Study Permits

You must have a study permit if your program of study is longer than 6 months.

You do not need a study permit if your program or course:

• will be less than 6 months, and
• will end before your initial immigration status expires/ends (such as your work permit, 6 month visitor status, visitor record, stamp in passport, etc).

If you have extended or changed your status since arriving in Canada, contact International Student Advising for support.

Some students are also study permit exempt.

Some workers might be exempt from a study permit under a temporary policy ending on June 27, 2026. 

Study permits become automatically invalid in one of three ways, whichever comes first:

• The expiry date on the study permit, OR
• 90 days after written confirmation of program completion first becomes available, OR
• As of Nov 8, 2024, the day you are no longer enrolled at the Designated Learning Institution that is named on your study permit (other than as a result of completing your studies).

If you do not submit an application to extend your study permit before it becomes invalid, you must stop studying and working immediately.

If you change institutions, you must apply for a study permit extension for your new institution and most students need to receive the new study permit before beginning studies at your new institution.

International students in Canada on a study permit are required to actively pursue studies.

Certain students are exempt from this requirement such as exchange students and refugee claimants.

These enrolment statuses are considered ‘actively pursuing studies’:

• Full-time studies
• Part-time studies
• Scheduled breaks
• The following select gaps in studies that are up to a maximum length of 150 days:
  • An authorized leave from UBC (only for programs that have an approved leave of absence policy at UBC)
  • A switch in programs (whether you completed the program or not)
  • A pause in studies due to a strike or permanent closure

Note: UBC is required to report to IRCC on your enrolment status twice a year based on UBC’s definitions for immigration purposes. 

IRCC also requires you to remain enrolled and make reasonable progress towards the completion of your studies. You are welcome to change your majors, programs or in some cases institutions during your time in Canada. However, an officer may request additional information to ensure your intention to be in Canada is to study.

If you applied for your study permit with a letter of acceptance for UBC, you can change programs at UBC without taking further action steps. 

If you change institutions, you must apply for a study permit extension for your new institution and most students need to receive the new study permit before beginning studies at your new institution.

If you reside in India, Nepal, or Bhutan when you apply for an initial study permit, the instructions for the visa offices in India (pdf) currently list an unconditional letter of acceptance as a requirement when applying for a study permit. In December 2022, the Canadian High Commission in India announced on Twitter that you can use a conditional letter of acceptance. We have confirmed that conditional letters can be used for both Student Direct Stream and regular study permit applications. The visa office instructions are in the process of being updated.

In BC, students under 19 are considered minor children, and when you apply for a study permit you might need to have a custodian, who is a responsible adult (Canadian citizen or permanent resident) who will support you.

• If you are under 17: you must have a custodian in order to study in Canada.
• If you are 17 or 18: an immigration officer will decide whether or not you need a custodian; if you are not required to show proof of a custodian when you apply, you can apply without it; if you need it, an officer will notify you after you apply. For more information, visit IRCC’s details about minors.

If you do require a custodian:

• We recommend arranging with a close friend or relative in Canada to act as your custodian.
• If you do not have a close friend or relative in Canada, you can also consider a private company to provide this service.
  • First Choice International is a company that provides custodianship services in the Greater Vancouver Area. Note: First Choice International is not affiliated with UBC in any way.

You should apply for a study permit extension as soon as you receive your letter of acceptance from UBC. If you are in Canada, you must apply before your study permit becomes invalid.

Your study permit becomes invalid in one of three ways, whichever comes first:

• 90 days after receiving written confirmation of your high school completion (even if your study permit has not expired)
• On your study permit’s expiry date
• As of Nov 8, 2024, the day you are no longer enrolled at the Designated Learning Institution (DLI) that is named on your study permit (other than as a result of completing your studies)

As of Nov 8, 2024, you must be enrolled at the DLI named on your study permit. If you change institutions, you must apply to extend your study permit with UBC’s letter of acceptance and receive your new study permit before you can begin studying at UBC.

On Dec 11, 2024, IRCC announced a temporary policy allowing students to begin studies in Winter Term 2 (Jan-Apr, 2025) while your study permit extension is being processed if:

• You have been accepted to a DLI for the Winter/Spring 2025 semester and
• You have applied for a study permit extension and
• Your study permit remains valid and you don’t have a DLI name printed on it and
• You meet all your existing study permit conditions.

You can only apply for a study permit extension when you are in Canada. If you have travel plans, you have a few options: 

• Apply for an extension before you leave Canada using a trusted friend’s Canadian address and return before your study permit becomes invalid and your Temporary Resident Visa expires (if applicable). If your study permit is issued while you are away, ask your friend to send a digital copy and to mail the original study permit to you so that you can return with it.
• If you have already left, you may come back to Canada and extend your study permit before your study permit becomes invalid and Temporary Resident Visa expires (if applicable).
• If you will not be returning to Canada before your study permit becomes invalid or expires, apply for a study permit from outside of Canada as soon as possible.

Learn about the differences between applying inside or outside Canada and be sure to review our travelling to Canada guide.

Contact International Student Advising for support. 

You can apply for an initial study permit directly at an international airport in Canada upon arrival or at most major US/Canada border-crossings.

As of Jan 22, 2024, new study permit applications, including applications at the border, require a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from the province of British Columbia.

If you are not exempt from the PAL, contact International Student Advising for support. To apply at the border/airport on arrival, follow the same steps as outlined in the study permit tutorial and print all documents to bring with you. Note the following:

• You can pay the application fee ($150 CAD) directly at the border by cash, debit, or credit card.
• If your spouse or common-law partner will accompany you, bring along documentation of your relationship, such as a marriage certificate or common-law partnership declaration.
• If you’re under 17 years old and come to Canada without a parent or legal guardian, you must find a custodian. If you are 17 or 18 the officer will determine if you will require a custodian. For certainty, consider applying online in advance of arrival. Generally, custodianship is not required if you travel with a parent. Refer to the section “If you are under 19 years old” for more information.