Since Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) usually issues a study permit to expire 90 days after a student's expected completion date, it is common for study permits to expire at the end of March, the end of July, or the end of November. 

} Your study permit may have a different expiry date.  We recommend that you record important expiry dates in your calendar.

You must have a valid study permit for the entire duration of your program of study in Canada at SFU.  Additionally, if you intend to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) from inside Canada, and you hope to work during the processing of your PGWP application, having a valid study permit at the time you apply for the PGWP is also important. 

Remember to check the expiry date of your study permit and apply to extend your study permit before it expires so that you can remain in Canada legally and avoid interruptions to your studies.  Detailed instructions for extending your study permit from inside Canada can be found in our Instruction Guides below: 

• Extending your Study Permit (in-Canada process only)
• Instruction Guide: Study Permit Extension Applications (in-Canada process only)
• Note: If you are currently outside Canada and have questions about extending your study permit please contact an International Student Advisor, Immigration Specialist for further information on the appropriate process to follow.

Review estimated processing times for an in-Canada study permit extension application on the IRCC website. These times fluctuate throughout the year and are updated regularly.  We recommend that you start the extension process 1 to 2 months in advance of the estimated processing time window.  

IRCC cannot issue an immigration document (e.g. study permit) that is valid beyond your passport expiry date.  Regardless of your passport expiry date, if you are in Canada you are still required to apply to extend your study permit before it expires in order to maintain your student immigration status  and continue studying.  If you will not be able to obtain your renewed passport before your study permit expires, please follow the detailed guidance at the link below:

• I need to extend my study permit but my passport is about to expire and I can't obtain a new one in time. What should I do?

If you have any questions about the above, please connect with an International Student Advisor, Immigration Specialist.