Guide 5552 - Applying to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada - Student - online application

Before you apply

Who may use this application guide?

This application guide is designed for temporary residents already in Canada who want to:

• Extend their stay as students;
• Request an initial study permit;
• Restore their status as students.

The following sections provide information you need to know before submitting a complete application.

Status in Canada

Who receives temporary resident status?

All persons coming to Canada who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents can request to enter as visitor, student or worker. When they enter Canada they are given temporary resident status for a limited period of time.

How do I know the expiry date of my temporary resident status?

Temporary residents travelling with passports:

When you arrived in Canada and gave your passport to the officer, they authorized your stay by placing a stamp in your passport and/or issuing an additional document. Check your passport. If you find a stamp, it should look like one of these.

For example, if the officer specified a date as shown in the above illustration, your temporary resident status would expire on June 30th, 1993.

If there is no stamp, a handwritten date or document in your passport, your temporary resident status will expire six months from the day you arrived in Canada.

If you were given a visitor record, study or work permit, the expiry date is marked on the document.

When applying to change conditions or extend your stay in Canada, you are required to submit photocopies of passport pages clearly showing the stamp made by Canadian authorities on your most recent entry to Canada.

Travelling outside Canada:

If you have applied to extend your study permit and plan to travel outside Canada while your application is in process, you can leave and come back. However, one of two things will happen when you return to Canada:

• You may be allowed to come back to Canada as a visitor, if Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has not yet made a decision on your study permit application. If this is the case, you cannot study until you get your new study permit. The officer at the port of entry may ask you to prove you have enough money to support yourself in Canada.
• You may be allowed to come back to Canada as a student, if the officer at the port of entry determines that IRCC issued your study permit while you were away.

What is a study permit?

A study permit is a written authorization issued by an officer that allows international students to study in Canada.

Do I need a study permit?

Foreign nationals must obtain a study permit to study in Canada, unless you are:

• family members or private staff accompanying a foreign representative accredited by Global Affairs Canada; or
• members of the armed forces of a country or territory designated for the purposes of the Visiting Forces Act.

Are there activities for which a study permit is not required?

Yes, there are courses that do not require a study permit. Generally, a study permit is not required for:

• attending preschool;
• completing a distance learning program;
• following audit courses (where a student is permitted to attend an academic course without obtaining credits);
• taking courses included in tour packages as a secondary activity for tourists;
• taking a course which is not academic, professional or vocational in nature that is of general interest and can be completed within the period authorized upon entry to Canada;
• taking a course or a program of study which is six months or less that can be completed within the period authorized upon entry into Canada.

Who may apply for a study permit from within Canada?

The following persons may apply from within Canada:

• Holders of valid work or study permits and their family members;
• Persons studying at pre-school, primary or secondary level;
• Visiting or exchange students studying at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI);
• Persons who have completed a short-term course or program of study that is a prerequisite to their enrolling at a DLI;
• Holders of temporary resident permits (TRPs) valid for a minimum of six months and their family members;
• Refugee claimants and persons subject to an unenforceable removal order;
• Protected persons within the meaning of subsection A95(2) and their family members;
• In-Canada permanent resident applicants and their family members who are determined eligible for permanent residents (PR) status in one of the following classes:
  live-in caregiver, spouse or common-law partner, and humanitarian and compassionate considerations (H&C);
• Persons whose study permits were authorized by a visa office abroad, where the permit was not issued at a port of entry;
• Family members of athletes on a Canadian-based team, media representatives, members of the clergy, or military personnel assigned to Canada.

How do I renew or apply for a study permit?

As an international student, if you want to renew your study permit, you should apply at least 30 days before the expiry date of your current status. Applying early allows you to remain in Canada under the same conditions of your current study permit until you receive a decision.

If you are applying for your first study permit to attend a post-secondary institution, you must obtain a letter of acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution. Once you have that acceptance letter, you can complete and submit an application to get a study permit from inside Canada.

How do I find out if my school is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)?

For schools at the post-secondary level, you must consult the Designated Learning Institution List (DLI).

If the institution loses its status as a Designated Learning Institution after you have already been issued a study permit:

• you will be able to pursue the program of study that you are enrolled in for the duration of your current permit.

If you want to apply for an initial study permit and the post-secondary school you want to attend is not in the DLI List, you cannot submit an application for a study permit.

Are you studying in Quebec?

Are there any conditions on my study permit?

You must remain enrolled at the Designated Learning Institution (DLI) named in your study permit and make reasonable and timely progress towards completing your program. Failing to do so may lead to your removal from Canada. For post-secondary study permit holders, the DLI will report your continued academic enrolment and status to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

An officer may also impose, vary or cancel conditions on a study permit. These may include one or more of the following:

• the type of studies or course you may take;
• the educational institution you may attend;
• the location of your studies;
• the time and period of your studies;
• the times and place at which you shall report for medical examination or observation;
• the times and place at which you shall report for the presentation of evidence of compliance with applicable conditions;
• the work conditions attached to your study permit;
• the prohibition of engaging in employment; or
• the duration of your stay in Canada.

What must I do if I want to change school or institution?

May my children attend school?

Your children may attend school in Canada. You must apply for their study permit at the same time as your own. If they intend to join you at a later date, they must also apply for a study permit before coming to Canada. Their study permit must also be obtained prior to entering Canada even if it is a renewal or initial application for a study permit.

What about minors studying alone?

Minors studying in Canada should hold a valid study permit and be in the care of a custodian. Normally, they should have applied for a study permit before coming to Canada.

Custodians

Obtain more information about Minors studying in Canada.

May I work while I am studying?

As an international student you may be eligible to work in Canada while studying, if your study permit includes a condition that says you can work on or off campus. You must also meet all the other requirements. You can only start working in Canada when you start your study program. You can’t work before your studies begin. In most cases, you need to apply for a work permit.

Learn more about studying and working in Canada as an international student.

May I work on campus without a work permit?

As long as you have a valid study permit and are a full-time student enrolled at a post-secondary Designated Learning Institution (university, community college, collège d'enseignement général et professionnel (CÉGEP), publicly funded trade or technical school, or private institutions authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees), you may work on campus. The employer may be either the school or private contractor operating on campus.

May I work off campus without a work permit?

You may be allowed to work off campus without a work permit for up to 20 hours a week during a regular academic session and full time during regularly scheduled breaks, provided that:

• you hold a valid study permit;
• you are a full-time student enrolled at a designated learning institution;
• the program in which you are enrolled is a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program, or a vocational training program at the secondary level offered in Québec;
• the program of study is at least six months or more in duration and one that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate; and
• you continue to fulfill the terms and conditions of your study permit, as well as the conditions to engage in off campus work (e.g., work no more than 20 hours a week during a regular academic session).

For more information, consult the List of participating institutions: Off campus work permit for international students.

May I work as part of a co-op or internship program?

International students may work as part of a co-op program only if work is an essential part of an academic, professional or vocational training program offered by a Designated Learning Institution.

To be able to work, you will need a co-op work permit.

May my spouse or common-law partner work in Canada while I study?

Spouses and common-law partners of full-time students enrolled and pursuing studies at a post-secondary Designated Learning Institution may apply for an open work permit. However, they must complete their own work permit application.

You may submit your applications together online or at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) and use one payment receipt for the total amount.

Find out more about spouses or common-law partners of international students working in Canada.

May I apply for more than one service?

It is possible to apply for more than one service (e.g. work permit) using the application form IMM 5709. You will need to indicate under “Details of intended study in Canada” the type of work permit you wish to obtain. You must remember to pay the processing fees and include the proof of payment in your application. Details and instructions on how to apply for a work permit from within Canada may be obtained by visiting our web pages Applying to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada as a Worker and Application to Apply for a Work Permit – Student Guide.

What must I do if I want to apply for more than one service?

If you believe you are eligible to apply then you should proceed as instructed below:

• Fill out the IMM 5709.
• Gather all the necessary documents. They are listed on the Document Checklist (PDF, 296.52 KB).
• Pay the fees.
• Fill in the forms carefully and completely. Keep a copy for your records.
• Sign and date your forms.
• Submit your application, required fees and all supporting documents online.

May I leave Canada before my request for a study permit is finalized?

Yes. However, you may not resume studying in Canada until your application for renewal is approved. If you wish to go back to school immediately upon your return, you may re-apply (either at the port of entry if you have the right to do so or at a visa office) and pay another processing fee to receive a decision.

May I leave, then re-enter Canada, if I still have a valid study permit?

Yes. To return to Canada to study, you must have a valid travel document.

A study permit is not a travel document. It does not give you the authorization to travel to Canada. Along with your permit, you need one of the following documents:

• a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or
• an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or
• proof of lawful permanent residence status of the U.S. (e.g. green card)

Having an eTA, a visa or proof of lawful permanent residence status of the U.S, along with your study permit, does not guarantee that you can return to Canada. You must prove to the border services officer that you meet all the requirements before you can re-enter Canada.

If you’re from a visa-exempt country or territory

Along with your study permit, you need:

• a valid passport and
• an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) (if you plan to travel to Canada by air)

You do not need an eTA if you arrive by land or sea (for example, by car or on a bus, train or boat).

If you received your initial study permit before August 1, 2015, you need to apply for an eTA if you don’t already have one.

If you received your initial study permit on or after August 1, 2015, you already have an eTA. We automatically issued it to you when we approved your initial study permit. It’s valid for 5 years or until your passport expires. See your letter of introduction for details.

Renewing your study permit

If your application for a study permit renewal is approved on or after May 1, 2017, we will automatically issue you an eTA.

If your study permit was approved before May 1, 2017 and you don’t already have an eTA, you will need to get one before you return to Canada by air.

If you’re from a visa-required country or territory

You’ll need a valid visa and a valid study permit to return to Canada to study. You don’t need a valid visa if you return directly from a visit only to the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon. You must re-apply for a visitor visa if your visa:

• has expired or
• was only valid for a single entry to Canada

Eligible citizens of select visa-required countries or territories will receive an eTA when they renew their study permit. The eTA is electronically linked to the passport you used to renew your permit and is valid for five years or until your passport expires. You can only use the eTA when you fly to, or transit through, Canada by air. You will receive a letter from us with information about your eTA number and expiration date.

Note:

If you already have a valid visitor visa, you can use it to travel to Canada until it expires. A visitor visa will let you travel to Canada by plane, car, bus, train or boat.

What happens if my study permit has expired?

If your study permit has expired and you have not applied for an extension, or if you did not respect one of the conditions on your permit or you have studied without a required permit, you have committed an offence under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. You may be subject to an admissibility hearing that could lead to removal from Canada.

However, if you wish to stay in Canada after your status has expired you may apply for restoration of status within the 90 days following your loss of status. If not, you have to leave Canada.

Restoration of status

You may be able to restore your status as a visitor, student or worker within 90 days of losing it, if you lost it because:

• you stayed in Canada longer than the period authorized for your stay (but not longer than 90 days).
• you changed employers, location of employment, or type of work (occupation or level of responsibility) before obtaining a new work permit.
• you changed the type of studies, educational institution, location of studies, or times and periods of studies without applying to change these conditions on your study permit if they were specified on your study permit.

You may still be eligible for restoration if you continue to meet the initial requirements for your stay and have not failed to comply with other conditions imposed.

If you wish to obtain a new study or work permit and restore your temporary resident status, you must.

• submit your application within 90 days of losing your status
• explain all of the facts and circumstances that prevented you from complying with the conditions of your permit
• keep meeting the requirements for your stay
• meet all the remaining conditions listed on your permit, and
• pay your fees
  • for a new study permit ($379)
    • restoration ($229) and
    • study permit ($150)

Restoration applies to each family member who has lost their status. There is no guarantee that we will approve your application.

See what to do if your study permit has expired and you want to apply for a post-graduation work permit.

When is a medical examination required?

If you are a medical student or will work in health care, or another field that brings you into close contact with children or the elderly, you will need a valid medical exam. Examples of designated occupations include hospital staff, clinical laboratory workers, patient attendants in nursing and geriatric homes, and medical students admitted to attend Canadian universities. Find out more by checking the Medical examination requirements for temporary residents.

If you want to work in agricultural occupations, a medical examination will be needed if you have visited or lived in a designated country or territory for more than six months during the past year. Check the list of designated countries or territories.

Medical instructions

You may either:

• undergo an upfront medical examination by contacting a Panel Physician; or
• wait until your application is reviewed and medical instructions are provided to you by the Case Processing Centre.

Get the instructions to complete the medical examination.

Step 1. Gather documents

What documents are required?

What information do I need to apply?

In addition to the requirements for all temporary residents, you must provide:

1. Proof of acceptance at a Designated Learning Institution:
   1. For attendance at a post-secondary designated learning institution :
      1. Current letter, registration paper or form from the educational institution which shows:
         • confirmation of your acceptance and registration as a student;
         • the course of study;
         • how many courses you will be taking and how many hours you will attend each week (not required if you are attending a university or college);
         • intended start date and when you expect to finish the academic program;
         • any condition related to your acceptance or registration (When there is a condition related to your registration, you may have to satisfy us that you have met the condition before a study permit can be issued); and
      2. proof of academic standing at institutions: letter from institutional registrar and photocopies of transcripts from your last two periods of study, if you have studied for two consecutive periods (trimesters, semester etc.) prior to your application for renewal of your study permit.
   2. For attendance at a primary or secondary school:
      1. a letter from the school, school board, district or division responsible for the school you will be attending, showing the level of study and the date you are expected to finish your studies.
      2. proof of academic standing at institutions:
         • for secondary school, a letter from institutional registrar or guidance department and photocopies of transcripts from your last two periods of study, if you have studied for two consecutive periods (trimesters, semester, etc.) prior to your application for renewal of your study permit.
         • for primary school, a letter from the school office and photocopies of the final report card or transcripts from the most recent academic year.
   3. For attendance at an educational institution in Quebec [in addition to the requirements listed in a) or b)]:
      1. a copy of your attestation of issuance of your Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ).

   Note: Some people do not need a CAQ. Visit the MIFI website to find out if you need a CAQ.

2. Proof of financial support while you study in Canada:

   You must prove you have enough money (in Canadian funds) to support yourself while you study in Canada. This can include:

   1. a bank statement or a letter from a Canadian bank showing how much money you have in your bank account (must indicate your name and the account number);
   2. a copy of the letter giving the details about your scholarship or Canadian-funded educational program (such as a CIDA program);
   3. a letter from a person (describe the relationship to you) who is giving you financial help, explaining the arrangements made for your expenses. (This information is protected under the Privacy Act and cannot be released to a third party without your sponsor’s consent.)

   Persons and their family members whose refugee claim has been sent to the Refugee Division do not have to give proof of financial support.

   Family members of foreign students and temporary workers who need a study permit to attend primary or secondary school, do not need to show proof of financial support.

Step 2. Complete the Application

Step 3. Pay the Fees

Fees

When you apply online, you’ll be asked to pay a Processing Fee for each service that you require. All fees must be submitted with your application.

If a decision has been made and you have not been found to be a Convention Refugee or a Protected Person but are awaiting an appeal in federal court, you are required to pay the processing fee.

Use this chart to verify the fees required for the service you are requesting. If you or your family members are applying for other services, you can pay all the fees together.

Make sure that you are eligible before you pay your fees and that you provide all the information requested before you submit the application. The processing fee will not be refunded, regardless of the final decision once the Case Processing Centre has started processing the application. For example, if your study permit has expired and you incorrectly apply for an extension of study permit, no refund for the extension will be provided and you will be asked to provide a second fee for the restoration.

If we determine that you are not eligible, your application will be considered “processed” and your application fees will not be refunded. If you apply again, you will have to pay the application fees again.

Step 4. Submit the Application

Online Instructions

To apply online, you must have:

• Access to a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents to upload, and
• A valid credit card to pay with

You will be required to create an online account profile and to register or log in using GCKey or Sign In Partner.

What happens next?

Factors that can facilitate processing

There are certain things you can do to help ensure that your application is processed as fast as possible:

• ensure that all the documentation and information requested is provided with your application
• advise us via the change of address link of any change to your contact information, including:
  • mailing address
  • telephone numbers
  • facsimile number (fax)
  • e-mail address

Factors that may delay processing

The following factors may delay the processing of your application:

• missing signature on application forms
• missing documentation
• incorrect fee payment
• unclear photocopies of documents
• documents not accompanied by a certified English or French translation
• verification of information and documents provided
• a medical condition that may require additional tests or consultations
• a criminal or security problem
• consultation is required with other offices in Canada and abroad

Quality Assurance Program

Our quality assurance program randomly selects applications for a special review. If selected you will be asked to attend an interview with a IRCC official so that we can:

• verify the documentation you submitted is accurate,
• verify that your application has been completed properly.

Services and Information 

For more information on the programs offered by IRCC, visit our website.

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