A Canadian study permit expires on a date set at the time of grant — typically linked to the end date of the program plus a 90-day period. Students who continue studying past the expiry date of their study permit must apply for an extension before the permit expires. If the extension application is submitted before the permit expires, the student is in maintained status and can continue studying while IRCC processes the application. Since 22 January 2025, extensions that involve changing to a different designated learning institution (DLI) or a different level of study generally require a new Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL). This page explains the extension process, the PAL/TAL requirement, maintained status, and the restoration option if the permit has already expired.

For current information on study permit extensions, refer to the IRCC extend your study permit page.

• Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), s 183(5) — implied/maintained status for temporary residents who apply to extend before expiry
• IRPR, s 220.1 — the designation of learning institutions (DLIs) and the conditions on study permit holders to attend only a DLI
• Ministerial Instructions on intake management for study permits — the PAL/TAL requirement introduced in January 2025 applies to first-time permits and to extensions involving a change of DLI or level
• IRCC: Extend your study permit or restore your status — canada.ca/extend-study-permit
• IRCC: Guide 5552 — Applying to change conditions or extend your stay as a student — canada.ca/guide-5552

When to apply — before expiry

The study permit extension application must be submitted before the current study permit expires. IRCC recommends applying at least 30 days before the expiry date, though submitting several months in advance is advisable given processing times and any PAL/TAL requirements. Key points:

• Applying before expiry places the student in maintained status — they can continue studying after the permit expires while the extension is pending
• If the application is submitted the day of or after expiry, maintained status does not apply and the student's authorisation to study ends immediately at the expiry date
• Students who need a PAL/TAL should factor in the time required to obtain it from their province or territory before submitting the extension

PAL/TAL requirement from January 2025

From 22 January 2025, the PAL/TAL requirement (which was introduced for new study permit applications in 2024) was extended to study permit extensions in the following situations:

• Changing to a different DLI: if the extension is for a program at a different designated learning institution than the one on the current permit, a new PAL/TAL from the province or territory of the new institution is required (unless a specific exception applies)
• Changing to a different level of study: for example, moving from a diploma program to a bachelor's degree, or from a bachelor's to a master's program at a different institution

Exceptions — PAL/TAL is NOT required for extensions where:

• The student is continuing at the same DLI at the same level of study (e.g., renewing a study permit to continue in the same bachelor's program at the same university)
• The student is moving from a post-secondary program to a degree-granting graduate program at a public DLI
• Other specific exemptions as published by IRCC

For the current PAL/TAL requirements and exceptions, refer to the provincial attestation letter page and the IRCC PAL page.

Maintained status while extension is pending

A student who applies to extend before expiry is in maintained status under IRPR s 183(5):

• The student can continue attending their DLI and studying after the permit's expiry date — until IRCC decides the extension
• The student can continue working within the same work authorisation as their original study permit — if the student was authorised to work 20 hours off-campus per week during a session, that continues during maintained status
• The student must continue to comply with all study permit conditions — including attending an approved DLI and maintaining full-time enrolment (where required)

Maintained status does not allow the student to change their DLI or program during the pending period without the extension covering the new arrangement.

How to apply — online process

Study permit extensions must generally be applied for online through the IRCC secure portal. The application (IMM 5709) requires:

• Valid passport
• Current study permit
• Letter of enrolment or acceptance from the DLI confirming the student is enrolled and the program dates
• PAL/TAL (if applicable — change of DLI or level)
• Proof of financial support (bank statements, scholarship letters, sponsor letters)
• Any other documents relevant to the extension

After submission, the student receives a confirmation acknowledgement. Processing times vary by program and time of year — for current times, refer to the IRCC processing times page.

If the study permit has already expired — restoration

If the study permit expired before an extension application was submitted, the student is no longer in maintained status and their authorisation to study has ended. Options:

• Restoration of status: within 90 days of the study permit's expiry date, the student can apply for restoration of status — if granted, the study permit may be restored. Restoration is discretionary; IRCC considers whether the student made reasonable efforts to maintain status and whether there are good reasons for the failure to extend. For information on restoration, see the restoration of status page
• Leave Canada and re-apply: if the 90-day restoration window has passed (or if restoration is refused), the student must leave Canada and apply for a new study permit from outside

A student who is out of status and continues studying is in breach of IRPA — this is taken seriously by IRCC and may affect future applications.

The January 2025 PAL/TAL extension to study permit renewals caught many students by surprise — students who planned to transfer to a new institution or change programs found that their extension required a PAL from their province, adding weeks to the process. Students planning a program change should check the PAL/TAL requirement early — in some provinces, the attestation process takes several weeks. The 30-day advance recommendation from IRCC is a minimum; students with a PAL/TAL requirement or complex circumstances should plan for 3–4 months. Students who are working under their study permit work authorisation should keep a copy of the extension submission confirmation as proof of maintained status — employers may ask for evidence. For the current PAL/TAL exception list, extension application form, and processing times, refer to the IRCC study permit extension page.