Renewing the Québec Certificate of Acceptance (CAQ)

Here is all the information you need in order to renew your CAQ.

Description

Your Québec Certificate of Acceptance (CAQ) and your study permit are valid only for a given period, a given program. You therefore need to make sure you renew them if your stay for education purposes needs to be extended or even if you only change study cycles. It is recommended that you start the procedures three months before your papers expire to avoid any complications.

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION: In order to be valid for a given term, your papers must cover the full term from first to last dates.For instance, a student whose CAQ and/or study permit expires in March must start proceedings early enough so that the new permit covers the entire Winter semester, i.e. from early January through early May. Students whose papers expire mid-term must begin renewal proceedings before the start of that term to ensure that the new permit covers the entire term! If not, the Registrar’s Office may cancel the student’s enrolment in the courses for that term.

NOTE: If you intend to travel to your country during the school holidays, plan on renewing your CAQ and study permits long before you leave Canada. Don’t forget that, in order to study in Québec, you need to be in good standing both with the Québec and Canadian governments.

Important: If you have taken a semester off or been studying part-time, you must give justification for not being full time in your requests for the CAQ and the study permit.

Procedure

CAQ and study permit applications can be made online or by mail.  Online applications are reccomended for faster processing and for increased security. 

Click on the following link for online applications: http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/electronic-services/caq-electronic/index.html

Click on the following link for mail applications: http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrate-settle/students/extending-stay/renewing-authorizations/index.html

Your CAQ application must include the following documents:

• The CAQ application form: http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/publications/en/form/DCA-etudes-dynamique-en.pdf
• A passport-sized photo;
• A  photocopy of the identity pages of your passport containing your personal information, photo and the passport expiry date;
• A photocopy of your most recent CAQ and study permit;
• The original attestation of enrolment from the School issued by the Registrar’s Office;
• An original transcript for the entire validity period of the preceding CAQ (Registrar’s information counter);
• Proof of financial capacity applicable to your situation: proof of funds transfer or any other item indicating your assets and other sources of income; authorization for funds transfer from the currency exchange control office of your country of origin or residence (if your country limits fund transfers); official confirmation of the award of scholarships or bursaries indicating monthly and annual amounts to be received; pay slips; income tax return; bank letter(s) indicating current balance; statement for the last three months with current balance; up-to-date bank book and proof of ownership of the book.
  
• Fees and methods of payment: 

All applications must include a fee of $107 CAD, which can be paid by bank draft, certified cheque from a Canadian bank payable to the “Ministre des Finances du Québec” or by credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express). Form available at http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/forms/search-title/credit-card.html

Important! If you studied part time, ceased studying for a semester, did an internship credited or not, you must also send the following documents:

•  A letter, dated and signed by yourself, stating why studying full time was not your principal activity during the validity of your CAQ.
• The documents prooving why studying full time was not your principal activity (ex: plane ticket, passport stamp, internship contract, medical note, etc).
•  The proof that you maintained a medical and hospitalisation insurance during the period you were not studying (proof from Québec or abroad). the proof sent can be a copy of the contract from the employer stating that you will be covered by their insurance, a copy of your valid RAMQ card, other insurance proofs.  

Send the documents to: Ministère des Relations avec les citoyens et de l'Immigration Service aux étudiants étrangers 285, rue Notre-Dame Ouest, rez-de-chaussée, local G-15 Montréal (Québec) H2Y 1T8 Telephone: 514 864-9191

***YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL YOU GET YOUR FINAL GRADES IN ORDER TO SEND YOUR RENEWAL APPLICATIONS. IMMIGRATION QUÉBEC AND IMMIGRATION CANADA ONLY WANT TO VALIDATE YOUR FULL-TIME STUDENT STATUS WITH YOUR TRANSCRIPT***.