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If you are applying to extend your study permit from inside Canada, you must use the IRCC secure account (GCKey or Sign-in Partner) in order to obtain maintained status while your application is processing. Do not use the IRCC Portal. If you submit your study permit extension through the IRCC Portal, you will not have maintained status while your application is processing and you could lose your status as a student. The IRCC portal is for outside Canada applications only.
How to extend your study permit from inside Canada
Read the IRCC Instruction Guide and ISS' Study Permit FAQs for current students before you start the application process.
You can submit an inside Canada application to extend your study permit (or apply for your first study permit) if you are physically present in Canada and you meet one of the following conditions:
- You have a valid study permit
- You have a valid work permit
- You are already in Canada as an exchange or visiting student
- You otherwise meet the conditions to apply for a study permit from inside Canada (see “Who may apply for a study permit from within Canada?”)
Overview of the renewal process
Step 1: Complete the online “Check your eligibility” questionnaire
- To access the questionnaire, login to your IRCC secure account (Gckey or Sign-in Partner) and select "Apply to come to Canada". You should then be directed to the questionnaire.
- Do not apply through the IRCC portal. The IRCC portal is only for outside of Canada applications.
- At the end of the questionnaire, you will be provided with your Document Checklist.
Sample Questions & Explanations (Check your eligibility questionnaire)
| QUESTION | NOTES |
|---|---|
|
Questions about the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) |
Those who renew their study permit from inside of Canada are exempt from requiring a Provincial Attestation letter (PAL). For a study permit renewal inside Canada, you may answer these questions in the following way: “Do you have a Provincial Attestation Letter?" - No “Do you qualify for an exception?” – Yes “Which exception do you qualify for?” – I am an applicant applying within Canada as described under section 215(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR). If you answer like this, you should not be requested to submit a Provincial Attestation Letter |
| Do you also want to apply for a work permit? |
If you are required to complete a mandatory work component as part of your program of study, select “Yes, I wish to apply for a CoOp Work Permit”. Most students at McGill are not eligible for a Co-Op Work Permit and should answer “No” to this question. |
| Have you had a medical exam performed by an IRCC authorized panel physician (doctor) within the last 12 months? |
Only certain students must provide proof of a medical exam with their study permit extension application. You may require a medical exam if your program includes a mandatory work component and/or you want to work in certain fields and/or you have lived in a designated country or territory for 6 consecutive months or more in the past year. Not sure if you need to do a medical exam? For more information on the medical exam requirement, see Immigration Canada’s webpage and the ISS webpage. |
| In the past 10 years, have you given your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) for an application to come to Canada? |
If you have not provided your biometrics in the past 10 years, your Document Checklist will include a biometrics fee in addition to the study permit processing fee. After you submit your application, you will receive a Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL) with information on how to have your biometrics collected. To find out whether you need to give biometrics and/or if your biometrics are still valid, use the Find out if you need to give biometrics tool and the Find out if your biometrics are still valid tool. |
Step 2: Upload the documents listed on your Document Checklist
- The “Application to Change Conditions, Extend My Stay or Remain in Canada as a Student (IMM 5709) form. Complete and validate the form (bar codes will appear once the form is properly validated). If you cannot view the form, see Immigration Canada's troubleshooting tips.
- A Proof of Enrolment letter confirming enrolment in a future term. You can generate this letter yourself on Minerva after you have registered for courses. Upload the Proof of Enrolment Letter in the “Letter of Acceptance” section. Do not upload your original Letter of Acceptance to McGill. If your study permit expires in the middle of a semester, you can include a Proof of Enrolment Letter for your current semester.
- A CAQ that is valid past the date your current study permit expires. You can use your CAQ Approval Letter if you have recently renewed your CAQ. Your study permit is generally issued with an expiration date that matches your CAQ expiration date.
- A passport that is valid past the date your current study permit expires. If your passport will expire before your CAQ, your study permit will be issued with an expiration date that matches your passport expiration date.
- (Only if applicable) Co-Op Letter from your department or faculty confirming that you have a mandatory work component as part of your program. Upload the letter in the “Evidence of Work Requirement in Study” section.
- (Only if applicable) Proof of upfront medical exam. See Step 1 above for more information.
- (Only if applicable) An explanatory letter and other supporting documents in the “Client Information” section. This is necessary if, for example, you have lost your status and you are applying to restore it; you previously remained in Canada beyond your authorized stay; you previously studied and/or worked without authorization in Canada, etc.
- Do not complete the IMM 5257 form (Temporary Resident Visa/Visitor Visa Application). If you require a TRV to enter Canada, you will need to apply for one separately after you obtain your new study permit.
Step 3: Pay the fees and provide your electronic signature
- After you submit your payment, you will see a message confirming that your application has been successfully transmitted. Save a screenshot of this page as proof of having submitted your application.
- Once your Study Permit Extension application has been approved, you will receive an approval notice in your online account (Study Permit Extension Approval Letter).
- Immigration Canada will mail your actual study permit to your mailing address. If you move, you must inform Immigration Canada of your change in address. If you do not receive your study permit within six weeks of receiving your approval notice in your online account, contact Immigration Canada.
Step 4: Send a copy of your new study permit to McGill
- After you receive your new study permit, submit a copy to McGill's Legal Documents.
- If you do not receive your study permit within six weeks of receiving your approval notice in your online account, contact Immigration Canada.
Step 5: (If applicable) Renew your Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to re-enter Canada after a trip to another country.
- If you need a TRV, you must apply separately for your TRV after you have received your new study permit.
- If you need an eTA, it will be automatically issued and linked to your passport once your Study permit Extension has been approved.
- U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents do not require a TRV or an eTA to enter Canada.
How to complete the IMM 5709 form
Top section of IMM 5709 form
| Question | Notes |
|---|---|
|
QUESTION 1 |
Your UCI is the 8 to 10 digit “Unique Client Identifier” number located on your Study permit. It looks like this: 0000-0000 or 00-0000-0000. |
| QUESTION 3 | Select “Apply for a study permit for the first time or extend my study permit”. |
Personal Details
| Question | Notes |
|---|---|
|
QUESTION 7 |
Current country or territory or residence:
|
National Identity Document
| Question | Notes |
|---|---|
|
QUESTION 1 |
Answer “Yes” only if citizens in your country have a national identity document. |
Contact Information
Indicate a valid mailing address in Canada. Your new study permit will be mailed to this address.
Coming into Canada
| Question | Notes |
|---|---|
|
QUESTION 3 |
“Document number” = number on study permit that starts with a letter (F or U) followed by 9 digits. |
Details of Intended Studies in Canada
| Question | Notes |
|---|---|
|
QUESTION 1a |
“Complete address of school” = 845 Rue Sherbrooke O, Montreal, QC, H3A 0G4 |
|
QUESTION 2a |
“Designated Learning Institution #”
|
|
QUESTION 3 |
|
|
QUESTION 4 |
“The cost of my studies will be”:
|
|
QUESTION 5a |
“Funds available for my stay (CAD)” = The amount of funds available to you as per your financial capacity documents. This amount should be equal or greater to the sum of your tuition and living expenses – i.e., equal or greater to the sum of “Tuition” and “Room and Board” / “Other” sections. |
|
QUESTION 5b |
“My expenses in Canada will be paid by” = Indicate who will be paying for your studies in Canada. If you will be paying for your studies through loans, bursaries, scholarships, stipends, or other financings from McGill or any other institution, you should select “myself” in the drop-down menu. |
|
QUESTION 6a and 6b |
If you have a mandatory internship or work placement and want to apply for a Co-Op Work Permit, answer “Yes” and select “Co-op Work Permit”. |
|
QUESTION 7 |
“Certificate Number” = Use the number on your CAQ that begins with “C000”. The CAQ should be valid beyond the date your current Study permit expires. *If your CAQ expires on the same date as your study permit and you may not have your new CAQ before your study permit expires, contact ISS right away. |
Education
Enter your current studies at McGill. In the “To” section, enter the date you complete and validate the IMM 5709 form.
Employment
If you do not have any work history, indicate your studies or activities for the past 10 years, starting with your current studies at McGill - e.g. in the "Current Activity/Occupation" section, indicate "Studying" or "Going to school"; then enter McGill University's contact information in the appropriate sections.
Background Information
Read each of the questions in this section carefully and reply to all questions accurately. If you do not have enough space you can upload a letter of explanation in the “Client Information” section of your Document Checklist.
| Question | Notes |
|---|---|
|
QUESTION 2c |
“Have you previously applied to enter or remain in Canada?” = You must answer “Yes” and then provide details in section 2d – e.g. I previously obtained a study permit which expires on X DATE. |
Review and Validate the IMM 5709 form. This should generate a bar code. Save your application and then upload the file to your Document Checklist. You do not need to print and sign this form by hand. After you upload all of your documents and pay the processing fee, you will have to submit your electronic signature. If you make any additional changes to your form after validating, you must click “Validate” and save again.
Biometrics
If you have never done biometrics:
- All foreign nationals applying to extend their study permits from inside Canada must submit their biometrics. Only U.S. citizens are currently exempt from the biometrics requirement.
- If you have not provided biometrics to Immigration Canada within the past 10 years, you should receive a Biometrics Instruction Letter BIL after you submit your study permit extension application. Immigration Canada must receive your biometrics in order to continue processing your application. You can give your biometrics inside Canada at a designated Service Canada location.
- Biometrics are valid for 10 years. If you can’t remember whether or not your biometrics are still valid, use the “Find out if your biometrics are still valid” tool.
- For more information, see Immigration Canada's "Facts about biometrics" webpage.
If you did biometrics previously but your biometrics will expire before the end of your program:
- Before renewing your study permit, be sure to check the expiry date of your biometrics.
- Your study permit may only be issued until the expiry date of your biometrics and not to the expected end date of your program or expiry date of your CAQ.
- You must answer No to the question “In the past 10 years, have you given your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) for an application to come to Canada?” in your eligibility questionnaire for the study permit renewal – even if you have done your biometrics within the past 10 years. This will allow you to pay for new biometrics, receive a Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL) and give your fingerprints and photo at a Service Canada office close to you if you are inside Canada. Once you have provided updated biometrics, your study permit should be issued until the end of your program or the expiry date of your CAQ.
- Include a cover letter in the “Client Information” section of your document checklist explaining why you answered No to the biometrics question in the eligibility questionnaire even though you provided biometrics to IRCC within the past 10 years and the reason you need to submit new biometrics with your study permit renewal application.
Processing Time
You can check the current estimated processing time for Study permit Extensions on Immigration Canada’s website.
What if my study permit expires before my extension application is approved?
If you apply to extend your study permit from inside of Canada before it expires through the IRCC secure account, you will benefit from maintained status after your study permit expires. While under maintained status, you can continue to study and work while your application is being processed.
If you leave Canada while on maintained status, you will lose this status and will not be authorized to resume studying or working until you have a valid study permit. Make sure you have the required travel documents to return to Canada
See Immigration Canada’s website for information about the consequences of travelling outside of Canada while in maintained status.
IMPORTANT: If you submit a study permit application from outside Canada (IMM 1294) or through the IRCC portal, you will not benefit from maintained status while your application is processing. If you are outside of Canada when your study permit expires, you must wait for your study permit application to be approved before returning to Canada to resume your studies.
What if I am in Canada and I do not apply to extend my study permit before it expires?
If you do not apply to extend your study permit before it expires, you will lose your status as a student in Canada. You will not be authorized to study or engage in any work until you obtain a new study permit.
Studying or working without authorization can have serious consequences, including a 6-month ban from applying for a study permit or work permit, a 1-year exclusion order from Canada, and/or refusals of future applications for temporary or permanent residency documents. See Immigration Canada’s website for more information on unauthorized work or study.
All unauthorized study or work must be disclosed to Immigration Canada on all future immigration applications. Failure to disclose may result in a 5-year exclusion order for misrepresentation.
If you have lost your status, contact ISS right away so that we can discuss your options. Depending on your situation, you may decide to:
- Apply to restore your student status from inside of Canada; or
- Leave Canada and apply for a new study permit from outside of Canada
You cannot apply to restore your status from outside of Canada.
How to Apply to Restore your Status
You must apply to restore your status within 90 days of the date you lost your status. If your application to restore your status as a student is approved, a new study permit will be issued to you.
While your restoration application is processing, you are not authorized to study or work and you must remain in Canada. If you leave Canada while your restoration application is processing, you must withdraw your application and then submit an outside Canada study permit application (IMM 1294).
Step 1: Complete the online “Check your eligibility” questionnaire
- To access the questionnaire, login to your online account and select "Apply to Come to Canada.
- Answer “Yes” to the question that asks, “Do you want to apply to restore your status?”
- In the “Fees” section of your Document Checklist, you should see a study permit processing fee and a restoration of the status fee.
Step 2: Complete the IMM 5709 form
- See the “How to complete the IMM5709 Form” section above for basic instructions
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR RESTORATION APPLICATION:
- Top of Form, #3: Check both “Apply for a study permit for the first time or extend my study permit” and “Restore my status as a student”.
- Personal Details, #7:
- “Status” = select “Other”
- “Other” = “Out of status”
- “From” = the first day you were out of status (i.e., the day after your study permit expiration date)
- “To” = the current date (i.e., date you complete the form)
- Background Information, #2a, “Have you ever remained beyond the validity of your status, attended school without authorization or worked without authorization in Canada?”: You must answer “Yes” to this question and indicate “See explanations attached in the Client Information section”.
Step 3: Upload explanatory documents:
In the "Client Information" section of your Document Checklist, upload:
- An explanatory letter explaining why/how you lost your status – i.e., explain why you did not apply to extend your study permit before it expired. If you have studied and/or worked without authorization you must declare this and explain your reasons for doing so.
- (If applicable) Supporting documents that help to explain why you are out of status, studied, and/or worked without authorization.