Immigration FAQs

Study Permits

No. It is important to note that a study permit alone does not allow you to travel in and out of Canada. Please review your travel documents (i.e., Temporary Resident Visa or Electronic Travel Authorization) to ensure you have valid documents to re-enter Canada. While a TRV or eTA allows you to enter Canada, the study permit allows you to remain in Canada as a student.

Depending on your citizenship, you may need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada when you first arrive, and re-enter Canada when you travel during your studies.

Do I need to notify IRCC if I change post-secondary institutions?

Yes. Log on to your IRCC account; under the "Start an application” click on "Students: Transfer Schools”. If the IRCC website does not permit you to complete the form, use the IRCC web form to notify them of the change in school.

I need to apply for a study permit extension. Is a Provincial Attestation Letter required?

If you are submitting your study permit extension application before your current study permit expires, a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) is not required. PAL is only required for an initial study permit application (usually submitted from outside of Canada).

If I graduated from a Canadian secondary/high school, can I use the same study permit?

You can begin your program at Humber using the same study permit. However, you will need to apply for an extension of your Study Permit to ensure it is valid for the entire duration of your Humber program.

What do I use for proof of a medical?

If you undertook a medical check within the last 12 months by an IRCC affiliated panel physician overseas or in Canada, please upload your e-medical form if you have one or write a letter of explanation listing the date, city, country, doctor, or clinic you went to. You can also call the IRCC Call Centre for other options to demonstrate proof. For IRCC affiliated panel physicians’ information, please refer to Find a Panel Physician.

What if my study permit expires?

If your study permit expires soon, you need to submit a study permit extension application. If IRCC receives your application BEFORE your current permit expires, you are under “maintained status” which allows you to continue studying until a decision is made. Your maintained status will remain as long as you are inside Canada. If you leave Canada while your application is being processed, you will lose this status.

If your study permit has already expired and you did not apply for an extension beforehand, you are considered out of status and must stop studying and working immediately.

You have 90 days from the time your permit expired to restore your status. You may remain in Canada until a decision is made, but you cannot resume your studies until you receive a new study permit.

Restoration Status

Working While Studying

Can I work off-campus?

Yes, if you meet ALL following conditions:

You are enrolled as a full-time student in an eligible program at the college (English for Academic Purpose studies are not eligible to work off-campus), or
You are enrolled as a part-time student in the last semester of your studies, and you do not need a full course load to complete your program, and you were enrolled as a full-time student in your program up until the last semester, and
You have a valid study permit, which states you "may work" or "may accept employment" on or off campus, and
You have a Social Insurance Number

If you meet the conditions to work but your study permit has no remarks about on-campus and off-campus work, you can amend your study permit. A guide to amending the conditions on your study permit is available on the IRCC website.

If your permit states that you cannot work, you must apply to change the conditions of your study permit by following the procedure for a study permit extension.

Do I need a work permit to work off campus?

If you are eligible for off-campus work, you do not need a work permit. Read More About Working While Studying at Humber.

How do I find a job in Canada?

International students can visit the Humber Career Centre to see job postings and for help with resumé writing, cover letter reviews, and mock job interviews.

For International Graduate School (IGS) students, you can use the career-related services from the ICHub. IGS students can book an appointment with a career advisor through MyIGS Portal.

Co-Op Work Permits

How do I apply for a Co-op Work Permit from inside Canada?

If you are in a program that requires you to complete a co-op, placement, internship, or practicum, you must have a Co-op Work Permit before you begin. The Co-op Work Permit is valid only for the work placement approved by Humber.

See Humber’s guide to get you started on your Co-op Work Permit application.

How do I obtain a SIN number?

You can apply online, upload your digital documents securely and, if eligible, view your SIN on MSCA once your application has been processed. You can also apply in person at a Service Canada Centre or by mail.

You will need the following documents when applying for a SIN:

Original Passport &
Original Study Permit that indicates you are authorized to work

Original Study Permit and On-Campus Employment Contract

Original Study Permit and Original Co-Op Work Permit

My co-op work permit specifies a particular employment location. Am I permitted to work at a different location?

If the location of your employment is listed only under 'Additional Information,' you are permitted to use your co-op work permit for any co-op placement approved by your program coordinator or placement advisor, at any location across Canada. However, if the employment location is specified under 'Conditions' or in the 'Remarks/Observations' section, you are required to work at the location indicated on your permit. Should you wish to work at a different location, it will be necessary for you to apply for a new co-op work permit. You can find more information on the IRCC website.

My co-op work permit states that I am not authorized to work in childcare, primary/secondary school teaching, or health service field occupations. However, my placement is in one of those settings. Can I still use my co-op work permit for this placement?

If your co-op work permit includes restrictions that prevent you from participating in your required co-op placement, you cannot start your placement until you have obtained a new co-op work permit without these restrictions. We recommend applying for a new co-op work permit with a valid Immigration Medical Exam (IME). Please visit the IRCC website for more info on medical exam.

My study permit authorizes me to work on/off campus, do I still need a co-op work permit for my work placement?

Yes. The conditions allowing you to work off-campus in your study permit are NOT interchangeable with the requirement to fulfil a work placement related to your studies. If your program includes a mandatory placement or internship, but you do not have a valid co-op work permit, you should apply for one immediately and consult with International Student Advisor and Immigration Specialist to verify your work eligibility.

What do I use for proof of a medical?

What if my study permit expires during my work placement?

As a student, it is mandatory to maintain your legal status in Canada. Therefore, you must extend your study permit and request a co-op work permit at that the same time
If IRCC receives your application BEFORE your current document expires you are in “maintained status” which allows you to continue studying until a decision has been made
If you allowed your study permit to expire and DID NOT apply for an extension before it expired, you are out-of-status and MUST stop studying and working. You have 90 days from the time your permit expires to restore your status. You may remain in Canada until a decision is made.

While I am doing my co-op placement, can I still work on/off-campus?

Yes, if you meet the on/off campus work eligibility requirements. Please consult with International Student Advisor and Immigration Specialist to verify your work eligibility.

Post-Graduation Work Permits

Can I continue working after my program ends?

You may continue working up to 20 hours per week until your Confirmation of Graduation (COG) is issued, provided that you meet the conditions for on/off-campus work that were applicable during your study. Please visit IRCC website for more details.

Once your COG is issued, you must cease working as your permission to work under the study permit conditions ends (0 hours allowed).

The COG is typically issued 5 to 6 weeks after your final grades are submitted, according to the Academic Calendar. You should monitor 'MyHumber' under 'Student Records' daily to check if your COG has been released, especially once your Academic Progress indicates 100% completion.

Do I need to provide a proof of a medical exam to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)?

If you intend to work in a field that brings you into close contact with vulnerable people or in healthcare setting, you may need to provide proof of a medical exam when applying for PGWP. Please check IRCC website for more information.

I am graduating. What should I know?

Hopefully when your study permit was issued, it gave you an additional 90 days after your last day of class. If not, we strongly advise you extend your study permit to allow time to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

In order to apply for your PGWP you will require your:

Confirmation of Graduation Letter
Final Transcript (the transcript must say Credential Awarded to be considered your final transcript).

These documents are typically available 5-6 weeks after the last day of class; you will be notified by email when the documents are available.

Learn more about the eligibility requirements for the PGWP and the length of the work permit you are eligible to receive.

Learn more about how to apply for PGWP: Post Graduation Work Permits (humber.ca).

Important Information: Your study permit must still be valid when you apply for a PGWP.

Tip: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provides processing times for all of their application types online (e.g., study permit, work permit, temporary resident visa). Become familiar with this page and check it frequently, as it is updated weekly.

Check Processing Times

My SIN expired and I have applied for a Post-Graduation Work Permit. Can I still work?

If you have applied for renewal of a work or study permit, and your permit expires before a decision is made, you have the right to continue working or studying under the same conditions. You must remain in Canada during this time. This "maintained status" (previously called implied status) will remain until a decision is made by IRCC. This means you are allowed to work even though your SIN has expired. For more information about maintained status during processing, contact IRCC.

Once IRCC authorizes you to continue working in Canada, you must apply to Service Canada with your new immigration document to update the expiry date on your SIN record. The expiry date on both your SIN record and your immigration document must match.

More Information

What if my study permit expires while I am waiting for my PGWP?

If you apply for your PGWP before your study permit expires, you may continue to work or stay in Canada while waiting for a decision. If your study permit includes conditions allowing you to work off-campus, you may continue working during this period. For more detailed information, please refer to the 'Waiting while we process your application' section on the IRCC website.

additional help

Need More Help?

Speak to an International Student Advisor.

Advising & Support