Study Permit Validity and the 90-Day Rule
A Canadian study permit does not always remain valid until the expiry date printed on the document. Under the current rules, a study permit can become invalid earlier, including 90 days after the student completes their studies or when the student is no longer enrolled at the designated learning institution named in the permit. Understanding these rules is important when planning an extension, graduation, a school change or the transition to another immigration status.
How Long Is a Canadian Study Permit Valid?
IRCC states that a study permit is usually issued for the length of the study program plus an additional 90 days. The extra time is intended to allow the student to prepare to leave Canada or apply to extend their stay.
However, the expiry date printed on the study permit is not always the date on which the permit legally becomes invalid.
The Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations contain specific rules that can cause a study permit to become invalid before the printed expiry date.
Do not look only at the date printed on the study permit. Program completion, enrolment at the DLI named in the permit and permit cancellation can also determine when a study permit becomes invalid.
For the complete study permit framework, see Study Permit Canada: Complete Guide .
When Does a Study Permit Become Invalid?
The central validity rule is found in subsection 222(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
Under the current regulation, a study permit becomes invalid on the first of the applicable events listed in IRPR 222.
| Event | When the permit becomes invalid |
|---|---|
| Completion of studies | 90 days after the day the permit holder completes their studies, subject to the regulatory exceptions. |
| No longer enrolled at the DLI named in the permit | On the day the permit holder is no longer enrolled there, unless this results from completing their studies. |
| Permit cancellation | On the day the study permit is cancelled under an applicable regulatory cancellation provision. |
| Permit expiry | On the expiry date if an earlier invalidating event has not already occurred. |
The phrase “first to occur” is important. A later expiry date printed on the document does not preserve the permit if another event under IRPR 222 has already caused it to become invalid.
What Is the Study Permit 90-Day Rule?
The 90-day rule is particularly important when a student completes a program before the expiry date printed on the study permit.
Under paragraph 222(1)(a), a study permit generally becomes invalid 90 days after the day on which the permit holder completes their studies.
IRCC similarly explains that if a student finishes their studies early, the study permit stops being valid 90 days after completion, regardless of a later date printed on the permit.
A study permit may show an expiry date in December, but if the student officially completes the program in June, the permit can become invalid 90 days after completion rather than remaining valid until December.
IRPR 222(2) contains exceptions to the 90-day completion rule for specified categories of persons and certain family members. The general rule should therefore be applied together with any relevant regulatory exception.
When Do the 90 Days Begin?
Determining the completion date is important because the 90-day period does not necessarily begin on the last day of classes or on the date of a graduation ceremony.
IRCC states that studies are officially completed on the date the school first notifies the student that the program has been completed.
This notification may be provided through a completion letter, transcript, degree or diploma.
Students should keep evidence showing when the school first provided notification of program completion. If proof is unavailable, IRCC may use the earliest issue date on the relevant completion document and may confirm the date with the school.
| Academic event | Does it necessarily start the 90 days? |
|---|---|
| Last day of class | Not necessarily. |
| Last examination | Not necessarily. |
| Final grades | They may be relevant depending on how the DLI communicates completion. |
| Completion letter or official transcript | These can establish when the school first notified the student of completion. |
| Convocation | A later graduation ceremony does not by itself postpone the completion date. |
What If You Finish Your Studies Early?
Finishing a program earlier than originally expected can shorten the effective validity of the study permit.
If the student completes studies before the permit's printed expiry date, the general rule is that the permit becomes invalid 90 days after completion.
The student should therefore identify the official completion date and determine what immigration status or authorization is needed next.
Depending on the circumstances, the next step may involve:
- applying for a post-graduation work permit if eligible;
- applying for another type of work permit;
- changing temporary resident status to visitor;
- obtaining the required authorization for further studies; or
- leaving Canada.
What If Your Study Permit Expires Before You Finish?
The 90-day rule following program completion does not extend a study permit that expires before the student finishes the program.
If the permit will expire before the student completes the program, the student must apply to extend their stay as a student if they intend to continue studying in Canada.
IRCC currently instructs students who want to keep studying at the school named in their permit to apply for an extension at least 30 days before the permit expires.
The passport should also be checked because IRCC cannot normally extend a study permit beyond the passport's expiry date.
The 90 days associated with program completion are not an additional 90 days of study authorization after an expired study permit. If the program continues beyond the permit's expiry date, the extension must be addressed before expiry.
See Study Permit Extension in Canada for the extension process.
How Does DLI Enrolment Affect Study Permit Validity?
Current IRPR 222 contains a separate invalidity rule connected directly to the designated learning institution named in the study permit.
Under paragraph 222(1)(a.1), a study permit becomes invalid on the day the permit holder is no longer enrolled at the DLI named in the permit, unless the loss of enrolment results from completing the student's studies.
This is particularly important for post-secondary students who withdraw from their institution or want to transfer to another DLI.
Under the current school-change framework, most post-secondary students changing DLIs need a new study permit naming the new institution and generally cannot begin at the new DLI until the new permit is approved, subject to limited exceptions.
See Changing Schools or DLI on a Study Permit for the current rules.
Can a Study Permit Be Cancelled Before It Expires?
Yes. Cancellation is another event expressly recognized by the current study permit validity rules.
Paragraph 222(1)(b) provides that a study permit becomes invalid on the day it is cancelled under section 222.7, 222.8 or 243.2, as applicable.
This means that a future expiry date printed on the study permit does not preserve its validity after a cancellation has taken effect.
Cancellation is separate from the ordinary 90-day completion rule. Where cancellation is relevant, the particular regulatory ground and the circumstances of the individual case need to be reviewed.
Can You Stay in Canada After Graduation?
Completing a study program does not necessarily mean that a graduate must leave Canada immediately. However, the graduate must continue to have a legal basis for remaining in Canada.
IRCC explains that the additional period after studies gives students time to prepare to leave Canada or take an appropriate step to extend their stay.
Depending on eligibility and timing, a graduate may:
- apply for a post-graduation work permit;
- apply for another type of work permit;
- apply to change status to visitor;
- obtain authorization for further studies; or
- leave Canada before authorized status ends.
The appropriate option depends on the person's immigration circumstances and future plans.
How Does the 90-Day Rule Affect a PGWP Application?
The study permit validity period and the deadline to apply for a post-graduation work permit are separate rules.
IRCC currently gives an eligible graduate up to 180 days after graduation to apply for a PGWP.
That does not mean the study permit remains valid for 180 days after graduation. Under the general rule in IRPR 222, the study permit can become invalid 90 days after completion.
The 90-day rule concerns study permit validity after completion. The current 180-day period concerns the deadline for an eligible graduate to apply for a PGWP. They are different legal and procedural rules.
If the study permit expires before the graduate applies for a PGWP, additional status considerations arise. IRCC currently provides a restoration route in certain circumstances where an eligible applicant applies within 90 days after the study permit expires and meets the applicable requirements.
When Should You Extend Your Study Permit?
If the student needs more time to complete the program, the extension should be dealt with before the existing study permit expires.
IRCC currently instructs a student who wants to continue studying at the school named in the study permit to apply for an extension at least 30 days before expiry.
An extension or new study permit may also be required when changing post-secondary DLIs or when changes to study permit conditions are necessary.
Students should monitor both their study permit expiry date and passport expiry date well before the end of the academic program.
Can You Continue Studying While an Extension Is Processing?
A student who properly applies to extend their study permit before the current permit expires may generally remain in Canada while IRCC processes the application.
IRCC currently states that if the student applies before expiry, the student can continue studying under the same conditions as the current study permit until IRCC makes a decision, as long as the student remains in Canada and the applicable requirements are met.
This continuation of temporary resident status under the Regulations is commonly referred to as maintained status.
Maintained status and restoration are not the same. Maintained status generally depends on making the appropriate application before the existing period of authorized stay ends.
What If Your Study Permit Has Already Expired?
A student can lose student status if the study permit expires before an appropriate extension application is made.
IRCC states that once student status is lost, the person cannot continue studying in Canada until status has been restored and a new study permit has been issued.
Restoration may be available if the person meets the applicable requirements and applies within the permitted restoration period. Restoration is not automatic.
A person who applies after losing status may generally remain in Canada while IRCC processes the restoration application, but the pending application does not by itself authorize the person to continue studying.
See Restoration of Student Status in Canada for the detailed restoration rules.
Does a Valid Study Permit Guarantee Re-entry to Canada?
No. A study permit is not a travel document.
A student travelling outside Canada may also need a valid temporary resident visa or electronic travel authorization, depending on the person's nationality and circumstances.
A valid study permit or a pending extension application does not itself guarantee that the person will be admitted to Canada when they return.
Students considering travel while an extension, PGWP or other immigration application is pending should review the applicable re-entry rules before leaving Canada.
Study Permit Validity FAQs
Is my study permit valid until the date printed on it?
Not necessarily. Under IRPR 222, a study permit becomes invalid on the first applicable event listed in the Regulations. This can occur before the printed expiry date.
Does my study permit expire 90 days after I graduate?
The general rule is that the study permit becomes invalid 90 days after the permit holder completes their studies, subject to regulatory exceptions and any earlier invalidating event.
When does IRCC consider my studies completed?
IRCC generally uses the date on which the school first notifies the student that the program has been completed. Evidence may include a completion letter, transcript, degree or diploma.
Does the 90-day period start at convocation?
Not necessarily. The official completion date can occur before the graduation or convocation ceremony.
Can I keep studying for 90 days after my permit expires?
No. The 90-day completion rule does not create 90 additional days of study authorization after an expired permit. If the program continues beyond the permit expiry date, the student needs to address the extension before expiry.
What happens if I am no longer enrolled at the DLI named in my permit?
Under the current IRPR 222 rule, a study permit can become invalid when the holder is no longer enrolled at the DLI named in the permit, unless this results from completing the student's studies.
Do I have 180 days of study permit validity after graduation?
No. The current 180-day period is the PGWP application window for eligible graduates. It is separate from the study permit validity rule.
Can I continue studying while my extension is being processed?
If the extension application was properly submitted before the existing permit expired, the student may generally continue studying under the same conditions while IRCC processes the application, provided the student remains in Canada and the applicable requirements are met.
Can I study while waiting for restoration?
Generally, no. IRCC states that a person who has lost student status cannot study until status has been restored and the new study permit has been issued.
Study permit validity depends on the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and the student's individual circumstances. Confirm the current rules and the wording of the actual study permit before making a status, study, work or travel decision.