Extending your study permit
Do you need to extend your study permit? Take the following steps as soon as possible:
Don’t let your study permit expire
If this happens, you will no longer be allowed to study and will have to ask for a restoration of your status.
Remember to also renew the immigration documents for your family (partner and children).
Provide the right documents
If you do not change your study program, you must provide a Proof of Credits Completed/in Progress Letter and not the letter of admission required by the system.
Provide the correct address
The application to extend you study permit must be made from within Canada. On your application form, be sure to provide a complete address (apartment number, postal code, etc.) in Canada to which IRCC can send your study permit. If you're not sure you'll be there, or if you're planning to move, provide the address of someone reliable who can receive the permit for you.
1 - Check if you have a valid CAQ
You need a valid Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) that covers the duration of the extension you wish to obtain. We remind you that the CAQ acts as a provincial attestation letter (PAL).
You must renew your CAQ if you are in one of the following situations:
- Your current CAQ does not cover the remaining duration of your studies;
- You are changing the level of studies (e.g., from BBA to MSc);
- You are coming from another educational institution. However, if you hold a valid CAQ issued before December 6, 2024, covering the remainder of your studies, and you are not changing your level of studies, you do not need to renew your CAQ.
If you renew your CAQ, do it well in advance, so that you can apply for an extension of your study permit before the current one expires.
2 - Check that your biometric data is valid
Biometric data is valid for 10 years. Use the tool to find out if your biometric data is still valid. If not, you will have to provide them when you apply for an extension of your study permit.
3 - Apply online from Canada
For all the information related to the extension of your study permit, including costs and processing times, see the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada site.
Step 1: Log in or create your MyCIC account by clicking “Continue to Sign-In Partner” or “Continue to GCKey.”
Forgot your sign-in details? You can create a new account by using one of these two ways to sign in.
Step 2: Click on “Apply to come to Canada”.
Step 3: The system will take you through a series of questions.
- To the question “What would you like to do in Canada”, you must answer “Study”.
- To the question “How long are you planning to stay in Canada”, you must answer “Temporarily - more than 6 months”, even if you need less than 6 months to complete your study program.
- To the question“Do you have a provincial or territorial attestation letter or meet an exception from submitting a provincial or territorial attestation letter?”, you must answer “Yes, I have a provincial or territorial letter”. Note that your CAQ is also your provincial attestation letter.
Step 4: Once you get to the end of the questionnaire, upload the required documents. You will be asked for a designated learning institution number for HEC Montréal. This number is O19359011058.
- The IMM5709 form must be filled, but not signed.
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If you do not change your study program, you must provide a Proof of Credits Completed/in Progress Letter and not the letter of admission required by the system.
Step 5: Within 24 hours you will receive a confirmation of your request in the “My messages” section of your MyCIC account.
Provide the Registrar’s Office with this confirmation, either by uploading a copy to HEC en ligne or bringing it to the Zone Info.
Maintained status. Do not leave Canada.
Once you have applied for an extension, you could have, if need be, what is called maintained status. This would give you the possibility to stay and study in Canada until a decision is made.
Don’t leave Canada before receiving your new study permit. Doing so could cause problems at customs. For more information, consult the Government of Canada Help Centre.
4 - Send us you new study permit
Your study permit will be sent to you by mail. Send it to the Registrar’s Office: upload a copy to HEC en ligne or deliver it in person to Zone Info.
If you need a temporary resident visa (TRV) to enter Canada can then renew this document.