Don't let your study permit expire!

You must stop studying and working immediately as you have lost your status.

You may apply to restore your status as a student within 90 calendar days of losing your status. The restoration application can be complex, and approval is not guaranteed. You should meet an International Student Advisor (ISA) immediately to discuss your situation.

IRCC online application system uses Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), not local date and time, to determine if applicant’s status is maintained under IRPR183(5). To benefit from maintained status so that you can continue studying and or working while waiting for your new study permit in Canada, you must submit your study permit extension application before midnight UTC on the date of your current study permit expiry. Review IRCC website for details. 

As long as you apply before your permit expires, you will be considered to be on “maintained status” (previously called “implied status”), even if you do not receive your new permit before the expiry date. You have the right to continue working or studying under the same conditions as before, pending a determination of your application for renewal – as long as you remain in Canada.

We do not recommend you travel while you have an application being processed. You may want to consider rearranging your travel plans.

You need to ensure you have the right documents to re-enter Canada if you leave.

If you leave Canada while on "maintained status", when you return to Canada:

• If your study permit extension has been approved, you may enter as a student. You should ask a trusted friend to collect the new study permit for you in the mail and send you a digital copy, then mail the physical document to you. However, be cautious about shipping immigration documents internationally as packages may be lost during shipping. 
• If your study permit extension is still in process, you cannot resume studies or work until you have received your new study permit. You may also be questioned by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer and may be asked to provide financial support and proof of extension application submitted. 

Create or login to IRCC Secure Account through GCKey (recommended) or sign-in partner.

TIP: Do not apply through the "IRCC Portal".
If you forgot your GCKey password and/or username, follow steps to recover your username first then password. Or sign up for new GCkey and new IRCC secure account. You may link your applications to your new account.

On your IRCC Secure Account home page, look for “Apply to Come to Canada” and choose the option for “visit, study, work”. Answer the questionnaire to receive a reference code and the document checklist.

The Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) is not required for study permit extension at the same DLI and level of study as your current study permit. Follow the instructions below while answering the questionnaire:

• For the question "Do you have a provincial/territorial attestation letter or meet an exception from submitting a provincial or territorial attestation letter? (required)", select "Yes, I meet an exception from submitting a provincial or territorial attestation letter".

As of January 22, 2025, if you are changing level of study at the same DLI, you can keep studying with your current study permit as long as it's valid and you meet your study permit conditions. However, you will need to submit a new PAL or TAL if you need to extend your study permit. Review how to get a PAL if you need one on UM's website.

Complete application formApplication to Change Conditions, Extend my stay or Remain in Canada as a Student [IMM5709]. Ensure to review Guide 5552 carefully, then consider the following to help you understand questions on the form:

• UCI: can be found on your study permit & TRV.
• PERSONAL DETAILS:
  • Question 7: “From” date should be the date you received the first study permit, “To” date should be the date of your current study permit expiration date.
• COMING INTO CANADA:
  • Question 1: Place: should be the airport that you first landed in Canada.
  • Question 4: Study Permit document number: Black bolded number starting with one letter at top right of your study permit.
• DETAILS OF INTENTED STUDY IN CANADA: 
  • Question 2: write the UM’s Designated Learning Institution (DLI) number: O19091528512 (the first character is the capital letter ‘O’, not the digit/number zero ‘0’).
  • Question 3: added another 90 days to your program estimated completion date.
  • Question 4: provide cost of studies for one year.
  • Question 5: the amount should be equal to or more than the total cost in Question 4. This amount should also match the proof of funds provided with your application.
  • Question 6: only choose “yes” if you are applying for a Co-op Work Permit and have a co-op letter from your faculty.
• EDUCATION: As a current UM student, you should select 'Yes' to this question. Please indicate your highest level of post-secondary education, this could be either the details of your current in-progress UM degree, or a higher level of education you have completed elsewhere.
• EMPLOYMENT:
  • Question 1: current activity/occupation is “Student”.
  • If you need more space for previous activity/occupation, include details in a letter of explanation and submit it with your application, under “Client Information”.
• BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
  • Be truthful and provide honest answers.
  • Question 2: a) If you have studied or worked without a valid study permit or work permit, you need to list details and explanation. b) If you were ever refused any visa, or admission to Canada or any other country, you need to report it with briefly explanation. c) Choose “yes”, provide brief information or your previous IRCC applications such as study permit (extension) application(s).
• SIGNATURE: instruction can be found here.

We recommend all documentation submitted to IRCC be recently issued

• Enrollment Verification: provide enrollment verification for current and future term (if available). 
  • Extended Education Intensive Package students should contact your program coordinator for documents availabilities. 
  • ELC students should contact ELC office for availabilities. 
• Letter of Acceptance: if you are newly admitted to UM.
• Official Transcript: If you attended ICM, include ICM transcript and UM transcript.
• Program Progression Letter:
  • For graduate students, please contact your program supervisor or department head for details. 
  • For undergraduate students, please meet with an ISA to discuss how to get this document from your faculty. 
  • Note: The Program Progression Letter does not replace any other official UM document including official transcripts and enrolment verification. It is meant to provide additional information about your progress and anticipated completion.
• Proof of Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL or TAL) Exception: attach a letter of explanation written by you to note how one of the exceptions applies to your situation (e.g. applying for a study permit extension at the same DLI and level of study as your current study permit).
• Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (required if you are changing schools or level of study)
• Letter of Explanation (if needed): This is an optional document which can be uploaded in the ‘Client Information’ section of the document checklist. This document would be written by the applicant and would provide additional information or details that they would want to be considered by the IRCC officer reviewing their application.
• Proof of Financial Support: review Guide 5552 for details.
  • e.g. bank statements, proof of tuition fee paid, proof of fundings from UM (graduate students), letter from parent(s), proof of their financial resources and relationship certificate.
  • You should be prepared to show funds to support yourself for at least one full year tuition fees plus one year living expenses. Minimum funds needed to support yourself for study permit extension can be found on IRCC updated financial requirement.
  • We recommend that you provide as much proof of financial support as possible.
• Passport: Merge all the pages with photos, signature, stamps, visas into one PDF document.
• Digital Photo: Click “?” besides to find photo specifications.
• Immigration Medical Exam (IME): An IME is needed if you are planning to work in certain jobs in which public health must be protected or if you have been in a "designated" country for at least 6 months of the past 12 months. Review IRCC websites for more information of who needs an IME, who can do your IME.
  • If you had an IME within the 12 months prior to applying for your study permit extension, upload proof (ie, IME number) in your online application.
  • Note: A temporary public policy for IME until October 5, 2029, may exempt eligible in-Canada applicants from the IME requirement.
• Biometrics (if needed): Biometrics for visas, study permits and work permits are valid for 10 years. You can find out if your biometrics are still valid here. Follow steps below if you must give biometrics:
  1. Pay the additional $85 fee with your application
  2. Get an instruction letter from IRCC
  3. Book an appointment 
  4. Give your biometrics

Applying for or extending co-op work permit when extending study permit

If you are accepted to a UM-approved co-op program, you are eligible to apply for a co-op work permit while extending your study permit. Select “Yes, I wish to apply for a CoOP Work Permit” in the questionnaire. Answer “Yes” for Question 6 of “Details of intended study in Canada” on IMM5709. You will need to include the Co-op Letter that issued by your faculty with your application. 

Applying to extend family's (dependent minor child, spouse) permits when extending study permit

It may be possible! You should be prepared to provide additional documentation such as additional funds for your family members’ applications. 

Ensure to save the payment receipt and the “Acknowledge of receipt” page.