Change your school or program in Canada.

When a new permit is required

Whether you need a new study permit comes down to one question: are you changing institutions? Since November 1, 2024, students can no longer switch DLIs through their IRCC online account, and since November 8, 2024, section R217.1 requires a new study permit to change DLIs. You need a new permit in these cases:

• Changing post-secondary DLI: moving to a different university, college, or post-secondary institution
• Moving from secondary to post-secondary: a secondary level study permit does not authorize post-secondary study
• Programs requiring prerequisite courses at a different DLI

In these cases, the process is essentially a new study permit application, filed inside Canada through your IRCC Secure Account. You will need a new Letter of Acceptance from your new DLI, a new Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL or TAL) unless you are exempt, and in most cases you must continue your studies at your current DLI until the new permit is approved. Narrow exceptions exist under R189.1, for example if your current DLI closed, discontinued your program, was placed on the suspension list, or lost its designated status. Students moving from the secondary level to the post-secondary level who applied before their current permit expired may also begin their new program while the application is processed. If the application is refused, they must stop studying immediately.

When you don’t need a new permit

If you’re changing your program of study within the same DLI at the same post-secondary level, your current study permit remains valid. You don’t need to apply for a new one, as long as you continue to meet your study permit conditions: remaining enrolled at your DLI, actively pursuing your studies, and complying with all conditions printed on your permit.

IRCC requires that you actively pursue your studies, which means making reasonable progress toward completing your program. Multiple program changes without a clear reason may be interpreted as failure to meet this condition and could affect future immigration applications, including study permit extensions and Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility. Any leave you take during the transition must be authorized by your DLI and must not exceed 150 days from the date it begins. An absence your institution has not formally authorized does not qualify, whatever its length, and you cannot work on or off campus during any leave. Beyond 150 days you are no longer considered to be actively pursuing your studies and must change status, leave Canada, or risk losing your student status.

In this case, what you do need to handle is:

• Notify your DLI of your program change so they can update their records and continue reporting your enrollment to IRCC
• Confirm your study permit conditions still allow the change (some permits include limits on field or institution)
• Maintain your full-time status if you plan to work: outside Quebec, part-time enrolment can still satisfy the condition to actively pursue your studies, but you are not authorized to work while studying part time
• Verify your new program preserves PGWP eligibility if you plan to apply after graduation (program length, level, and field of study all matter)
• Respond promptly to any IRCC verification email (sender ending in @cic.gc.ca) confirming you remain enrolled and actively studying
• Keep your documents in order in case IRCC requests proof of enrollment or active studies