Restoration of Student Status in Canada
If you lose your student status in Canada, you may be able to apply to restore it within 90 days. Restoration is not the same as extending a valid study permit: you must stop studying after losing status and cannot resume your studies until IRCC restores your status and issues the required new study permit.
What Is Restoration of Student Status?
Restoration is a process that may allow an eligible foreign national who has lost temporary resident status in Canada to regain that status without first leaving Canada.
For an international student who wants to continue studying, restoration normally involves two connected requests: restoration of temporary resident status as a student and issuance of a new study permit.
Restoration is different from a study permit extension . An extension is filed while the student still has valid status. Restoration applies after qualifying status has already been lost.
Applying for restoration does not put the student back on maintained status. A student who has already lost status cannot continue studying merely because a restoration application has been submitted.
For the broader study permit framework, see Study Permit Canada: Complete Guide .
When Can a Student Lose Status in Canada?
IRCC identifies several situations in which a student can lose status. The most common is allowing the study permit to expire before submitting a valid application for a new permit.
Status can also be affected when a student fails to comply with conditions imposed on their stay or makes a change that required prior authorization without obtaining that authorization.
| Situation | Potential consequence |
|---|---|
| Study permit expires before a valid extension application is submitted | Student status is lost. |
| Failure to comply with an applicable permit condition | Status and restoration eligibility may be affected. |
| Unauthorized change to a condition specified on the permit | Restoration may be required, depending on the circumstances. |
| Valid extension submitted before expiry | Different rules apply; the student may have maintained status rather than needing restoration. |
The precise reason status was lost matters because restoration is available only for specified failures and only where the other requirements of the Regulations are met.
Who Can Apply to Restore Student Status?
The central restoration provision is section 182 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
Under IRPR 182(1), a visitor, worker or student may apply within 90 days after losing temporary resident status where the loss resulted from failing to comply with specified conditions under section 185.
Restoration requires the officer to be satisfied that the applicant:
- applies within the applicable 90-day restoration period;
- meets the initial requirements for their stay;
- has not failed to comply with other conditions imposed on them; and
- is not the subject of a declaration under subsection 22.1(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
There is an additional restriction for students. Under IRPR 182(2), an officer must not restore the status of a student who is not in compliance with the conditions in subsection 220.1(1).
The 90-Day Restoration Deadline
Under IRPR 182, the ordinary restoration application must be made within 90 days after losing temporary resident status.
This is a legal eligibility period, not simply IRCC's recommended processing timeline.
A student should identify the exact date status was lost before calculating the restoration deadline. Waiting until the final days creates significant risk, particularly if documents, a new PAL/TAL or another required authorization must still be obtained.
IRCC's application guide also requires the applicant to explain the facts and circumstances that led to the loss of status.
Can You Study While Restoration Is Processing?
No. Once student status has been lost, the student cannot continue studying in Canada until IRCC has restored the status and the student has received the new study permit.
IRCC permits an eligible restoration applicant to remain in Canada while the application is being processed, but that does not restore authorization to study during processing.
Maintained status generally arises when a qualifying extension application is filed before the existing status expires. Restoration is sought after status has already been lost. The two situations should not be treated as interchangeable.
Student Compliance Requirements for Restoration
Student restoration has an additional regulatory restriction that does not apply in exactly the same way to every temporary resident category.
Under IRPR 220.1(1), a study permit holder in Canada is subject to conditions requiring the student to:
- enrol at the designated learning institution named in the study permit and remain enrolled there until completing their studies; and
- actively pursue their course or program of study.
IRPR 182(2) expressly provides that an officer must not restore the status of a student who is not in compliance with those conditions.
As a result, the student's history of enrolment, authorized leaves, academic activity and other relevant circumstances may be important in a restoration application.
Restoration should therefore not be viewed as an automatic remedy available whenever a permit has expired.
Do You Need a New PAL or TAL for Restoration?
Under IRCC's current guidance, a student applying to restore status needs a new PAL or TAL, even if the student intends to continue at the same DLI and at the same level of study.
This is an important difference from an ordinary extension filed while status remains valid. A student extending at the same DLI and same level may fall within the extension exemption, but IRCC specifically states that a restoration applicant needs a new PAL/TAL.
An applicant who independently falls within a current PAL/TAL exemption should provide evidence supporting that exemption instead. Current exemptions include, among others, students applying to qualifying degree-granting master's or doctoral programs at public DLIs.
| Application | Current PAL/TAL treatment |
|---|---|
| Extension — same DLI and same level | No new PAL/TAL required. |
| Restoration as a student | New PAL/TAL required, unless an independent exemption applies. |
| Degree-granting master's or doctoral program at a public DLI | PAL/TAL exemption applies under the current 2026 rules. |
A PAL/TAL must also be valid when the study permit application is submitted. For the 2026 cap year, IRCC states that a PAL/TAL issued during 2026 is generally valid until December 31, 2026 unless an earlier expiry date appears on it.
See PAL/TAL for Canada Study Permits for the full rules and exemptions.
Documents for Student Status Restoration
The exact checklist depends on the applicant's circumstances, but a restoration application generally needs to establish both eligibility for restoration and eligibility for the new study permit.
Relevant documents can include:
- a valid passport or travel document;
- the expired study permit and information showing when status was lost;
- a current letter of acceptance or enrolment document from the DLI;
- evidence of previous and current enrolment and academic activity;
- transcripts or other evidence relevant to compliance with study permit conditions;
- proof of sufficient financial resources;
- a new PAL/TAL where required, or evidence establishing an applicable exemption;
- the applicable Quebec authorization where required;
- a written explanation of the circumstances that caused the loss of status; and
- any other documents generated by the applicant's personalized IRCC checklist.
The explanation should accurately address the reason for non-compliance. It does not replace the statutory requirements for restoration.
See the Study Permit Documents Checklist for the broader supporting-document framework.
How to Apply to Restore Student Status
If you want to continue studying after losing student status, IRCC requires you to request restoration and apply for a new study permit.
- Determine the date on which you lost temporary resident status.
- Confirm that you are still within the 90-day restoration period.
- Confirm that you meet the restoration requirements, including the applicable student-compliance requirements.
- Obtain the current DLI documentation needed for the new study permit.
- Obtain a new PAL/TAL where required or prepare proof of an applicable exemption.
- Prepare proof of funds and the other supporting documents required for the new study permit.
- Complete the application for the new study permit and request restoration of temporary resident status as a student.
- Include an explanation of why restoration is required.
- Pay both the restoration and study permit fees.
- Submit the complete application within the 90-day period and do not resume studying until restoration and the new study permit are approved.
IRCC's current application instructions tell restoration applicants to select “Restore my status” in the applicable section of the application form.
Student Status Restoration Fee
As of September 2026, IRCC's official fee list shows a total fee of CAD $396.25 to restore status as a student and obtain a new study permit.
| Fee | Current amount |
|---|---|
| Restoration of temporary resident status | CAD $246.25 |
| New study permit | CAD $150 |
| Total | CAD $396.25 |
Biometrics may also be required depending on the applicant's circumstances and the validity of biometrics already provided.
Fees can change, so the amount should be confirmed against IRCC's fee list before payment.
See Study Permit Fees and Biometrics for the broader fee rules.
What About Family Members in Canada?
Restoration is individual. Restoring one student's status does not automatically restore the status of a spouse, common-law partner or dependent child.
IRCC states that accompanying family members who have also lost status may each need to apply separately for restoration.
Each family member must qualify for restoration in their own temporary resident category and pay the applicable restoration fee.
What Happens After You Apply?
You may remain in Canada while IRCC processes an eligible restoration application, but approval is not guaranteed.
During this period, a former student who lost status cannot resume studies merely because the restoration application is pending.
If IRCC approves the application, the student receives the new study permit setting out the conditions and validity of the restored stay. Temporary resident status is restored to the authorized date specified.
If the restoration application is refused, the applicant no longer has a restoration application that permits them to remain in Canada while it is being processed and should address their obligation to leave Canada.
Being within the 90-day period only allows an eligible person to request restoration. It does not create a right to approval. The applicant must satisfy the applicable regulatory requirements.
What If More Than 90 Days Have Passed?
Under the ordinary restoration regime in IRPR 182, the application must be made within 90 days after losing temporary resident status.
If more than 90 days have passed, the person generally cannot use the ordinary restoration process and may need to leave Canada before seeking a new authorization to study.
A specific temporary public policy can occasionally create different rules for a defined group, but such measures should never be assumed to apply. Eligibility, effective dates and deadlines must be checked against the particular public policy in force at the relevant time.
Restoration of Student Status FAQs
How long do I have to restore my student status?
Under the ordinary restoration rules in IRPR 182, you must apply within 90 days after losing temporary resident status.
Can I continue studying while waiting for restoration?
No. If you lost student status, IRCC states that you cannot study until your status has been restored and you have received the new study permit.
Can I remain in Canada while IRCC processes restoration?
IRCC states that an eligible applicant can remain in Canada while the restoration application is being processed. This does not authorize the person to continue studying during processing.
Is restoration the same as maintained status?
No. Maintained status generally concerns a qualifying application submitted before status expires. Restoration applies after status has already been lost.
Do I need a new study permit as well as restoration?
Yes, if you want to continue studying. IRCC instructs the applicant to request restoration of temporary resident status as a student and apply for a new study permit.
Do I need a new PAL or TAL for restoration?
Under IRCC's current guidance, a student applying for restoration needs a new PAL/TAL even when continuing at the same DLI and same level of study, unless the applicant independently qualifies for a PAL/TAL exemption.
How much does student restoration cost?
As of September 2026, the total IRCC fee for restoration as a student and a new study permit is CAD $396.25: $246.25 for restoration and $150 for the new study permit.
Is restoration guaranteed if I apply within 90 days?
No. The applicant must satisfy the restoration requirements and the requirements for the new study permit. IRPR 182 also prevents restoration of a student who is not in compliance with the conditions in subsection 220.1(1).
Restoration is time-sensitive and depends on the reason status was lost. Confirm the current IRCC instructions and applicable provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations before applying.