Below you will find some useful information on immigration related issues such as renewing your study permit, applying for a study permit and information for accompanying family members.

Extending your study permit

To extend your study permit (SP), you will need to apply three months before your current study permit expires. It is recommended that you do this online on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website, as the paper based version will take longer. Your SP will cost $125.

For requirements and more information, please click here.

Study Permit Expired

If you failed to extend your study permit before it expired, you have 90 days from the expiry date within which you can restore your status. It will cost you an additional $200 over the cost of your study permit. Please see "Restoring your status". If you fail to renew your study permit within 90 days of its expiry you will have no status in Canada, and could be subject to a removal order by Canada Immigration. Please be sure to check the dates on your documents and apply for extensions within adequate time

Applying for an Off-Campus Work Permit

You can apply for an Off-Campus Work Permit (OCWP) once you have completed at least 6 months of studies at the post-secondary level.  You will need to be in good academic standing, i.e. eligible to continue in order to be eligible for an OCWP. OCWP will cost $150. Please note that exchange students are not eligible for OCWP. To find out more about OCWP, please click here.

If you are registered in Co-op program, you will need to apply for a Co-op work permit which is different from OCWP. The cost is free. Please note you can only use this for your co-op work terms i.e. you cannot use your Co-op work permit to work off-campus during your study terms. Click here for more information.

Post-Graduation Work Permit

Should you wish to stay or work in Canada after completing your studies, you will need to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) given that you meet the requirements. You must have a valid study permit and apply within 90 days of completing your degree requirements. Visit for more information.

Accompanying Family Members

Your spouse or common-law partner is also eligible for a work permit. Follow this link to find out more.

If you have children under the age of 18 coming with you to Canada, they can attend school in Canada without a study permit. However, if your children are OUTSIDE of Canada, but would like to come and study, they will need a study permit. For more details, click here.