Student Visa Guides · 9 Destinations · Free for Students
Written by counsellors who file these visa applications every week.
Country-by-country walkthroughs for Sri Lankan applicants — eligibility, document checklists, application steps, fees and what actually gets people refused. Plus the one thing that decides each country's visa, so you don't waste two months on the wrong file.
Send my offer letter for a free reviewCompare all 9 visas at a glance
The fastest way to see which destination has the visa friction you can live with. The decisive moment column tells you the one thing that gets you approved (or refused) in each country.
| Destination | Visa type | Processing | Fee | Decisive moment | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Student Route (formerly Tier 4) | 3 weeks from biometrics | £558 + IHS surcharge (~£776/yr) | The 28-day bank balance rule | Full guide arrow_forward |
| Australia | Subclass 500 Student Visa | 4–6 weeks (varies by university tier) | AUD 2,000+ (~LKR 400,000) | The 600-word GS statement | Full guide arrow_forward |
| New Zealand | Fee-Paying Student Visa | 4–8 weeks | NZD 375 (online) + NZD 100 IVL | Funds 'genuinely available' | Full guide arrow_forward |
| Canada | Study Permit (standard stream — SDS closed Nov 2024) | Standard processing: 8–16 weeks (SDS no longer available) | CAD 150 + biometrics CAD 85 | Ties to Sri Lanka (post-SDS) | Full guide arrow_forward |
| USA | F-1 Student Visa | 2–6 weeks from interview | USD 185 (DS-160) + USD 350 (SEVIS) | The 2-minute embassy interview | Full guide arrow_forward |
| Europe | National Type D Student Visa (per country) | 6–12 weeks (varies by country) | €75–100 typical | Each country has its own paperwork | Full guide arrow_forward |
| South Korea | D-2 Student Visa | 2–3 weeks | USD 80 single / USD 120 multi-entry | Apostille done correctly | Full guide arrow_forward |
| Dubai | Student Residence Visa (university-sponsored) | Pre-arrival 2–3 weeks; full visa within 60 days of arrival | AED 1,200–2,000 (paid via university) | On-arrival medical fitness test | Full guide arrow_forward |
| Singapore | Student's Pass (via SOLAR+/ICA) | 4–6 weeks pre-arrival; Pass issued within 1 week of arrival | SGD 30 (application) + SGD 60 (Pass issuance) | University files; no interview | Full guide arrow_forward |
Browse by region
Open the full guide for any destination — eligibility, documents, fees, applicant scenarios, FAQ.
Europe & UK
UK
Student Route (formerly Tier 4)
Decides on: The 28-day bank balance rule
Europe
National Type D Student Visa (per country)
Decides on: Each country has its own paperwork
Americas
Canada
Study Permit (standard stream — SDS closed Nov 2024)
Decides on: Ties to Sri Lanka (post-SDS)
USA
F-1 Student Visa
Decides on: The 2-minute embassy interview
Asia-Pacific
Australia
Subclass 500 Student Visa
Decides on: The 600-word GS statement
New Zealand
Fee-Paying Student Visa
Decides on: Funds 'genuinely available'
South Korea
D-2 Student Visa
Decides on: Apostille done correctly
Singapore
Student's Pass (via SOLAR+/ICA)
Decides on: University files; no interview
What a Lanka Scholar visa file actually looks like
Once you have an offer letter, the path to a stamped passport runs through these four steps. Free. No commitment to engage us beyond step one.
- 1
Free 30-minute consultation
WhatsApp, phone or walk into any of 4 offices. We confirm the right visa category for your course, map your timeline, and tell you what's missing from your current file.
- 2
File preparation
Every document checked against the current embassy / IRCC / Home Affairs / ICA checklist. We handle apostilles, sworn translations, sponsor declarations, source-of-funds letters, GIC accounts, Sperrkontos — whatever your destination needs.
- 3
Interview rehearsal (where it matters)
USA F-1, UK credibility interviews, Australia GS verification — these visas weight the interview heavily. We run a 1-hour mock session with the questions your embassy typically asks, debrief, and re-run if you want a second pass.
- 4
Submission and tracking
We lodge your file with you (or for you, where the system allows), track the decision in real-time, and handle any embassy queries during processing. If you're refused — rare for prepared applicants — we diagnose the reason and rebuild.
Questions Sri Lankan families ask before starting
Don't see your question? WhatsApp a counsellor — we usually reply within the hour, weekdays.
-
How early should I start the visa process? expand_more
Most files want 6–10 weeks of lead time after you have an offer letter — longer for USA F-1 (interview slot scarcity) and Canada standard processing (8–16 weeks). For September intakes, start in May. For January intakes, start the previous September. -
Do you charge for visa help? expand_more
No. Lanka Scholar is free for students for both admission and visa work — universities pay us a commission when you enrol. You pay tuition and visa fees directly to the institutions, never to us. -
What happens if my visa gets refused? expand_more
We diagnose the refusal letter (or embassy / GCMS notes), fix the underlying issue, and re-apply. Most second attempts succeed when the diagnosis is right. There is no extra fee for refusal recovery — it is part of normal service. -
Can I apply to multiple countries at the same time? expand_more
Yes — many Sri Lankan students do, especially when targeting USA / Canada / UK simultaneously. Each application has its own visa fee and document set, but parallel applications hedge against single-country refusal and give you leverage on offer decisions. -
Do I need to know my country before I see a counsellor? expand_more
No. The first 30 minutes are about your academic profile, budget and post-study plans — we recommend 2–3 destinations that fit. Many students arrive certain about one country and leave with a better-fit option.
Or send us your profile, and we'll recommend the visa
Tell us your A/L results (or final degree), target intake and rough budget. A counsellor returns a shortlist of 2–3 destinations that match your profile, with realistic visa odds for each.
Free. No commitment. Reply within one working day.