Renewing the study permit

We are currently updating this page. Please refer to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website for up to date procedures.

Students who are already in Canada can normally renew their study permit either online or by mail. If your permit has already expired, click here as you need restoration of status.

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.

Please consult the instruction guide IMM5552

1- Online renewal (we strongly suggest you use this method)

Visit the Immigration Canada web site and follow the steps to make your renewal online. Before you begin, make sure you have all the required documents on hand. Then create your "MyCIC" account (also known as epass) and follow all the steps for the renewal application.

Online applications: The processing time for the renewal of a study permit is around 30 working days (please consult Immigration Canada website for the delays)

2- Renewal by (registered) mail

Citizenship and Immigration Canada – Study Permits Case Processing Centre 6212-55th Avenue – Unit 101 Vegreville, Alberta T9C 1X5

Mail applications: Applications are processed at the Immigration Canada Case Processing Centre in Vegreville, Alberta. You should account for a processing time of about 50 working days (normal processing time) before you receive your new study permit.

If your study permit expires during the renewal period, we recommend that you do not leave Canada; your renewal application may be cancelled and not reimbursed.

You will find the application kit to change conditions or extend your stay in Canada (application form, explanatory kit, fee payment receipt application and many other details) at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/extend-student.asp. 

Your duly completed application form (IMM5709) must include the following documents:

• Document checklist (IMM5555)
• A legible photocopy of the identity pages of your passport containing the passport number, issue date and expiry date, your name and birth date, the stamp from Canadian authorities of your last entry in Canada and any other marked page;
• A photocopy of your current study permit
• A photocopy of your renewed CAQ
• Attestation of enrolment at the School delivered by the Registrar’s Office
• Official transcript
• Photocopy of your admission letter
• Proof of financial capacity (letter of third party financial support or photocopy of your bank account transactions for the last three months accompanied by a bank letter certifying ownership of the account, scholarship or bursary attestation)
• Receipt for the amount of $125 CDN confirming payment of the application processing fees

You can check the current processing time at the time of your application.

Payment

1. With a receipt: order the receipt for the payment as soon as possible

2. By credit card: you could also pay online 

3- Our best advices

Please note that you can apply online for the renewal of your study permit and your off-campus work permit at the same time. If you decide to send both your applications by mail in the same envelope, you must send the envelope to Unit 202. For those who prefer to send the application by regular mail, you must send both application (off-campus and study permit) at the same time, in the same enveloppe at Office 202 at the address mentionned above. Make sure you always send your documents by secured mail. 

Tips to avoid disappointments:

• The study permit must cover for the entire duration of your studies. It is renewable from Canada if required
• The validity of your study permit cannot exceed the validity of your CAQ or passport
• How to apply depends on your country of residence, not your country of citizenship
• Make sure your file is COMPLETE before you send it as you cannot send documents to complete it afterwards
• No documents sent to CIC will be returned to the applicant
• Some students also need to obtain a temporary resident visa (TRV) ans we strongly encourage you to request a multiple entry visa.

IMPORTANT:

- Students should never try to enter Canada as visitors when you goal is to study here. You can be returned to your country on the same day. Please note that it is impossible for a visitor (or tourist) to request a study permit from Canada, no matter what your nationality is. 

- Some student could be exempted from this