1 visa in Canada?
The category SW1 in Canada is a kind of study permit or student visa for international students. There are a number of international students who want SW1 if they have taken admission to the Co-Op programs and have work experience or internship as a part of their curriculum. The practical part must be 50% or less of the curriculum then you will get a SW1 visa. If it is mentioned in your offer letter or Letter of Acceptance that your curriculum contains for you to get work experience or an internship then you will get a SW1 visa.
In case, you are wondering what a study permit is you need to understand that you are a foreigner who is going to study in Canada and immigrating from their native land to a foreign country. You need to have a valid study visa in order to be legally able to study in Canada. Hence the need for the S1 and SW1 visa in Canada.
For instance, there are some engineering programs with Co-Op options. The industry experience is mandatory to complete the program, so you will need SW1 visa for the same.
Only experienced immigration consultants will help you with the SW1 and S1 visa. While applying for study visas, you need to keep in mind that you must go to a qualified and experienced immigration consultancy. Because they will have the proper knowledge of the process. West Highlander is the best immigration consultant in Chandigarh. Our director, Ms. Parwinder Kaur is a Canada Course Graduate who is qualified and will guide you properly and help you apply for the study permit application in Canada. We offer free services for Indian students.
What is Category S1 visa in Canada?
Category S1 visa is a student visa which will be issued to you by IRCC Canada which is by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) based on the kind of study permit you need in Canada based on your program. Category SW1 visa is a type of study permit which is issued to you by the Canadian government in order to let you study and work in Canada if you have to complete a work placement as a part of your curriculum.
What is the difference between S1 visa and SW1 visa?
These two are the types of study permit in Canada. These are two types of study visas which are offered to international students when they want to study in Canada. These types of visas depend on the kind of programs you have taken admission to in Canada. For instance, if you have applied to Designated Learning Institutes (DLIs) and your program doesn’t need any work experience or internships then you will definitely get a S1 visa. But if you have opted for a program which is a Co-Op program and you need work experience to complete the program. If the practical part must be equal to or less than 50% of the curriculum then you will get a SW1 visa. If it is mentioned in your offer letter or Letter of Acceptance that your curriculum contains for you to get work experience or an internship then you will get a SW1 visa.
Indian students need a study permit if they want to study in Canada. Students from India mostly go to the Designated Learning institutes, DLIs. If you apply through the Student Direct stream, SDS in Canada this will definitely accelerate your process to get a Canada student visa. There are some eligibility requirements to get a Canada visa. If you want to get a Canada study visa then you need to fulfil these requirements. Some of them are mentioned below-
- You must be enrolled at a Designated Learning institute or DLIs
- You must have proof that you have sufficient money in your account to pay for your tuition fees, living expenses and travel expenses to Canada
- Police Certificate as proof that you don’t have any criminal record
- Medical Exam stating you are in good health
- You need to convince your medical officer that you will leave Canada as soon as your studies are completed
There are some mandatory documents which are needed in order to get an S1 or SW1 visa. These documents are a must if you want to get your Canada study visa. These are-
- Offer letter from the institute in which you are going to study
- Your identity proof- a valid passport or travel document
- Financial statements
- Two recent passport-size photos
- GIC- Guaranteed Investment Certificate, you must have $10,000 in your GIC account
To know detailed information about the documents and eligibility criteria you can contact West Highlander-the best immigration consultants in Chandigarh.
SW 1 Visa for Canada requirements and Eligibility
If you have got work experience or internship as a part of your curriculum then you can apply for a work permit. There are certain requirements which will make you eligible to work as a Co-Op student or intern. There are some conditions which need to be met by you in order to get SW1 visa which are-
- You are required to work in order to complete your program
- It must be mentioned in your letter from the college that the program requires work experience to be completed
- Your co-op placement or internship totals 50% or less of your study program
S1 Visa for Canada Requirements and Eligibility
The S1 visa in Canada requires you to be enrolled in a DLI institute and you must have an offer letter from the institute you want to study in Canada. You must have the money in your account balance to support your stay in Canada. That money must be enough to pay your tuition fees, living expenses and your travel expenses must be covered with your money. Your financial statements, medical exam and criminal record will ensure your eligibility for your Canada study visa.
Can I work part-time with S1 in Canada?
Yes, you can definitely work in Canada if you have a study permit. But the hours you can work are limited. If you exceed the number of hours which are decided by the Canadian Government to work by a foreign student who is on a study permit you will be violating the law. As per the Canadian government, you can work for 20 hours per week if you are on a student visa in Canada. This number of hours can’t be exceeded in any circumstances.