A valid Study Permit is required for anyone studying in Canada for longer than six months. Since most Humber programs are one year in length or more, this becomes a mandatory requirement for most international students. Your Study Permit should be valid for the entire duration of your program, plus 90 days. If your study permit is due to expire before you complete your program, you will need to apply for an extension to be able to continue studying in Canada. As long as you're a student, you must not let your study permit expire!
study permit details
If you have a study permit, it is extremely important to remember that you are expected to actively pursue your studies and make reasonable progress towards completion.
These enrolment statuses are considered “actively pursuing studies”:
- Full-time studies
- Part-time studies (Note that the on-campus or off-campus work authorization and Post-graduation work permit may be impacted by a part-time course load, please contact an International Student Advisor and Immigration Specialist for more information)
- Scheduled breaks
- Other gaps in studies that are up to a maximum of 150 days:
- An authorized leave from Humber (students who intend to take a leave due to medical, family emergency and military service etc. need to contact the International Centre to review your eligibility to take an authorized leave). Please also check IRCC for more information regarding authorized leave.
- A switch in programs or institutions (whether you completed the program or not)
- A pause in studies due to a strike or permanent closure
IRCC also requires you to remain enrolled and make reasonable progress towards completing your studies. You are welcome to change your major, program or in some cases your academic institution during your time in Canada. However, an officer may request additional information to ensure your intention for being in Canada is to study.
If you do not comply with the above conditions, it could jeopardize your status in Canada. Academic institutions, such as Humber, are required to report on your enrolment and academic status to IRCC; so, it is important that you follow the rules and stay in compliance.
You can apply for your study permit extension if you are inside Canada. We recommend students apply 3 to 4 months before the date of expiry on their current study permit.
It is important that you possess a valid study permit; a study permit gives you status in Canada. If your study permit expires less than 90 days following the completion of your program, we recommend you extend it because you will not receive proof of program completion for approximately five to six weeks after your final semester.
Your study permit will become invalid 90 days after the completion of your program or on the expiry date of your Study Permit – whichever comes first.
Check study permit processing times of a study permit extension on the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada website.
Click on the “Procedure” tab above to get started on your study permit extension application if you are inside Canada.
If you are outside Canada:
You cannot apply for a study permit extension from outside Canada, you can only apply for a new permit. While Humber does not advise on study permit applications made from outside Canada, IRCC has a detailed country-specific guide for Study Permit applications.
How to Extend a Study Permit From Inside Canada
- Go to IRCC website; click button for language preference
- Choose “Study”, “Extend your study permit or restore your status” then “How to apply”
Summary of Application Procedure
- Applications should be submitted online. If you cannot submit an online application due to disabilities or any other reason, please consult with an International Student Advisor and Immigration Specialist.
- Complete application form IMM 5709. You need to click on hyperlink, download the form and open the form with advanced Adobe version
- Gather and scan supporting documents
- Pay processing fee
- Submit application for processing; if you submit an online application, monitor the email account you specified on your application (including spam and junk folders) in case IRCC has a query about your application. These messages are time sensitive
- When you receive your permit, please upload a copy via your MyHumber account.
The Study Permit extension application can only be submitted from inside Canada. The process can be summarized in the following 4 steps:
Step 1: Initiate your application.
- Log into your IRCC secure account. If you do not have an IRCC secure account, you can create a new account.
- Once logged in, scroll down, and click on “Apply to Come to Canada”
- Under “I do not have a Personal Reference Code”, click on “Determine your eligibility and apply online”, then click on “Visitor visa, study and/or work permit”
Step 2: Complete the Eligibility questionnaire. See ‘Eligibility Questionnaire’ tab for more information.
Step 3: Gather and upload all documents. See the “Documents” tab for more information.
Step 4: Pay the application fee of $150 and submit. If you are required to complete your Biometrics, the Biometric fee is $85.
To start the Eligibility Questionnaire:
- Log into your IRCC account.
- On the main account page, scroll down and click on “Apply to Come to Canada”
- Under “I do not have a Personal Reference Code”, click on “Determine your eligibility and apply online” then click on “Visitor visa, study and/or work permit”
This will initiate the following Eligibility Questionnaire. Answer the questions according to your situation. Some areas that might be confusing are:
- What would you like to do in Canada? Study
- How long are you planning to stay in Canada? Temporarily – more than 6 months
- What is your current country/territory of residence? If you are presently in Canada, you should select Canada. *NOTE: You cannot apply for a Study Permit extension from outside Canada.
- 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 who meets another exception listed on the IRCC website
- Family Member questions: Click on hyperlink for definition of a family member and answer basing on your situation
- On the “Your results” page select “Study Permit (in Canada)”
- Do you also want to apply for a work permit? Answer "yes" if you require a co-op work permit
- Review your answers: To modify responses click on the “pencil & eraser” icon
If you want to learn in detail, attend the live webinar we host every semester or request to access a webinar recording from an International Student Advisor and Immigration Specialist.
Click on the “Documents” tab to read about the next steps of your application.
After you have completed the Eligibility Questionnaire (see previous tab), your application page will be created on your IRCC account. You can access this application at any time within the next 60 days.
Please upload all the required documents listed below before you pay and submit the application.
Required Forms:
- IMM 5709 – A link for this form should be available in your account after you complete the eligibility questionnaire. When you download IMM 5709, make sure to go to the folder where it is saved and open it with Adobe Reader.
Required Documents:
- Passport - Current Passport (personal information page and any pages with stamps and visas)
- Valid Study Permit and Co-op Work Permit (if available)
- Confirmation of enrolment letter (use the letter from your current or the most recent semester); verify that the expected graduation date is correct. If the expected graduation date shows N/A or is incorrect, please contact us through the International Contact Form for North and Lakeshore students, and MyIGS portal for IGS (International Graduate School) students
- Letter of Acceptance – Needed if you are starting a new program after your current program
- Official transcript: Please submit a copy of official transcripts for all study in Canada to date, including any incomplete or in-progress programs. Humber official transcript is available only if you have completed at least one semester. Students have the option to request the transcript by mail or by MyCreds
- Proof of Finances
- Bank Statements, proof of education loans, proof of tuition payment, pay stubs from your part-time employer. All documents - merged in 1 PDF file
- *Note: If the bank statement is not under your name, you also need to provide a Letter of Support from the account holder to specify their intention to support you financially while you are in Canada as a student. The letter must be written by them, dated, and signed. Please ensure they include your full name, Humber N#, college name, program name and study dates.
- Humber College Receipt (found on MyHumber > Student > Student Account & Fees > Account Detail for Term/Humber College Receipt)
- Co-op Letter (check your email account, the co-op letter is included in the Offer Letter). You need this if you are applying for your co-op work permit along with your study permit. If you do not have a letter or if your co-op letter was issued more than 4 months ago, please request a copy from the International Centre through the International Contact Form
- Digital Photo - A scan or digital version of a passport size photo. See the government of Canada website for photo specifications.
- Proof of medical exam (if applicable): A medical exam may be required depending on your country of residence in the past 12 months and your program of study. Your medical exam results are valid for 12 months once it is done. Learn more about a medical exam.
Optional Document:
Client Information or Letter of explanation – While this is an optional document, we recommend all students write one to:
- Summarize their application
- Share any information with the visa officer that was not addressed via the documents and/or application forms.
- Explain that they are exempt from Provincial Attestation Letter if they are current student, inside Canada and apply for the Study permit extension before their current Study permit expires. Please attach your current study permit with this letter as proof.
Completing Form IMM 5709: Application to change conditions, extend my stay or remain in Canada as a student
- When completing the application, you will need to have your passport and current study permit handy.
- The form is a fillable PDF form which means you can type your answers; do not fill it by hand.
- There are a series of drop-down boxes throughout the form; use those boxes rather than creating your own answers.
- Please ensure that the form you are filling out is the most up-to-date version.
| Question | Response |
|---|---|
| UCI | Unique Client Identifier” or “Client ID” is an 8- or 10-digit number found near the top of your study permit. |
| I am applying for | Select "Apply for a study permit for the first time or extend my study permit" for study permit extension. |
| Family name | If you do not have a family name on your passport enter your given name(s) in this box and leave the given name box blank. |
| Current country of residence “from” and “to” date | “From” is the date you entered Canada as a student; “To” is the date of your study permit expires. |
| Designated language testing agency | IELTS, CELPIP or TEF; answer "yes" even if your results have expired. |
| Street No. | Street no.” refers to “house number”. |
| P.O. Box | A locked box that you can rent to collect mail and parcels at the post office |
| E-mail address | Use an email address you check frequently; check your junk/spam folders for messages. |
| Original entry date to Canada | The first time you came to Canada; if you came to Canada prior to studying you would enter that date and place (airport or land border). |
| Document number | Appears in the upper right-hand corner of your study permit, usually starts with "F" followed by numbers |
| Designated Learning Institution # |
|
| Duration of expected study | "From" is the date you are completing the form; "To" is the completion date of your studies + 90 days allowing you sufficient time to receive your final grades and apply for a post-graduation work permit. |
| Education | Answer "yes"; type in Humber’s information unless you earned a higher credential from another school; under "field and level of study" answer both portions of this question. |
| Employment | If you have never been employed, type that you are a student and include Humber’s information; if you are or have been employed in the past 10 years include that information here including any employment in your home country. |
| Background Information | You must respond to ALL these questions truthfully. If you answer "yes" to any questions, you need to provide an explanation. |
| Sign the application form | If you are submitting an online application type your name in the signature section. |
| Validate | Validate and save the form. Another page with barcodes will appear, which is part of your application and needs to be submitted. If a series of red boxes appears, it means you have either neglected to complete a field or the formatting of the answer is incorrect. Make the correction(s), validate again, and save the document. |
Apply now on the Government of Canada website.
Disclaimer
There are several temporary measures in place that may impact application policies and processes. The information on our website is based on normal situations and for applications made from inside Canada. For the most recent updates, please visit the IRCC website.
The information on this website was prepared by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) in compliance with the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. This is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws and procedures change frequently, and so the requirements and procedure for applying for your study permit may have changed. This page was updated on July 25, 2024. It is intended for students of Humber; the information contained herein may not be applicable to students at other academic institutions.