Canada IRCC Releases Detailed Guidelines for Study Permit Extensions
Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has published comprehensive guidelines outlining how international students can extend their study permits before expiry. The official guidance clarifies that the permit's expiry date is located in the "additional information" section of the document and is typically calculated as the length of the student's programme plus an additional 90 days. This extra time is intended to allow students to either prepare to leave Canada or arrange to extend their stay.
Application Deadlines and Requirements for Same-School Extensions
Students who wish to continue studying at the same institution must submit their extension application no later than 30 days before their permit expires. Those who apply before expiry are permitted to continue studying under the existing conditions of their current permit while their application is being processed, provided they remain in Canada throughout the review period. The standard processing time for an extension application is 70 days.
Changing Schools: Additional Steps and Faster Processing
For students intending to switch schools, the guidelines require that a new study permit tied to the new Designated Learning Institution (DLI) be obtained by applying for an extension before completing studies at the current school. Students are not allowed to begin attending the new institution until the extended permit has been approved, except in specific circumstances. However, students changing to a new post-secondary DLI can access faster processing of 60 days by indicating the school change when completing the online application.
Fees and Required Documents
The cost to extend a study permit is $150. Students who allow their permit to lapse without applying for an extension must pay a restoration of status fee of $396.25, which covers both the restoration fee of $246.25 and the cost of a new study permit. Post-secondary students are required to upload either a letter of acceptance or a letter of enrolment from their DLI. As of 22 January 2025, students changing schools or levels of study must also submit a new Provincial Attestation Letter or Territorial Attestation Letter unless they qualify for an exemption.
Application Process and Important Notes
Applications must be submitted through an IRCC secure online account. The guidelines note that even students who used a different account when applying for their initial permit must switch to the secure account for extensions. Applicants will need a scanner or camera to digitise their documents, as well as a valid credit or debit card to cover the applicable fees. If a DLI fails to verify a student's letter within the required deadline, IRCC will return the application and refund the processing fee. Students in that situation are advised to confirm with their institution that validation will be completed within the required timeframe before resubmitting.
Related Updates on Canada Benefits
In a related story, a Canada-based Nigerian man listed some of the benefits that Canadians would be getting in July 2026 and what they entailed. He shared the estimated dates for the benefits and the possible amount people may get depending on their income. Many who came across the post shared their thoughts and observations about the benefits he listed in the video.
