While you plan to study abroad, you must understand that in some countries can be harder to obtain a study visa approval. However, in this post, we have filtered out those tougher ones for the easiest countries you should consider. So, we will basically talk about the easiest countries to get a student visa, and other important information you need to know about.
Before you apply for a study visa, you need to already have picked a training course or studies. Not only that, you must be accepted by any higher education establishment in that country. This means you need to have received an admission letter from the school you want to study.
We’d be looking at those important considerations such as study visa approval rate, bank statement requirement, and visa application fee. So, for this article, we’ll focus on those countries that make it easier for you to get in, not PR (permanent residence). There will be a separate post for this. I just want to make sure you know the countries that won’t reject your study visa application for no just reason.
Easiest Countries to Get a Student Visa
We will look at 9 of the easiest out there, so if any of these countries is your preferred study destination, then the chance is that your student visa will be approved, as long you have a genuine interest in studying there. Usually, the higher the estimated study approval approval of a country, the better the chances of getting in.
1. Australia
At number 1, we have Australia. Australia has an 80.9% of student visa approval success rate. This is a high acceptance rate, with a rejection at about 20%. If your visa application is approved, you can stay in Australia for up to 5 years. The cost of an Australian study visa application is AUD 710, and the processing time usually takes about 4 weeks.
With an Australian student visa, you can study an eligible course at any Australian university and travel in and out of the country. Meanwhile, Australia allows you to work up to 48 hours a fortnight while studying or training in a session. This article is not about work hours, so I won’t talk about that. But if you’re concerned about work hours, when done with this article, you can read my publication about the countries that allow international students to work full-time.
In Australia, a study visa applicant has to show they have a minimum of AU$24,505 in savings. This is supposed to cover your living costs for a year. I recently collected a list of Australian student WhatsApp group links, so check them out because you might find students to give you helpful information.
2. Italy
At number two, we have Italy as one of the easiest countries to get a student visa. Italy’s student visa approval rate stands is about 85% this year. In Italy, the minimum amount of funds you should have in your bank account to be allowed to study here is about $50 per day. This amount is required to cover your basic expenses and repatriation costs. You’ll also need Schengen medical insurance that covers medical evacuation and repatriation for your first 15 days in Italy.
Italy also requires proof of financial means of support of no less than 442,30 Euro monthly. That’s about $600. You can submit this proof as a bank letter showing your personal bank account or a bank letter showing information about a joint bank account in your name and your family. The Italian study visa application process takes between 1-3 weeks.
3. The UK
If the UK is your preferred study location, then that’s a good choice. The UK student visa success rate is about 95% but this really depends on your country as well. If you are from a country with many people trying to move to the UK, then this acceptance rate could be lower.
If you apply for a UK study visa outside the UK, you have to do so as early as 6 months before your course begins. Usually, the UK embassy will send you a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.
If you are in the UK while applying for a UK student visa, you should do so 3 months before the beginning of your program. Your new program has to start within 28 days of your current visa expiring.
The UK allows you to stay for up to 5 years as long as you are more than 18 and your course is at degree level, such as bachelors, masters, PhD, and postdoctoral.
The cost of the UK study visa application is £490 if you apply for it outside the UK. It’s also £490 if you wish to extend or switch your current visa to a student visa while in the UK.
As part of the visa application, you have to pay the healthcare surcharge. The amount you will be charged depends on how long your study visa lasts.
Now, the UK also has a funding requirement. Usually, the amount depends on the location where you’ll be studying. So, you’ll need £1,334 per month (for up to 9 months) if your course is in London. However, if your course is outside London, you need to have the equivalent of £1,023 per month for up to 9 months. So, multiply this monthly figure by 9 months, and you know the amount you need to present as proof of funds.
The UK study visa application process lasts for 8 weeks. Meanwhile, you should read my article about the UK student visa interview questions to know what to expect.
4. France
Next, we have France. The French student visa success rate is typically more than 80%. If your training or a course exceeds 6 months, you will be given a long-stay visa, which is equivalent to a residence permit in France. This visa is also subject to further formalities when you arrive in France.
After your appointment at the VFS visa application center, expect the average processing time for a French study visa to be 3 weeks. Now, about the pricing, the cost of a visa for countries or territories with the EEF procedure is 50 € while other countries will pay 99 €. So, make sure to check if your country is part of France’s EEF.
If you are to study in France for 12 months, you have to present proof of funds to show that you can cover your expenses during your stay. You need the whole amount of 12 * 615 euros + 2 * tuition fees.
5. New Zealand
We also have New Zealand as one of the easiest countries to get a student visa. The study visa approval rate in New Zealand is 94%—that’s only a 6% rejection rate.
New Zealand allows you to stay up to 4 years. The cost of a New Zealand study visa application is NZD $375. As for the proof of funds, you will have to transfer at least NZD NZD $20,000 each year to pay your living costs. This applies to the countries participating in the Funds Transfer Scheme (FTS), including China, India, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka.
Here in New Zealand, you can work part-time up to 20 hours a week while studying or full-time in the holidays. This really depends on the conditions of your visa, though.
The study visa processing time is within 9 weeks. You can also bring your partner or children with you. If you want to, they have to apply for visas based on the relationship they have with you. When applying for a New Zealand study visa, English an application requirement. So, if your English is not good, no problem.
6. USA
If you are going for your undergraduate or graduate studies in the US, the visa type you need is the F-1 visa. Now, the F-1 visa acceptance rate is around 70%. This is still a good number. Also, consular officers may require an interview. For visa applicants between the ages of 4 and 79, this is required (some exceptions for renewals). The study visa application fee is $185 and is non-refundable.
As for the proof of funds, you need at least $10,000 in your bank account to be considered for a US student visa. The study visa processing takes about 21 working days from the day your application is received by the US Embassy.
7. Cyprus
At number 7, we have Cyprus. Here, the visa acceptance rate is up to 90% in Cyprus. Previously, it was higher and every applicant had a very little chance of getting rejected. But things have changed. Nevertheless, Cyprus is still one of the easiest countries to get a student visa.
Of course, you will need an admission letter from a school in Cyprus, like other countries. You’ll have to make a down payment of €1,100 as an undergraduate student while postgraduate students will make a down payment of €500. Cyprus also charges an additional immigration fee of €175 to issue you the student visa card. This amount is payable in cash after you arrive in Cyprus. The €175 covers the alien certificate (€70), temporary residence permit (€35), health certificates (€35), chest X-ray report (€20), and document attestation (€15).
When you arrive in Cyprus, you have to open a bank account and deposit at least €2,000. The duration of the entry permit application processing in Cyprus is 4-6 weeks. The entry permit requirement to study here depends on your country and must be approved by the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth and the Cyprus Migration Office.
8. Norway
In Norway, the visa application acceptance rate in 2024 is about 80%. If you are a student with non-EU/EEA area citizenship, you need a study permit to enter Norway. Therefore, students in this area can study in Norway without a study permit. Now, when applying for a Norwegian study visa, do not select the option of asking your preferred university for a referral in your e-application because it will just delay your permit.
Make sure that the documentation you bring to Norway is the original documents or official copies. Do not leave your originals back in your home country. You’ll also need the letter of admission with housing confirmation and travel insurance with medical coverage. The average processing time for a Norwegian student visa after submission is between 1-3 months.
9. Turkey
Finally, we have Turkey as one of the 1easiest countries to get a student visa. The study visa success rate in Turkey is about 85%. Of course, you’ll need an acceptance letter from a Turkish university to begin your visa application.
The student visa application fee is $64. You’ll also need a bank account statement for the last 3 months in your application. This bank account should have at least €50 per person per travel day. For example, for 60 days, you’ll need to have €50 x 60, which will be €3,000. The Turkish study visa processing typically takes about 1-2 weeks.
Conclusion
So, we have been able to look at 9 easiest countries to get a student visa. Note that there is no guarantee of being issued a study visa. As such, do not make any final travel plans or buy tickets until you have been approved for a visa. Meanwhile, some people may say ‘Canada’ but the study visa approval rate here is about 55%, which is really low.
That’s all you need to know. Some of these countries will schedule an interview with you. Now, on this blog, we have a category that talks about study visa interview questions. So, search this blog for any country’s interview questions. If you can’t find a specific country, contact WorkAferSchool.com to update this information.
