Canadian Study Permit Rules

Follow the study permit rules

Well, while everyone agrees that people are free to choose the life they want, the thing is, you’re not yet firmly grounded. You don’t have permanent residency in Canada yet, and any mistake could be quite costly. So be careful and follow all the rules precisely. Soon enough, this phase of your life will pass, and your freedom to act will return.

What is a study permit?

A study permit is a document that allows you to study in Canada. Except for certain specific cases, you need a study permit for programs longer than six months. The study permit is issued to the student upon their arrival in Canada.

With this permit, the applicant is allowed to reside and study in Canada. The rules for studying in Canada are written on the study permit, which you need to read and follow carefully.

When you have a study permit, it means you are obligated to adhere to a set of requirements, and otherwise, you risk losing your student status.

While losing your student status may not immediately cause any problems, it will create issues when you apply to extend your study permit, or for a work permit, or permanent residency.

How can I comply with the study permit rules?

To maintain your study permit, you must:

Actively pursue your studies.

Demonstrate reasonable progress in your courses.

What’s the difference between a study permit and a student visa in Canada?

A visa is a label that gets stamped on your passport and allows you to enter Canada. A study permit is a document that’s issued only within Canada and gives you permission to stay and study there. Make sure to renew both of these before they expire.

Sometimes people use the terms study permit and Canadian student visa interchangeably. When you successfully obtain a Canadian student visa, you implicitly get the permission to study (the study permit) in the country, but you receive the official document regarding your study permit while in Canada. In other words, the Canadian study visa comes with the study permit but isn’t the same thing.

In this article, the term study permit refers to the stage after obtaining a Canadian student visa.

On the Canadian study visa webpage, you can find detailed information about the requirements for obtaining a Canadian study permit, the documents needed, the application process for the study permit, and the financial capacity needed for the study permit. Here, “study permit” refers to the Canadian student visa.

How long is a Canadian study permit valid for?

A Canadian study permit is usually issued for the duration of your study program plus an additional 90 days.

This extra 90 days means that after you graduate, you have 90 days to either leave Canada or, if you wish to stay, change your visa status and apply for a post-graduation work permit. If you haven’t completed your studies by the expiration date of your study permit, you should apply for a renewal.

A few important points regarding the validity of your study permit:

Pay attention to the expiration date of your passport.

Although a study permit is typically issued for the duration of your studies, this is only valid if your passport doesn’t expire before the end of your program.

So, if your passport expires before your study program ends, the Canadian immigration office will issue your study permit only until your passport expiration date. In such cases, after arriving in Canada and before your study permit expires, you will need to take steps to renew it, which will require time and additional fees.

If you’re required to take prerequisite courses during your studies, like language classes, the Canadian immigration office will only issue you a study permit for the duration of the language course. For example, if you’re supposed to pursue a two-year master’s degree but received a conditional acceptance for language studies, needing to first attend six months of language classes before entering the main program, your study permit won’t be issued for two years and six months. Instead, it will only be issued for six months. Therefore, you’ll need to apply for an extension before the language program ends.

Benefits of obtaining a study permit in Canada:

Studying at universities with advanced educational facilities

Receiving a globally recognized degree

Developing personal and social skills in a multicultural environment

Lower tuition and living costs compared to other countries

The possibility to work while studying in Canada

The opportunity to work after studying in Canada

The chance to obtain permanent residency in Canada after graduation

Extending a study permit in Canada:

Always apply for an extension 30 days before any document expires. However, you don’t have to wait until those 30 days are up; you can apply for an extension several months in advance.

If you’re in Canada and applying to extend your study permit, you will receive this permit by mail.

Before extending your study permit, make sure that your passport is valid for the same duration you are applying for the study permit extension. The expiration date of your study permit or work permit will not be later than the expiration date of your passport.

To make your life easier, we present three scenarios here. No matter your situation, you’ll easily know when to apply for your study permit extension in Canada.

You have completed your studies before your study permit expires

Be careful. The date on your study permit doesn’t matter. After graduation, your study permit automatically expires in 90 days. Once this permit expires or you graduate (whichever happens first), you have 180 days to submit your next immigration application.

Your studies end simultaneously with your study permit

After your study permit or graduation ends (whichever comes first), you have 180 days to submit your next immigration application.

Your studies will not be completed during your current study permit period

Request an extension at least 90 days before your study permit expires. You can still continue your studies even if you haven’t received your study permit letter yet. Your status during this time will be implied status, and as long as you follow all the rules related to the study permit, it’s assumed that you can continue your studies until you get a final answer.

Example: Suppose your study permit and study visa expire on December 30, 2022, but your course finishes in August 2023. In this case, you need to apply for an extension before December 30, 2022, and take the necessary steps. Once you receive your study permit letter, you can then extend your student visa.

Your study permit has expired

You have lost your immigration status as a student. Now, you are a visitor and are not allowed to study, so stop studying immediately.

Less than 90 days have passed since your study permit expired

Check your study permit date. If it has been less than 90 days since it expired and you’ve met all other conditions for being a student, and your only issue is the expired study permit, check the possibility of restoring your study permit.

More than 90 days have passed since your study permit expired

You must leave Canada and submit any applications from outside the country. Additionally, you cannot submit a new application for up to 6 months.

If it has been more than 90 days since your study permit expired, contact an immigration lawyer immediately to explore your available options.

Documents required for extending your study permit in Canada.

Documents related to student status:

Transcripts up to the last semester you completed

Letter of enrollment for new courses

Letter of acceptance

Identification documents:

Valid passport with Canadian student visa label

Valid study permit

One recent photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm)

Financial documents:

Financial capability letter (the amount provided should cover remaining tuition and living expenses)

Bank statement preferably for the last 4 months

Canadian bank account in your name (if available)

Notarized declaration from the sponsor for covering expenses (if you have a sponsor)

Receipt of tuition and housing payments

Scholarship letter (if available)

Letter of Explanation:

Explain all your academic conditions, including your major, university, start and end dates of the program, any leaves of absence (if applicable), co-op terms, and any other details clearly.

When do I get considered graduated?

Your last exam has been taken, and the university will inform you via email that your course is complete. This email will serve as the date for your graduation in Canada according to the immigration authority.

If this date is not specified and the university has issued a graduation letter, Canada Immigration will consider the date mentioned on your certificate as your graduation date.

Extending your Canadian student visa

You need to apply for your extension before your visa expires to avoid any issues.

Planning to travel outside Canada? Get a visa

You cannot enter Canada with just a study permit. So remember to apply for a visa after getting your study permit extended. You can apply for a visa extension online and then send your passport to the immigration office for the visa label.

Leave of absence rules during studies in Canada

As an international student, when considering taking a leave from your studies, think it through carefully. You need to actively continue your studies to:

Remain in Canada without jeopardizing your student status

Have work permission

Not lose the opportunity to get a work visa after graduation

But is there even a way to take a leave?

The good news is yes. There are ways you can take a leave without jeopardizing your good academic standing.

As long as you have a study permit, taking a study leave for up to 150 days is possible. However, you need to have one of the valid reasons listed below. To take a study leave in Canada, you should communicate with your university and get their approval, but there’s no need to inform Canada’s immigration department about the leave. Just make sure you meet the conditions for the leave:

Medical issues

Pregnancy

Death or incapacitation of a family member

Closure of your educational institution due to a strike

Permanent closure of your institution

Changing your university or college

Your course being postponed by the university

What factors does a gap during your study permit affect?

Traveling outside Canada while on study leave

1- Check that you have a valid visa when you return.

2- Communicate with the university’s education department to ensure they confirm you won’t have any issues registering for the next term.

Extending your study permit while on leave

1- About three or four months before your study permit expires, get confirmation from the university regarding how your academic path will continue.

2- Use the university letter to extend your study permit.

Conditions for student work during study leave in Canada

The assumption is that you had some issues and took a leave, so unfortunately, during your leave, you can’t work as a student, either part-time or full-time.

Leave and work visa after graduation

Leave can directly impact your work visa after graduation. Unapproved leaves and study leaves longer than 150 days can jeopardize your eligibility for a post-graduation work visa.

University or college leave report to immigration

Yes. The immigration office has your statistics. Universities and colleges report study gaps to immigration.

Student insurance during a study gap

During authorized leaves, your student health insurance will remain active.

Changing university or college after obtaining visa

Are you not satisfied with your current institution? Do you intend to change your major? All of this is possible.

According to Canada’s new regulations coming in November 2024, if you are studying at a university or college and want to change, first make sure that your new school has DLI status. Then, for this change, known as Change DLI, you will need to submit a new application to Immigration and get a new study permit.

My visa has been submitted, but I haven’t received a response.

You can change your educational institution. You need to send a new letter of acceptance or a new PAL (Post-Graduation Work Permit) to Immigration through the Canada web form.

Conditions for changing a study permit in Canada:

Changing your study permit from school to college or university.

You need to apply and get a new study permit.

Changing from college to college or from college to university or from university to college.

You need to apply and get a new study permit.

Changing from non-Quebec provinces to Quebec province.

To study in Quebec, you must submit the CAQ permit along with the new study permit.

What is maintained status in Canada?

Maintained status, which was previously referred to as implied status, means that you have submitted your application for a permit extension within the legal timeframe but have not yet received a response. In this case, the Canadian immigration office allows you to continue with your previous immigration status until you receive a result.

Take a look at this example.

Maryam is studying and has two terms left in her studies. Her study permit will expire in a month, so naturally, she submits her extension request. A month goes by, and her study permit still hasn’t been mailed to her, and there’s no online response either. Maryam is worried and calls the Mondial visa office and asks these questions:

Can I continue my studies while my study permit hasn’t arrived yet?

Yes. As long as you adhere to all the regulations on your study permit, you can continue your studies until you receive your extension response.

I intend to travel to Iran. Is there any problem?

When you return to Canada, your visa must be valid.

No. My visa expired at the same time as my study permit.

If you don’t have a valid visa, do not travel outside Canada. Because upon your return, you’ll have to apply for a visa from outside Canada, which can take a long time.

Traveling outside Canada while in maintained status – a really bad decision.

If you are in maintained status, avoid any kind of travel. If you travel outside Canada and return, you will not be able to continue your previous immigration status. Upon returning, you will have to wait for the approval of your extension and you won’t benefit from the advantages that Immigration had previously granted you.

Anyway, if you had to make this bad decision, make sure to bring these documents upon your return:

A valid Canadian visa

Proof of application receipt for your study permit extension

Payment receipt for the study permit extension request

Lack of motivation to study? Changing from study permit to work permit or visitor visa.

If, for any reason, you decide you don’t want to study, consult with an immigration advisor before taking any action.

Changing from study permit to work permit

For those thinking about quitting their studies, working is usually the first thought that crosses their mind. Well, it is indeed appealing because many applicants don’t enjoy studying and have, in a way, reluctantly chosen it as their only option to continue in Canada.

But is this thought feasible? The answer is yes, but with some caveats. The most important prerequisite will be having a job offer as a foreign individual. Obtaining a job offer that has an LMIA approval isn’t always straightforward. So, in many cases, this barrier alone may close this window of opportunity. Yes, if you intend to drop out and obtain a work permit in Canada, you must overcome this hurdle.

Good news for Iranians: Until February 28, 2025, Iranian students can convert their study permit to an open work permit without needing a job offer.

Changing from study permit to tourist visa.

You can’t really do much with a tourist status in Canada. Changing your study permit to a visitor visa is useful for situations where you couldn’t pass your classes and didn’t meet the conditions of your study permit. To make sure your stay in Canada is legal, you have to change your status to a tourist, hoping a new opportunity opens up for you.

Changing a study permit to a spousal visa (sponsorship – open work permit)

If you came to Canada to study, does that mean you can’t fall in love? Why not? Anyway, if you find your love in Vancouver, Toronto, or Montreal, and if you’ve either been proposed to or have proposed, you might want to think about dropping out.

First, you need to see what kind of visa your partner has. If they have a study permit or work permit, then you need to get an open work permit. If you’re luckier and they have permanent residency, then in this case, by changing to visitor status, you should apply for a sponsorship visa, and your partner can also apply for permanent residency.

Canada’s study permit rules for school students

Students, just like university students, are required to adhere to study permit regulations. As a student in Canada, you must

show that you are actively engaged in your studies,

continuously pursue your education,

avoid unreasonable and unjustifiable breaks during your study period as it can impact your residency future.

Most of the conditions and points mentioned for student study permits also apply to school students. They only differ in a few specific cases, which we will mention in this section.

Is obtaining a study permit in Canada mandatory for students under any circumstances?

The answer to this question is no. If your child under 18 meets the following conditions, they do not need to obtain a study permit and can study in Canadian schools:

They entered Canada through your residency status (parent) with a tourist visa.

You or your spouse or both are citizens of Canada or have permanent residency in Canada.

You or your spouse or both are allowed to study in Canada (having a study permit) or are permitted to work (having a work permit).

A few important notes:

In such situations, your children do not need a study permit to attend school from elementary through high school and can study for free in public schools in Canada. Until the age of 18 and the completion of high school, your child’s educational status depends on your (the parents’) immigration status. This means that as long as you are in Canada with the necessary and legal permits like study or work permits or manage to obtain permanent residency in Canada, your children can continue their education without needing a study permit.

After your child finishes high school, if they want to enter a college or university in Canada, they will need to get a study permit, even if you still hold a study or work permit for Canada. All the points mentioned above regarding the “conditions for extending a study permit,” “conditions for changing a study permit” for students, and other matters also apply to your child once they enter colleges or universities in Canada.

How much does a Canadian dependent visa cost?

Whether it’s a work permit or a tourist visa for accompanying a student, there are several costs you need to consider, which include the application processing fee at the Canadian immigration office, the fingerprinting fee, travel expenses to a third country for fingerprinting, document translation fees, and if hiring an immigration lawyer, the cost of hiring the lawyer as well as providing proof of financial support.

New Articles

What is CLB and how do we equate it?

Work immigration to Nova Scotia

Work immigration to Quebec

Immigration to Manitoba

Frequently asked questions

Do I have permission to study in Canada without a study permit?

Specific cases where you are allowed to study without a study permit:

Courses shorter than six months that end within six months.

Your children while you have a work or study visa.

Will I receive an email if my study permit is canceled?

No. You will not receive any email. It is your responsibility to know the rules. A study permit automatically becomes invalid if either of these two conditions occurs:

The study permit’s expiration date is reached.

90 days have passed since the end of your studies.

How does maternity leave work in Canada?

You can legally take up to 150 days of maternity leave during your studies, and it won’t cost anything for students; it will be free of charge.

How do I replace an expired passport while studying?

You can extend your passport through the Iranian Interest Section at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington.

What will work permission be like if I’m a final-term student studying part-time?

Students who have studied full-time during their academic term and are only taking the last term part-time due to fewer remaining credits can work full-time during the holidays before their last term and work up to 20 hours a week (outside the university) during their last term.

How does the request for an amendment to a study permit work?

Sometimes, there might be incorrect information on your study permit or certain details may need to be changed.

For example, this can happen if the name of your university or college has changed, or if the work permit for students isn’t mentioned on your study permit.

The process for correcting a study permit is completely free; however, the processing time can vary significantly.

Steps to correct a study permit:

Collecting documents: To apply for a study permit correction, you need to submit the following documents to the IRCC:

– Acceptance letter from the university

– Enrollment letter

– Passport

– Official identification documents

– Original study permit

Filling out the application form: Applicants looking to correct their study permit must download the latest version of the “Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Permanent Resident,” or the IMM 1436 form from the immigration department’s website and print it out. This form must be filled out before submitting it to the IRCC and then signed by the applicant.

This form also includes a checklist of documents that must be printed out and sent along with the application.

Submitting the application: Ideally, applications for study permit corrections in Canada should be sent via a trackable postal service or courier to the Operations Support Centre in Ottawa.

Sending the application through a reputable mailing service allows you to know when your application arrives at the IRCC. This is really important, as the IRCC does not provide any confirmation of receipt for submitted applications.

Study permit correction applications sent by mail should be addressed to:

Operations Support Centre (OSC) P.O. Box 8784 STN T CSC Ottawa, Ontario K1G 5J3

Applications sent through Canada courier services should be addressed to:

Operations Support Centre (OSC) 365 Laurier Avenue West Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1

Receive and review your new study permit.

0 0 Votes

Article Rating

Subscribe to

710743

Study visa and study permit of Canada

Student life in Canada

Canadian scholarship application

Accredited DLI Learning institutions

Temporary job visas

Permanent job residence

Pilot immigration programs

Job immigration programs of the provinces

Investment programs of the provinces

Immigration programs of the provinces

Study in other countries

Study in the US

Study in the UK

Study in Australia

Study in Spain

Study in Italy

Student visa for Germany

Canadian scholarship application

Accredited DLI Learning institutions

Study visa and study permit of Canada

Student life in Canada

Temporary job visas