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Lasted Updates
Get timely updates on immigration, work eligibility, and health insurance for international students.
Disclaimer
The immigration information on this page has been reviewed and endorsed by Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) or Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) in compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations. However, this is not a legal document and information may change without notice. Always refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the most up-to-date information.
Overview of study permits
A study permit is a document issued by IRCC that allows a foreign national to study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada such as TWU for a limited period of time.
Trinity Western University (TWU) is a government-approved Designated Learning Institution (DLI) with DLI number O19347055392.
You must have a study permit if your courses or program of studies is longer than 6 months.
You may be able to satisfy TWU’s study permit requirement without actually having a study permit if any of the following scenarios apply to you. Please review carefully as there are specific steps you may need to take in order to satisfy the alternative requirements.
- You do not need a study permit if your program or course:
- will be 6 months or shorter, and
- will end before your initial immigration status expires/ends (such as work permit, visitor record, stamp in passport, etc).
- You might want to apply for a study permit (even if this is not required) if:
- you will study full time and would like to work on campus,
- you will study full time as an exchange student and would like to work on and/or off campus, OR
- you might extend your studies after your original course/program end
How to apply to extend your study permit from within Canada?
You are allowed to extend your study permit only if you have a valid study permit and you are inside of Canada.
You cannot extend your study permit if you are outside of Canada or if you do not have a valid study permit.
To IRCC, if you need to extend your study permit, you must submit the study permit extension application to IRCC inside of Canada at least 30 days before your current study permit expires.
You should request the following two official school documents from TWU as a supporting document for your immigration application with IRCC.
Both two documents are available to order directly on your TWU’s Student Portal:
- Verification of Enrolment - An official school letter to prove your enrolment status at TWU. You need to have your NEW expected program's official completion date added to your TWU's official school documents, you should order a customized letter through your student portal under “eRecords”. Be sure to clearly indicate that you want to add your expected program completion date into your official school letter, so it can be included in your official school letter (e.g., Verification of Enrolment).
- eTranscript - Your official academic record at TWU.
After submitting your request to order official school document(s) on your TWU's student portal, TWU follows its own internal procedures for issuing standard official school documents, to confirm your academic status and program information within the school system.
TWU’s official school documents only confirm your enrollment status and your program at the university. The school documents do not determine or guarantee your immigration status or the outcome of any immigration application with IRCC.
Remember! you are responsible for preparing ALL other required forms and materials for your study permit extension application, which may take additional time. It is always your responsibility to ensure you provide accurate information and elaborate on facts!
The following information is provided for your reference only:
- Check this link to read the most recent financial requirements set by IRCC for study permit holders.
- To meet IRCC financial requirements for a study permit, you must prepare documents to demonstrate that you can cover your tuition fees, living costs, and transportation expenses.
- If you have more than one year remaining in your studies at TWU, you need to show that you have at least one year of tuition fees available for IRCC.
- If you have less than one year remained, you need to provide proof of funds for the remaining tuition cost at TWU.
- In addition to tuition fees, you must also demonstrate to IRCC that you have sufficient funds to cover your living expenses and transportation costs. You need to calculate the required amount based on your family size, and only prepare the supporting documents listed on the official IRCC website. Make sure to click the above link to learn how to calculate for your own situation to meet IRCC financial requirements.
- If you need proof yourself to IRCC that you have already made tuition payment for your school. You will need to login your own TWU student online portal, download your financial statement by yourself, and then use that financial statement to proof yourself to IRCC.
- All other financial related documents should be prepared based on the detailed requirements listed on the IRCC website.
Important conditions of study permit holders in Canada
As per Canadian immigration regulations, study permit holders in Canada are subject to both of the following conditions:
- They shall enroll at a designated learning institution (DLI) and remain enrolled at a DLI until they complete their studies.
- They shall actively pursue their course or program of study.
For more details, review IRCC – Your conditions as a study permit holder in Canada and IRCC – Study permits: Assessing study permit conditions.
Understand that TWU is required to report on the academic status of all students who have TWU listed as the DLI on their study permit.
Ensure to maintain your student status
To maintain your student status, you will need to meet all of the following requirements:
- Keep a valid study permit or have maintained status (formerly 'implied status').
- Actively pursue studies.
- Make reasonable progress towards completion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who does not need a study permit?
The following activities are not considered studies for the purposes of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and do not require a study permit:
- pre-school (pre-kindergarten)
- courses of general interest or self-improvement
- distance learning
- audited courses (typically by sitting in on an academic course, but without obtaining credit for it, or having the ability to obtain credit for it retroactively)
- settlement and integration courses offered by a provincial or territorial government through settlement and integration providers (including francization courses offered by the Government of Quebec, as they are considered settlement and integration courses and not language courses by IRCC)
What should I do if I am transferring from another college or university in Canada?
If you were a student from another post-secondary institution (other DLIs, e.g., SFU) to TWU:
- You used the school letter from another post-secondary institution (other DLIs, e.g., SFU) to obtain your current study permit from IRCC.
- AND, you did not update your current study permit information with IRCC before November 8, 2024, you need to get a new study permit by applying to extend your current one and receive your new permit before starting your studies at TWU.
- You will need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) through TWU to support your application to get a new study permit from IRCC for you to use at TWU.
- You may continue studying with TWU while waiting for a decision on your new study permit application, but you must need certain criteria.
- You need to proof yourself to IRCC that you have completed a program in Canada with your previous school before studying at TWU, and you meet all study permit conditions set by IRCC.
- If you do not meet the above criteria, you cannot study with TWU under your current study permit until you receive a new study permit from IRCC.
- If needed, students can reach out to TWU’s Immigration Advisor (RCICs/RISIAs) HERE to check your study permit validity.
My study permit that I used for high school in Canada has not expired. Can I continue to use that same study permit at TWU?
If you were a student from a secondary school (e.g. local high schools) to TWU (a post-secondary institution):
- You used the school letter from a secondary school (e.g., local high schools) to obtain your current study permit from IRCC.
- And you did not update your current study permit information with IRCC before November 8, 2024, you need to apply for a new study permit with TWU's official letter of acceptance.
- You need to get a new study permit by applying to extend your current one study at TWU.
- You should apply for study permit as soon as you receive your TWU Letter of Acceptance (LOA). You can include a letter of explanation to request conditions to work in Canada. You will need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) to support your application.
- Important information: If you finish your secondary school studies early, your study permit will no longer be valid 90 days after you complete your studies, regardless of the date that is shown on your study permit.
- You can continue your studies at the post-secondary level while waiting for a decision on your new study permit application, if you can proof that you meet one of the following conditions (whichever comes first):
- You submitted your new study permit application within 90 days of completing your studies at your previous school, OR
- You submitted your new study permit application before your current study permit expiry date.
- If your new study permit application is refused by IRCC, you must stop studying immediately.
- If needed, students can reach out to TWU’s Immigration Advisor (RCICs/RISIAs) HERE to check your study permit validity.
What if my study permit application is denied?
If your study permit was refused for valid reasons, for example, if the applicant failed to include any of the required documents, then the best option is to submit a new application after ensuring that the errors are addressed.
If you find yourself in a complex situation, it is advisable to select an immigration representative to submit your IRCC application. Click HERE to see how to choose an immigration representative.
Please note that TWU RCICs or RISIAs can only advise international students, their spouses, common-law partners, and children. We do not submit IRCC applications on behalf of international students.
I applied for a study permit extension but haven't received my new permit yet and my old permit has expired. Can I continue to study?
Yes. You can stay in Canada as a temporary resident until IRCC makes a decision on your new permit application. Make sure you have applied for a new permit before your original permit has expired.
If you applied to extend your study permit, you can stay in Canada and continue studying under the conditions of your original study permit if you
- applied to extend your study permit before your original permit expired
- are waiting for a decision on your study permit application
If you applied for a work permit, such as a post-graduation work permit (PGWP), you can stay in Canada and continue to work full-time if you
- were already able to work off campus during your studies
- applied for a work permit before your study permit expired
- are waiting for a decision on your work permit application
If you’re not eligible to extend your study permit, you
- can apply to stay in Canada as a visitor
- must stop studying when your study permit expires
My study permit has expired. What should I do?
Most people must apply online to extend their study permit from within Canada. You should submit an application to extend your study permit before your current permit expires.
If your study permit has already expired You need to restore your status as a student, as well as extend your study permit. You must apply to restore your status within 90 days of losing it. If you don’t, you must leave Canada. You can’t continue your studies until we restore your status as a student in Canada and extend your study permit.
Does my study permit allow me to work in Canada?
Check Working in Canada to learn whether and how you can work under your study permit.
How can I change the conditions of my study permit since I should now be eligible to work?
If you need to change the conditions of your study permit, you need to complete Applying to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada with IRCC.
As an international student, you must remain enrolled at TWU and make reasonable and timely progress towards completing your program. Failing to do so may lead to your removal from Canada. For post-secondary study permit holders, TWU will report your continued academic enrolment and status to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
IRCC officers may also impose, vary or cancel conditions on a study permit. These may include one or more of the following:
- the type of studies or course you may take;
- the educational institution you may attend;
- the location of your studies;
- the time and period of your studies;
- the times and place at which you shall report for medical examination or observation;
- the times and place at which you shall report for the presentation of evidence of compliance with applicable conditions;
- the work conditions attached to your study permit;
- the prohibition of engaging in employment; or
- the duration of your stay in Canada.
I finished my program, but my study permit doesn't expire for a long time. Can I stay in Canada until it expires?
Your study permit will become invalid 90 days after you complete your studies (even before your study permit expiry date) or on the expiry date of your study permit. If you plan to stay in Canada after your studies, be sure to maintain valid status in Canada.
If you still have questions related to immigration, health insurance, and life as an international student in Canada?
- Workshops and Seminars: Our workshops and seminars are conducted regularly to help international students stay informed and empowered. Link to TWU Calendar.
- Service Hub: For personalized assistance in resolving immigration-related questions, please submit your inquiries through Service Hub. Our team is here to provide specific support and help with any concerns you may have. Please note that TWU RCICs or RISIAs can only advise international students, their spouses, common-law partners, and children. We do not submit IRCC applications on behalf of international students.