Canada's immigration authority, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has published detailed guidance on how long international students may remain in the country while holding a study permit, and what steps they must take when their studies come to an end.
Study Permit Validity: Programme Duration Plus 90 Days
According to the IRCC, a study permit is typically valid for the full duration of a student's programme plus an additional 90 days. That 90-day window is intended to give students enough time to either make arrangements to leave Canada or apply to extend their stay.
Students whose study permits are set to expire before they complete their courses must apply for an extension before the permit runs out. Those who fail to do this will be required to stop studying immediately and leave the country. IRCC made clear that there is no automatic grace period in this situation.
Early Completion: Permit Invalid 90 Days After Programme Ends
For students who complete their studies ahead of schedule, the rules work differently. The study permit does not remain valid until the date printed on the document. Instead, it becomes invalid 90 days after the student officially finishes their programme, regardless of what the permit itself says.
The date of completion is determined by when the school first formally notifies the student, whether through a completion letter, an official transcript, or by issuing a degree or diploma. Students must be able to provide proof of that notification date. Where no such proof exists, IRCC will use the earliest issue date shown on any official document received from the institution, and may contact the school directly to verify it.
IRCC also noted that students taking prerequisite courses face separate conditions, which are addressed in the broader guidance on the official Canada study permit page.
Related Work Permit Rules for Foreigners
In a related story, Legit.ng reported that Canada had named 15 categories of people who can get an open work permit without a job offer. Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Canada had listed 11 categories of foreigners eligible to get work permits at the border.
According to the official IRCC, while applying for a work permit before travel is the recommended route, eligible individuals and their accompanying family members may apply upon arrival at the border. To qualify, applicants must be from a visa-exempt country or territory, or otherwise qualify as visa-exempt travellers, such as lawful permanent residents of the United States.
