A common worry is that having held a visitor visa (TRV) to Canada — even one that's now expired and was never used to travel — will make a study permit officer doubt your intention to return home, and lead to a refusal.
What group members said, based on experience:- A prior visitor visa is generally seen as a positive, not a negative. Since IRCC has already reviewed and approved you once, having gone through that vetting can work in your favour rather than against you.
- Not misusing a visa you were granted also helps your case. If you had a visitor visa and didn't overstay or breach its conditions, that track record supports your credibility for a new application.
- A related situation members flagged: if you've actually visited Canada before applying for a study permit, make sure your biometrics and medical exam status are fully updated in your profile before submitting, since a mismatch here can create processing delays separate from the visa-history issue itself.
Overall, a previous (even expired, unused) visitor visa is not something to hide or worry about — it's typically read as a sign you're a known, low-risk applicant.