Study Permits and Visas

Study Permit and Visa Information for Current Students 

Students are responsible for maintaining their immigration student status and applying to extend their study permit before it expires. It is also highly recommended that you maintain your visa. A study permit alone is not enough to return to Canada if you need to travel abroad. Failure to maintain your immigration documents can have a significant impact on your future immigration status in Canada. 

The information on this page is subject to change without any notice and is meant as a general guide for students. For the most up to date information please see the IRCC website. 

If you have any questions or concerns about your application, please make an appointment with RCIC or RISIA staff member at UNBC.  

Study Permit Conditions 

International Students in Canada must follow the conditions of their permit. Every student should review the IRCC website and understand their study permit requirements. 

Part-time vs Full-time studies 

Studying part-time is not a violation of your study permit conditions, but continuous full-time enrolment in all academic terms is required to meet the eligibility requirement to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). 

  • Students must be enrolled full-time to work on or off campus during their studies.
  • If you take part-time courses it can impact on your ability to work even during designated breaks.

For more information, please see Working in Canada. 

Authorized Leave 

International students may take an authorized leave from studies for no longer than 150 days. Authorized leaves are leaves from your study program authorized by your institution for:  

  • medical reasons 
  • pregnancy 
  • family emergency 
  • death or serious illness of a family member 
  • any other type of leave your school authorizes 

Note: Authorized leaves can impact your ability to work during breaks. You must inform UNBC if you require leave.  

Extending Your Study Permit

If your study permit expires before you complete your degree, you will have to apply to extend your permit. We recommend starting the process of extending 4-6 months in advance and keep in mind IRCC processing times. 

Important Notes:  

  • Request a Manual International Confirmation of Enrolment from UNBC to support your application. Before requesting confirmation of enrolment please ensure that you have up-to-date registration. If possible, ensure that you have registration in a future semester.
  • UNBC's Designated Learning Institution Number (DLI) is: O19283889692.
    • Use this number when applying for your study permit, restoring your status, or extending your studies in Canada.
  • Students continuing in the same program are exempt from requiring a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL).
    • If you are transferring to UNBC from another school or starting a new degree you may need to ask UNBC for a PAL. See the IRCC website for additional information about PALs. 

After receiving your new study permit you must:  

  • Update the International Office with your new expiration date.  
  • If required, apply for a new temporary resident visa, you must apply to extend your TRV separately after you have received your new study permit. 

How to Extend Your Study Permit  

To extend your study permit, you must submit your application before your current permit expires. It is very important that you are aware of your study permit's expiry date. We suggest you start the renewal process 6 months in advance of the expiration date to ensure you have lots of time for the process.  

Before you apply:  

  1. Review the IRCC website for details on the extension process 
  1. Create an account on the IRCC website.
  2. In your IRCC Secure Account:
  • Complete the questionnaire
  • Generate an application checklist 

Gather required documents - Documents should be issued within 30 days of submission to be considered up to date. See the IRCC website for detailed requirements.

  • Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) OR Proof of Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) Exemption. Please see below for more information about requesting a PAL or how to provide proof of PAL exemption.   
  • Passport 
  • Digital Photo 

Additional Documents (if applicable):  

  • Letter of Explanation – A letter of explanation may include: the purpose of your application, any issues or concerns you would like to address, additional information that you were unable to include in your application and supporting documentation to support the information provided in the letter.  
  • Medical Exam 
  • Family Information  
  • Application for Temporary Residence (IMM5257B) - Most students will not require this form. Only necessary if you answer “Yes” to questions 3, 4, 5, or 6 in the “Background Information” section of form IMM5709. If unsure, contact ie@unbc.ca.
  • Biometrics 

Helpful Links:

After you apply:  

If there was an error or missing documentation, an immigration officer may notify you through the IRCC portal. You must respond by the deadline provided.

Check your IRCC portal and email regularly (including your spam folder). Failure to respond may result in:

  • Application rejection
  • Loss of maintained status
  • Need for restoration

Extending your Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) 

If your country of citizenship is from a visa-required country you will need a TRV to enter Canada. While you do not need to have a valid TRV while in Canada we recommend that students maintain their TRV incase they have unexpected travel outside of Canada.  

  • You can apply for a TRV after you have extended your study permit or applied for a PGWP.
  • Please review processing times and apply for a TRV with plenty of time before you travel.  

Maintained Status  

If your study permit expires after you have submitted an application for extension and before you receive a decision you are under maintained status.

  • You can continue studying and working while your application is processed.
  • If you leave Canada during this time, you cannot resume studying or working upon return until the new permit is approved.
  • If you apply after your permit expires, you lose status and enter restoration. You must stop studying and working immediately.

Restoration of Status 

If you do not apply to extend your study permit before your current permit expires, you have 90 days to apply for restoration. 

  • You may remain in Canada while waiting for a decision on your application.
  • You cannot study or work until you have received your new permit.
  • Contact ie@unbc.ca immediately and we can help support your restoration application.

Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) 

You may need a PAL if you are:

  • Applying for an initial study permit or if you are applying from outside of Canada.
  • If you are changing schools or changing your level of study and do not meet any of the other exemption criteria. 

Please see the IRCC website for more information about who doesn’t need a PAL.  

If you're continuing in the same program at UNBC, you do not need a PAL. You will be asked to provide proof of PAL exemption. You must write a letter explaining to the IRCC the exempt that you meet. Please see the template wording below.  When writing a letter you must adjust the wording to meet your specific situation and exemption.  

PAL Exemption Template

Transferring to UNBC  

If are transferring to UNBC from another institution:

  • You must apply for a study permit extension.
  • You will need to a request a PAL from UNBC to be included with your application.  

If you have no DLI or level of study/program listed on your current permit, still need to extend your permit if changing institutions or program levels. 

Please see the IRCC website for more information about changing your school or program.