This post is the second part of a series about responsibilities of international students in Canada. For the first part, please check here.
First of all, remember that a visa is a travel document attached to a page of your passport, while a study permit is a separate document that reflects your legal status in Canada. As an international student in Canada, you should have both the visa in your passport and a study permit (in most cases) when travelling outside of the country.
Not all international students require a study permit. Generally, students who are minors and not in post-secondary or those enrolled in programs shorter than six months do not need a study permit.
Q: What do I bring with me if I need to travel in/out of Canada during my studies?
A: You will need to present both your valid visa and study permit when returning to Canada. The visa alone does not allow you to re-enter the country.
Q: What if my visa/eTA has expired? Can I return to Canada?
A: If you hold a valid study/work permit and have only traveled to the US or St-Pierre and Miquelon, you may be allowed to return to Canada. It is strongly recommended not to travel outside of Canada if your visa is near expiration date.
Depending on the student and the type of programs that they are enrolled in, different conditions may be listed on the study permit. They could include, but not limited to:
- The level or the educational institution of studies
- Whether you are allowed to work on or off campus
- Whether you need to report for medical procedures
- Whether you are allowed to travel within Canada
- The duration of stay in Canada
It is essential to inform IRCC if you changed to a different Designated Learning Institution (DLI). At the time of this post, you can notify IRCC by submitting a webform. Sometimes, the location of study may be specified on the study permit. so it is very important to check all the conditions when switching programs or schools.
IRCC requests all DLIs to report their student enrolment status at least once a year. Failing to inform IRCC when you change DLIs could result in being reported as not enrolled, even if you are actively studying and fulfilling your obligations.
Q: I was not required to do a medical exam for my study permit, but now I have changed to a new program. Do I need to do one now?
A: It depends on the program. If your new program is related to public health, you may be required to undergo an immigration medical exam (IME) to avoid violating the conditions of your study permit. There is a temporary public policy that exempts certain people from the IME if they have done it within the past five years. This public policy is ending soon on October 6, 2024.
Valid Study Permit
Aside from the expiry date indicated on your study permit, for most international students, the study permit becomes invalid 90 days after you complete your study.
Q: My study permit is valid until April 2025 and I just completed my study in June 2024. Does that mean I have legal status as a student until April 2025?
A: No. Your study permit expires 90 days after you complete your study. Therefore, your study permit will expire around September 2024.
If you plan to apply for a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP), you must maintain legal status in Canada. While you can apply for a PGWP within 180 days of receiving your final grades or confirmation of graduation, your study permit expires 90 days after you complete your studies. If you do not change your status to a visitor, you will need to first restore your status as a student before applying for the PGWP
Study Permit Extension
If you need more time to complete your study, you should apply to extend your study permit before it expires. Technically, you can submit the application as late as one day before the expiry date (based on UTC, not your local time). However, IRCC recommends applying 30 days before the expiry date. This is because if your application is returned as incomplete, it would be considered as if it never existed. In that case, if your study permit has already expired, you would find yourself without legal status in Canada.
It is highly advisable to set a reminder on your digital devices for the expiry date of your study permit, with a notification at least 30 days prior.
Working While Studying
- On-Campus
An international student enrolled full-time can work on campus without a work permit at the institution that they are enrolled. There is no legal restriction on the number of hours for on-campus work.
- Off-Campus
The Regulation stipulates that international students may work off campus for a maximum of 20 hours per week during their regular academic sessions, but full-time during scheduled breaks (e.g. summer/winter holidays), and during the transition period to the PGWP (if applicable).
In recent years, IRCC had public policies allowing students to work more than 20 hours/week. As of the time of this post, the 20-hour weekly limit remains in place.
- Co-op or Internship Program
When work experience is an essential and integral component of the program of study, the students may be eligible to apply for a work permit under a co-op or internship program. A confirmation letter from the DLI is required. Consult your institution’s advisors to determine if a co-op or internship is part of your study.
In some cases, international students may need a work permit for other reasons, though these situations are less common and will not be covered in this post.
Studying in Canada is not only a great experience for personal growth and development, but it also opens many doors. Taking immigration rules seriously and complying with them allows you to better enjoy life in Canada more fully. MacLanders serves Vancouver Island and beyond, for all your Canadian immigration-related questions and needs.
Discaimer:
The information provided and writer's own opinions on this blog do not, and are not intended to, constitute legal advice. You should not rely on any of the information contained here when determining whether and how to apply to a given program.
Canadian immigration law is constantly changing, and the information here may be dated. Please contact the author if you have any questions.
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本博客提供的信息和作者本人观点不构成法律意见。在您决定是否及如何申请某个加拿大移民法规相关项目时，您不应该单纯依赖此博客包含的任何信息。
加拿大移民政策常变。作者尽力保持博客内容更新，但不保证此处的信息在您看到此博客条目时是否过时。如果您有任何问题建议，请联系作者。
