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Study Permit Extension

The expiry date on your study permit indicates when you must stop studying and leave Canada. It is usually set for the length of your program plus 90 days, allowing time to prepare to leave or extend your stay. If you wish to continue studying, apply for an extension before your permit expires. If it expires without an extension, you must leave Canada.

When to Extend Your Study Permit

Apply at least 30 days before your study permit expires, The earlier, the better to avoid any disruptions.
  • Check your passport expiry: Your study permit can’t be extended beyond your passport’s expiry date and ensure your passport is valid for the entire duration of your study permit extension.
  • If you apply before the expiry date: You can continue studying under the same conditions as your current permit while waiting for the decision, as long as you remain in Canada.

What Happens if You Finish Your Studies Earlier than Expected?

Your study permit will expire based on whichever date comes first: The date marked on your study permit, or
90 days after the completion of your studies

How the 90 days work: The 90 days begin either:

  • The date you receive first notification from your school (email, letter, transcript, etc.) that you’ve completed your program, or
  • The date you get your degree, diploma, or certificate.

If you don’t have proof of the notification date, they’ll use the earliest issue date on the document and may confirm this with your school.

What if You Finish Your Studies Later Than Expected?

You must apply to extend your study permit at least 30 days before the original expiry date (not the new expected completion date).

What If Your School Is No Longer a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)?

  • You can continue studying until your current permit expires, or
  • Transfer to another DLI.
  • If you want to extend your study permit, ensure that your new school is a DLI.

Re-entering Canada After Applying for an Extension

  • If you leave Canada after applying for an extension, you won’t be able to re-enter
  • You have a valid study permit or a letter of introduction that shows you were approved for an extension, and
  • You have a valid travel document.

What If You Deferred Your Enrollment?

  • If you deferred your enrollment and the DLI that issued your letter of acceptance loses its DLI status before you start studying:
  • You cannot start studying at that school.
  • Next steps:
  • Apply to and get accepted at a new DLI.
  • Update the information in your MyAccount.

If Your Study Permit Is Approved but Not Issued Yet

  • If your study permit is approved but hasn’t been issued yet, and your DLI changes:
  • You will need to provide a new letter of acceptance from the new DLI.
  • Update your DLI information in MyAccount.

How to Apply for a Study Permit in Canada (for Extension or Initial Application)

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to apply for your study permit extension or initial study permit:

For Post-Secondary Students:

  • Your Designated Learning Institution (DLI) will provide either:
  • A Letter of Acceptance (LOA) (for new students), or
  • A Letter of Enrolment (for current students).

Important: When applying for your study permit extension, you will need to upload the letter from your DLI in the designated section of your online application. Make sure the letter is validated by your DLI.

If Your DLI Doesn’t Validate the Letter:

  • If your DLI doesn’t verify your LOA by the deadline, your application will be returned, and you’ll get a refund for the processing fee.
  • Contact your DLI to confirm that the letter will be validated within the required time frame before resubmitting your application.

Changes Starting January 22, 2025:

  • Unless you meet an exception, if you are changing schools or levels of study, you will need to provide a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL).

Important Notes:

  • No Longer Apply at Port of Entry: If you are already in Canada, you can no longer apply for a study permit at a port of entry. You must apply online for both your initial permit and any extensions.
  • Maintained Status: If you leave Canada while on maintained status, you lose your ability to study when you return, and you cannot study until your new application is approved.
  • Financial Requirements: Starting January 1, 2024, new financial requirements are in place for study permit applications. These will be evaluated during the processing of your study permit extension, and you will need to demonstrate you have enough money to support yourself during your stay in Canada.

What Happens When Your Study Permit Expires?

If your study permit expires and you haven’t applied for an extension or change, you lose your student status in Canada. Here’s a breakdown of the situations when this happens:
  • 1. Your Study Permit Expired Before You Applied for a New One
  • If you didn’t apply for an extension before your study permit expired, you lose your student status in Canada.
  • 2. You Changed Conditions on Your Study Permit
If you change certain conditions of your study permit, such as:
  • Your Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
  • The type of study you’re doing.
  • The location of your study.
  • The duration of your study program. You must apply for a new study permit to reflect these changes. Failure to do so means you lose your status.
  • 3. You Didn’t Follow the Conditions of Your Study Permit
If you fail to comply with the conditions outlined in your study permit, such as working without authorization or studying at an institution that’s not a DLI, your status is revoked.
  • What Happens After You Lose Your Student Status?
Once you lose your status, you cannot study in Canada until your status is restored and you receive a new study permit. If you apply after your study permit expires, you can stay in Canada, but you cannot study until your status is restored.
  • How to Restore Your Status as a Student

If your study permit expires but you continue to meet the conditions of your stay, you can apply to restore your status as a student. Here’s what you need to do:

  • Steps to Restore Your Status:
  • Apply for a New Study Permit: You need to apply for a new study permit, just like an initial application.
  • Restore Your Temporary Resident Status: Apply to restore your temporary resident status in Canada.
  • Submit Supporting Documents: Provide all necessary documents to support your application.
  • Pay Fees: You must pay the required restoration fee for your application.

Important:

  • While your application is being processed, you can stay in Canada, but there is no guarantee that your application will be approved.
  • When filling out your application, select “Restore my status” under section 3 on the form and include a note explaining why you need to extend your stay.

What Happens If Your Status Is Restored?

  • New Study Permit Issued: You’ll receive a new study permit with updated conditions.
  • Temporary Resident Status Extended: Your status will be extended until a specified date, allowing you to continue your stay in Canada as a student.

Family Members in Canada

If you have family members (such as a spouse, common-law partner, or dependent children) with you in Canada, they may also need to restore their status. They must apply separately, and each person will need to pay the restoration fee.

Maintaining Your Status

If you apply to extend or change the conditions of your study permit before it expires, you’ll be on maintained status while your application is being processed.

While on Maintained Status:

  • You are legally allowed to stay in Canada during the processing of your application.
  • However, you cannot renew provincial or territorial documents such as:
  • Driver’s license
  • Health card
  • You also cannot get a Social Insurance Number (SIN) card while on maintained status.

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