According to IRCC, as a study permit holder, there are a number of conditions you need to meet. If you don’t meet these conditions, you may lose your student status and study permit. You may also have to leave Canada.

Important reminder: post-graduation work permit eligibility requirements are different from the study permit conditions.

As a study permit holder, you must:

  • be enrolled at a designated learning institution (DLI)
  • show you’re actively pursuing your studies by:
    • being enrolled full-time or part-time during each academic semester (excluding regularly scheduled breaks)
    • making progress towards completing your program’s courses, and
    • not taking authorized leaves longer than 150 days from your study program
  • tell IRCC any time you change post-secondary schools
  • end your studies if you no longer meet the requirements of being a student, and
  • leave Canada when your permit expires

You must also follow the other specific conditions listed on your study permit, which could include:

  • the level of studies you can attend
  • if you’re allowed to work as a student in Canada, including:
    • if you can work on or off campus, and
    • if you can complete a co-op work term or internship
  • if you need to report for medical procedures
  • if you’re allowed to travel within Canada, and
  • the date you must stop studying.

If your school loses its DLI status after you get your study permit, you can keep studying at that school until your permit expires. If you want to extend your study permit, though, you’ll need to enroll at a school with DLI status.

Enrollment at a DLI and Transfer from DLI number

You must be enrolled at the designated learning instiution (DLI) that you identified in your study permit application. If you have transferred to the University of Saskatchewan from another educational institution in Canada, you must inform IRCC of your transfer through your online account as soon as possible.

Failure to inform IRCC that you have changed institutions may have serious implications for your student status in Canada. Please see more information here. 

Actively pursue your studies

At minimum, you must be a part-time student as defined by your program of study. Your program of study course calendar will specify when you are expected to be registered in classes and when you are on a designated break.

You can change your program of study but frequent changes of your program of study may cause the refusal of a future study permit application if the processing immigration officer finds you are not meeting the requirement of reasonable progress toward the completion of your program.

IRCC allows a study permit holder to take an authorized leave of up to 150 days and be considered actively pursuing their studies. The leave must be authorized by the University.

Non-compliance

An immigration officer may request evidence of compliance with your study permit. If you receive a request, you must respond. If you receive a request and require assistance, please contact ISSAC.

Be aware of your eligibility to work on and off campus as working when you are ineligible is in non-compliance of your study permit.

Non-compliance of study permit conditions may negatively impact future applications for immigration documents.It also may result in enforcement action such as your removal from Canada.