Returning students inside Canada

If your study permit is expiring and you have not finished your studies at the University of ݮƵ, you have to apply for an extension. We recommend you apply to extend your study permit6 months prior to the expiration date.

Update

Starting December 1, 2023, all post-secondary DLIs are required to confirm every applicant’s letter of acceptance directly with IRCC via a letter of acceptance verification process. As of January 30, 2024 – IRCC has extended the letter of acceptance verification process to include study permit applications made inside Canada. Please ensure that you order the correct proof of enrolment letter for your study permit extension application to minimize impact on your application.

Study Permit Extension Processing Updates – Post-Secondary DLI Transfers / Secondary to Post-Secondary

An internal communication was sent from IRCC on June 24, 2025, which acknowledges the issue of prolonged processing times for study permit extensions. Under rules introduced in November 2024, international students changing DLIs have to receive approval on their study permit extensions before beginning studies at the new DLI.

IRCC is providing an update which would allow students to begin studies at a new DLI:

  • Students moving from a secondary to a post-secondary DLI may begin their post-secondary studies while awaiting a decision on their study permit extensions, as long as they apply before the expiry of their study permit status. More information on this update can be found (scroll down and select “If you’re moving from secondary to post-secondary levels”).

  • Students transferring from one post-secondary DLI to another post-secondary DLI will be prioritized by IRCC with the goal of identifying and finalizing these study permit extensions by mid-July 2025.

  • IRCC introduced anew application feature inAugust 2025 which allows students who are moving from a secondary to a post-secondary DLI or transferring between post-secondary DLIs to self-identify when submitting their applications online. This should help to identify and prioritize students in this situation.

Our team of Immigration Consultants is here to help you with your application! Pleasebook an appointment with our teamfor an application review tonot risk a refusal on your application. You can book a same day appointment onor contact us viawebform requesting an appointment.

Starting an online application
  1. Go to theGovernment of Canada’s websiteand create/sign into.
  2. Under 'start an application' in your online account, select 'apply to come to Canada'.
  3. Under 'determine your eligibility and apply online',select ‘visitor visa, study and/or work permit’, and answer the eligibility questions to generate the document checklist.
  4. Answering the eligibility questionnaire:

  • Please note the questionnaire will now ask "Do you have a provincial or territorial attestation letter or meet an exception from submitting a provincial or territorial attestation letter?”  

    • If you are applying for a study permit extension from within Canada in 2025 and are continuing studies in the same level at the same DLI, then a PAL is not required. You can select "Yes, I meet an exception from submitting a provincial or territorial attestation letter.".

    • If you are applying for a study permit extension from within Canada in 2025 and are continuing studies in a different level (for example, undergraduate to graduate) or a different DLI, then a PAL is required.  You can select “Yes, I have a provincial or territorial attestation letter.”

    • If you are unsure that a PAL is required for your application or need to find out how to get a PAL, please refer to our PAL information page or connect with an immigration consultant.

Required documents
    • Youneed to download the formfrom your online document checklist and open it with Adobe Acrobat Reader.If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can.
    • Please usethis IMM5709 form templatecontainingadditional instructions on how to complete specific sections.
    • The application form is not signed when applying online.Make sure you re-validate and re-save the form after making any changes.
    • We recommend including an alternative secure mailing address to students who are going to be moving from their current residential address within the sixmonths following their application submission or for students who have issues receiving mail at their current address.If you are looking for a secure mailing address, please scroll to the bottom of this webpage for details on how to have your permit(s) sent to the International Experience Centre (IEC) in Needles Hall.
  2. ​Aproof of enrolment letterfrom the University of ݮƵ confirming registration for the current term, past academic terms, anticipated enrolment, and anticipated completion date. This is to be uploaded to your online application under Letter of Acceptance.
    • Get your free proof of enrolment letter inQuestwhich will confirm your student enrolment status. The letter includes your student ID number, enrolment status, enrolment history, program length and anticipated completion date.
      • If you receive a message directing you to order amodified proof of enrolment letter, you will receive instructions from The Centre. Note there is a fee for students who require amodified proof of enrolment letter.
    • If you are studying in a Canadian high school and are not at ݮƵ yet, use your Offer of Admission and Letter of Acceptance.
  3. Passport scans

    • Include the biographical page and all pages thatinclude content from Canada or another country: e.g. stamps, visas, or markings.

    • Include your current study permit and co-op work permit (if applicable).

    • If you have renewed a passport since beginning your studies in Canada, include the past passport(s)with the newest passport first in the file.

    • All images will need to be merged into 1 file which must be less than 4MB.

  4. Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL or Tal) - if applicable

    • You must upload a valid PAL/TAL issued by the DLI you are planning to attend.

      • OR

    • Proof of Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL or TAL) Exception - if applicable

      • You should upload a copy of your current valid study permit here along with the following statement. For example: "I am extending my study permit for the same level of study at the same DLI. Therefore, I meet one of the exceptions listed under theWho Doesn't Need a PAL/TALheading at the " In addition, we recommend printing the same to PDF and including it in this section (as it will have a time and date stamp showing the exemption was listed at the time of your application).

      • Merge into one PDF file.

  5. Proof of financial support
    • Generally, this means proof of tuition payment forthe current term and next term (if available) from Quest and your past four months of bank statements showing thefor you plus additional fundsif you have dependents in Canada with you. Please note: as of September 1, 2025, the minimum amount of funds required to cover 1 year of living expenses in Canada willbe $22, 895 CAD.If you don'thave this, then you'll have to look at providing other documents, whichcould include proof of funding​ or scholarship, proof of a job,​orproof of financial support from family ​shown through a letter of support from them andtheir bank statements or proof of their employment.
  6. taken in the last sixmonths that meets the requirements.

  7. Co-op letter (if you are in a co-op program and also applying for the co-op work permit)

    • Graduate students: Request a co-op letter in ݮƵWorks by following the instructions below ifyou are a graduate student in Economics, Econ Water, English, Political Science (MA/PhD), Public Service, Sociology, Architecture, ECE, MASc, MMSc, MEng (Chem. Eng.), Applied Math, Computational Math, Computer Science, or MDSAI, or unless otherwise informed by your department that your program is a co-op program.
      1. Log into 

      2. Select 'Submit a form'

      3. Under 'Category', select 'International'

      4. Select 'Letter of support’ - Canadian co-op work permit application/extension for international visa students' under 'Sub-category'

      5. Read the instructions, answer the questions under 'Details', then click 'Submit'

    • Graduate student in any other program: request a university-producedproof of enrolment letterwith co-op letter statements from The Centre.

    • Undergraduate Students: Use a proof of enrolment letter. If you are in a co-op program, then a co-op statement will be added to your enrolment letter. If there is inconsistent information on your self-serve enrolment letter, you can order a modified proof of enrolment letter instead.

    • If you are studying in a Canadian high school and are not at ݮƵ yet, use your Offer of Admission and Letter of Acceptance (you can highlight any information about co-op/internship requirements on your offer/letter).

  8. Proof of
    • A medical exam is required if you were outside of Canadain one or more ofin the last yearfor a minimum of sixmonthsor if you want to workinoneof the.
  9. Family Information form (if requested in your document checklist)
    • Directly download the version given to you in your document checklist. Fill it out, print, and sign the form where required, then scan and upload it.
  10. Schedule 1 (only if you answered the IMM5709Background Information questions 3-6 with yes)
  11. Letter of explanationor any additional documents (if applicable)
  12. Biometrics

    • Biometrics collection is required for in-Canada temporary residence applications, if you have not completed biometrics in the past.

    • If you have not provided  before, you will need to select “no” when answering the questionnaire question regarding biometrics and pay the $85 biometrics fee. After submitting your application, you will receive a Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL) in your online IRCC account with further information on how and where to provide your biometrics.

    • If you have provided biometrics to Canada in the past, use the  to find out if your biometrics are still valid.

    • NOTE: although biometrics is valid for 10 years, and although you had completed biometrics in the past, if the status tool indicates that your biometrics are NOT valid, we recommend that you still select “no” when answering the questionnaire question regarding biometrics and pay the $85 fee for biometrics and complete biometrics for your application.

    • Your status documents will not be issued beyond a biometrics expiry date. If your biometrics is expiring in the near future, and the biometrics validity does not encompass the full duration of your temporary residence application, we recommend that you still pay for biometrics and complete biometrics for your application.

    • Please book an appointment with us for assistance!

IRCC can ask for any other documents throughout the application process.

Alternatively, if you are outside of Canada, you wouldapply for a new study permit. This will besimilar to when you appliedfor the first study permit and will beprocessed by the Canadian visa office outside of Canada serving the country where you are residing. You also need to include proof, and an explanation, of the studies you have already done in Canada. If you area United States citizen or Green Card holder, or a resident of Greenlandor Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon,you could also apply for a new study permit at a Canadian port of entry.

You can checkon the IRCCwebsite.Theis available from within Canadato answer questions by phone or web form

Applying for a co-op work permit at the same time

If you are accepted into a co-op program at the University of ݮƵ, you can apply for yourtogether with your study permit. Make sure to indicate in your study permit application that you are also applying for a co-op work permit. Use your Letter of Acceptance in the application twice; oncefor proof of university acceptance, and again for proof of a co-op letter, with the Internship section highlighted. Application approval is determined by the Canadian visa office, and is not guaranteed.

If you are not issued co-op work permit approval or aco-op work permit at the port-of-entry into Canada, you can stillapply for a co-op work permit once inCanada. We recommend applying right away after arriving at ݮƵ.

You need your co-op work permitfor all co-op placements. Make sure you have it before starting your first one.

Key points
  • If you need to extend both your study permit andtemporaryresident visa(TRV)from within Canada, the study permit extension application is completed first, and the application for aTRVis submitted after the new study permit is received. If you are from a visa-exempt country, a neweTA number would be issued with your extendedstudy permit if needed.
  • If you apply foran extensionbefore your current study permit expires, you will haveto continue studying in Canada after your old study permit expires until a decision is made on your application as long as you remain in Canada.If you leave Canada while your application is being processed and are outside of Canada with an expired study permit, you will lose your maintained status and must then ensure that you have a valid entry visa (TRV) or eTA (electronic travel authorization) before re-entering Canada. If you then re-enter Canada, you cannot study until the study permit extension application has been approved. The same policy applies to a co-op work permit extension.
  • It is very important tohave valid status in Canada. If you do let your study permit expire, you have 90 days after loss of statustoin Canada with an explanation as to why your status expired,with supporting documentation if applicable.However, you cannot study or work in Canada until your status has been restored.
  • Approved study permits are mailed to the Canadian mailing address that you provided in the application form.
  • A valid study permit is required if you are in Canada and taking some online courses. Too many online courses or terms completed outside of Canada could impactpost-graduation work permiteligibility or length.
  • Sunless you've been accepted into further education in Canada.If the expiry date on the study permit is less than 90 days after you complete your studies, the study permit expires on that date.
  • You can extend your study permit to remain in Canada for 90 days after you complete your last term. This would allow youto apply for thepost-graduation work permit,if eligible.It will also give you more timeto extend your study permit again if you're accepted into further education.If there's going to be a term or more between the end of your current program and start of your next, please see ourworking in Canada pagefor information on working in between programs.

Joint Degree and Double Degree Programs

As of November 8, 2024, post-secondary study permit holders must be enrolled at the DLI that is named on their permit and remain enrolled there until they complete their studies.

If you are taking an academic program that is jointly offered by more than 1 post-secondary DLI in Canada and results in a credential being issued from each DLI upon program completion,. For example, in a double degree program in which you are required to attend 2 DLIs, you would need to apply for and receive two study permits. These permits can be held simultaneously while completing the double degree program. Each DLI would have to issue an offer of admission and provide ain this scenario.

If you are taking an academic program that is jointly offered by more than 1 post-secondary DLI in Canada but results in a single credential,. The primary DLI would be the one that issues your credential at the end of the joint program.

Looking for a secure address to send your permit(s) to?

You can use the International Experience Centre (IEC) as an alternative secure mailing address. We recommend this if you plan to move from your current residential address within six months following your application submission or if you have issues receiving mail at your current address.

Complete this webform to notify IEC staff that you plan to have permit(s) mailed to us.

By using the IEC's mailing address in your application, you automatically consent to allowing IEC staff to open any mail received on your behalf.

Please note that the IEC is not responsible for any lost mail.

Enter your name as it will appear on your documents.
Enter your University of ݮƵ student identification number.

If your spouse/common-law partner or dependent children (under the age of 22) are included in your in-Canada application, please provide their full names and birthdates here.

 

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.