About study permit extensions

If you're planning to study in Canada past your study permit's expiry date, you must extend it before it expires.

Immigration updates

As of Jan 22, 2024, study permit applications outside Canada require a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from the province of British Columbia. Some students are exempt from the PAL.

Find out how to get a PAL, if you need one, and Letter of Admission for your study permit application.

Plan ahead if your documents expire soon and you have travel plans. You will need to get a PAL if you apply for a study permit from outside Canada. 

As of January 1, 2024, the minimum cost-of-living financial requirement has increased from $10,000 to $20,635 for 2024. The cost-of-living amount will be adjusted each year based on Statistics Canada’s low-income cut-off.

As of November 8, 2024, students must apply and be approved for a new study permit before changing educational institutions (DLIs). You do not need to update your study permit if you change programs at UBC. Review the Nov 15, 2024, news release.

Get timely updates on immigration, work eligibility, and health insurance for international students.

When should I apply?

Current students inside Canada

It's recommended that you apply up to 6 months before your current study permit expires, ideally at least 3 to 4 months before your current study permit expires. Check processing times.

If you need to apply more than 6 months in advance for personal reasons, such as upcoming travel plans, contact International Student Advising for support.

To maintain status in Canada, you must submit your application before 11:59 pm Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), not local time, on the day your study permit expires, or change or extend your status within 90 days after your letter of completion becomes available if you’ve finished your program—whichever comes first.

Important: you can only extend your study permit if you are physically inside Canada.

New students inside Canada

Some students might be able to apply for their first study permit through the inside Canada process. Select “inside Canada” under “Get specific instructions on how to apply” to see the list of who is eligible to apply through the inside Canada process. 

Some students eligible to apply inside Canada might also be exempt from the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). If you are in Canada and exempt from the PAL, you should apply for your first study permit application following our tutorial and Canvas application review course for extensions below as soon as you receive your letter of acceptance. 

How to extend your study permit

Before submitting your application

Sign up for the new Canvas application review course to go over required documents, learn how to fill out the form, avoid common mistakes, and be ready to submit your application.

Sign up now

If you will travel after applying or are outside of Canada

If your permit expires after IRCC receives your application

If you and your family members applied for your immigration documents (e.g. study permit, or work permit, visitor record, etc.) before they became invalid, then they expire after Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has received your application to extend your status. You will still be considered a temporary resident of Canada until a decision about your application is made. This is known as "maintained status" (formerly known as 'implied status').

Staying in Canada with "maintained status"

With maintained status, you may continue studying (and working, if eligible) under the same conditions as long as you remain in Canada. You must take action on your health insurance and request a temporary extension of your Medical Services Plan.

If you leave Canada with “maintained status” 

You cannot resume studies or work until you have received your new study permit.

See travelling outside Canada for more information and contact International Student Advising for support.

If your study permit expires and you haven't applied for an extension

If your permit expires before Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) receives your extension application, you will be “out of status”.

What to do if you are out of status

You must stop studying and working immediately. You are not authorized to attend classes or work while you are out of status.

You must apply for restoration within 90 days of having lost your status. Contact International Student Advising for support and to discuss your options. An International Student Advisor should review your application before you submit it.

International Student Guide

Find everything you need to know about life as an international student at UBC's Vancouver campus.

View the guide

If you have questions

You can connect with International Student Advising for questions related to immigration, health insurance, and life as an international student in Canada.

The information on this page may change

The immigration information on this page has been reviewed and endorsed by Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) or Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) in compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations. However, this is not a legal document and information may change without notice. Always refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the most up-to-date information.

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