The easiest student visa to get in the world 🌎

There isn’t one singular answer to what the easiest student visa to get in the world is. If there was, this article would go a little something like this…

IT’S FRANCE!!!

Goodbye

It’s not France by the way, so you’re stuck with me for longer.

The words “Visa application” bring chills down the spines of people everywhere. Paperwork, online forms, calling our mothers asking them to dig up documents that we still don’t feel grown up enough to keep safe.

As a company full of international folks who’ve been through the pain of visa applications many-a-time, we decided to give paperwork the coldest of shoulders and make our application process easy.

To add to my unsubtle plug, I’d like to point out that most banks don’t offer multi-currency accounts and cards that you can use online and in-person all over the world with access to over 40 currencies, no hidden fees, availability in 150+ countries and heaps of features to make your international student life easier. No biggy 💁‍♀️

Anyway, let’s narrow down your choices with a list of the easiest countries to get a student visa in. We’ll cover:

• How hard is it to get a student visa?
• What do you need to get a student visa?
• What’s the easiest student visa to get?

Show me your application 👀

How hard is it to get a student visa?

This depends on a country-to-country basis. And sadly, the passport you carry can have an impact. Which is why it’s so important to do your research, and read my article, obviously.

But with the right qualifications, the right documents, and leaving the right amount of time for the process you’re giving yourself the best shot possible. It’ll also help to not procrastinate like me. I’ve ordered my provisional driving licence application 7 times, and you guessed it, I still don’t know how to drive.

Before we go through some of the easiest places to get your visa, here are some countries where it’s notoriously tricky to get your hands on one.

Some of the hardest countries to get a student visa

Outside of Europe

China

Iran

Saudi Arabia

Nigeria

Pakistan

Bhutan

In the Schengen Area

Malta

Sweden

Belgium

France

Norway

If you’re applying for a student visa in the Schengen Area and want an idea of how your passport holds up in your country of choice, you can take a look at Schengenvisa statistics for an easy to read table of data showing the rejection and acceptance rates for non-EU passport holders. For instance, in 2022 50 Albanian passport holders applied for a residential visa, and 39 were issued, with a rejection rate of 6.9%. Rejection always stings (shoutout to my university crush 💔) which is why knowledge is power when applying.

What do you need to get a student visa?

Again, it’s not a one site fits all.

Countries have different processes, but typically you’ll need the following:

1. A current passport or valid travel document
2. Proof you’ve been accepted at a local university
3. Proof you have the funds to support yourself and cover course costs if you’re going to a country where education isn’t free
4. Medical certificates with proof of vaccinations or negative test results may be asked for
5. You may need a financial guarantor
6. Countries will also ask for certificates and documents specific to their application needs

Enough of the bad news 🥲 let's move onto the good 🤩

What’s the easiest student visa to get? A country breakdown

Australia 🇦🇺

If you’ve ever put a Tim Tam in your mouth or watched as many episodes of Bondi Beach Rescue as I have, it’s no wonder you’re thinking about moving to Aus.

You’ll need to apply for a student visa (subclass 500), which usually takes 4-6 weeks to be approved but in some cases this can stretch out to 3 months. The visa costs 630 AUD and is valid for up to five years and you can even work while you study - which so happens to be one of my student saving hacks, alongside using Wise Jars 😘

The Aussie government has a document checklist tool to make your life easier and a detailed page on eligibility.

What you’ll need

• Proof of your university offer
• A copy of your passport
• To have Overseas Student Health Cover
• Proof of funds
• Provide evidence of English language skills
• Proof of a return ticket home
• A character certificate basically saying you’re a fabulous person
• And finally, a health certificate saying you’re fit as a fiddle

Here’s the link to apply.

If you transferred the money for your visa with Wise from say, the UK to Australia at the time of this article, you’d be sending 326.52 GBP for a tiny rate of 1.9%. How fabulous.

And because exchange rates change all of the time (they’re fickle little things) and we want you to get the best bang for your buck, my very smart colleagues created the Wise alert system. It’ll let you know the best time to send money. Our currency conversion calculator also has a competitor comparison button so you can make sure you’re getting the best deal.

New Zealand 🇳🇿

They’ve given us quite possibly the most attractive accent in the world, Russell Crowe’s face, and words like “wop-wops” which means out in the middle of nowhere. Thank you.

To apply for an NZ student visa you need to give yourself 8 weeks before the date you want to fly over. The government has a really helpful guide, which we love.

What you’ll need

• Proof of your university offer
• A copy of your passport
• Proof of sufficient funds to live in New Zealand which is 20,000 NZD
• Proof of tuition fee payment
• Proof you have enough money to leave New Zealand such as a return ticket home
• That character certificate again (good luck)
• A health certificate

Here’s the link to apply.

And OF COURSE, you’re going to use Wise to transfer those funds over to your new uni. With a Wise account and a Wise multi-currency card you can send money from 0.43% in fees, because we use the mid-market rate, so you get the most out of your money. You can withdraw 350 NZD a month for free, and receive money for free from most regions. Nifty. More on that and our fees here.

Canada 🇨🇦

Canadians have a reputation of being some of the nicest people in the world, so it’s no surprise their student visa has made its way onto this list.

To study in Canada, you need a study permit and a visitor visa or Electronic Travel Authorization. The study permit costs 150 CAD and you can work while you study, which is fabulous news for your wallet.

The government has a list of required documents and the majority of passport holders can apply using the Student Direct Stream with a 20 day wait after you’ve completed your application.

What you’ll need

• Proof of acceptance
• Proof of identity
• Proof of financial support
• A letter of explanation. This is a write up on your goals, why you want to study in Canada and stressing that you are a very - responsible human being.
• A medical exam
• And some other stuff that the document checklist covers. Helpful, right?

The Electronic Travel Authorization costs 7 CAD and has a much quicker turnaround. You’ll usually get a response in minutes, but it can take up to a maximum of 72 hours. You know what else has a quick turn around? Wise transfers. Not to brag or anything, but yes to brag, 57% of our transfers are totally instant⚡

What you’ll need

• A valid passport
• An email address
• An acceptable payment method (Wise)

Apply here.

The UK 🇬🇧

I studied in the UK, and if you’re an international student, you will 100% need my guide on what to expect when you move here. My very serious, detailed guide will teach you necessary British words like skint - to be broke. Want to be less broke? Use Wise.

You’re going to be applying for a student visa, which lasts until your course ends. It costs 363 GBP, which could get you roughly 526 Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate bars. It takes approximately 21 working days to go through and you’ll be allowed to work 20 hours a week alongside your course, which will fund your filthy chocolate habit.

If you extend your visa or switch over to a student visa in the UK it’ll cost you 490 GBP.

The UK GOV document overview is here.

What you’ll need

• A passport or valid travel documentation
• A confirmation of acceptance for studies
• Proof you’ve got the dosh to pay for your course and support yourself here.
• Tuberculosis test results
• Some country and course specific documents that you’ll find on the site

Here’s the link to apply.

“Omg, so complicated, what do you mean Anna?”

“I mean, you can make money, out of your money, without doing anything at all. And our rates beat traditional current accounts too.”

Flexing 💪

The USA 🇺🇸

There were 914,095 international students enrolled at university in the states between 2021 - 2022. After the release of High School Musical in 2006 the number of applicants increased by 4,0821. So I suspect the upward trajectory is all down to that. Glee probably came into the equation too at some point. Oh, and Gilmore Girls.

You’re going to be applying for a student visa (Type F), which funnily enough, is the grade I used to get. There are a few steps to this process:

1. Make sure your institution is SEVP approved by checking this list.
2. When you’ve accepted your offer you’ll register with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and your school will send you an I-20 form to fill out. You’ll also need to fill out a DS-160 form.
3. Now you can apply for your Type F visa.
4. Complete your visa application online and print out your application confirmation page as well as your forms, to take to your visa interview at your local US Embassy or Consulate.
5. You can find your local US Embassy or Consulate here.

It lasts for up to five years, the SEVIS costs 350 USD and the application fee is 160 USD bringing you to a total of 510 USD. Oh, and universities usually give you a helping hand with the visa process and form fun, so don’t sweat it. It sounds complicated. It isn’t. You know what else isn’t complicated? Wise.

What you’ll need

• A valid passport
• A copy of the photo you want on your visa
• All those forms that terrified you in my previous explanation
• Proof of financial cover for general living, your uni costs and travel
• School transcripts - test scores, certificates, degrees

You have to apply through the instructions on your local US Embassy or Consulate’s website, which you can find here.

I couldn’t fit every country in here, well, I could have, but I didn’t want to, because that’s a lot of work. In any case, I hope this was useful. If it wasn’t I’m sorry.

You made it this far, so…