Academic Requirements for Immigration

As an international student with a valid study permit, you must actively pursue studies to maintain legal status in Canada. View study permit conditions

If you need a leave of absence for personal, health, or medical reasons, this information explains options for maintaining your legal status. Be aware that the leave's duration may affect your student status and eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Learn about PGWP eligibility

Leave of Absence Up to a Maximum of 150 Days

If you take a leave of absence that is less than 150 days, the IRCC considers you to be "actively pursuing your studies." This means that you maintain the conditions of your study permit and remain eligible for a PGWP during this period, as long as you take the following steps:

• Before beginning any leave, you must contact your Faculty to request an authorized leave of absence, and your request must be approved.
• Your Faculty may issue the official letter of authorized leave when it is needed for a future application, such as the PGWP.
• Be aware that the IRCC may contact you to verify your student status during the leave period or as part of a future application process.

If you took a leave of absence previously, even if you did not get a letter at that time, you must now request a formal leave of absence letter from your Faculty. This letter is required for your PGWP once you complete your program of study.

To request a Leave of Absence for immigration purposes, provide your Faculty with the following:

• Reason for Request: Confirm the request is specifically for immigration.
• Reason for Leave: Briefly state the general reason (e.g., "personal," "health").
• Duration: Specify the exact start and end months (e.g., "January 2020 to April 2020").

Leave of Absence That Exceeds 150 Days

If your leave of absence exceeds 150 days, you will no longer be considered "actively pursuing your studies" after that period. To maintain your study permit conditions, you will need to take one of the following actions, depending on whether you plan to remain in Canada after the 150 days.

• If you remain in Canada beyond the 150 days, you need to change your status to "Visitor" before the 150 days are up.
• If you are leaving Canada, you need to leave as soon as the 150 days are over.
• If you are required to withdraw from your program, or if your program status is not active in the program due to an extended leave, you may be required to apply for a new Study Permit upon new admission to the program.

Consequences of Part-time Status Due to Course Withdrawal

While you can maintain your study permit conditions with part-time enrollment, this change in status has immediate implications.

Work Eligibility

• You are no longer eligible to work on or off-campus once your registration becomes part-time, if this is not your final term for your program.
• You may only resume working when you return to full-time status.
• Important Note: Students who are, or become, part-time during the Winter term are not eligible to work on or off-campus during the subsequent Spring and Summer terms without a full-time enrollment status in those terms.

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Eligibility

• If you become a part-time student after withdrawing from courses during regular academic terms (such as Fall and/or Winter), other than your final term, your eligibility for the PGWP will be affected.