Study Permit Extension

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Study Permit regulations to consider:

• You must be physically present inside Canada to submit your Study Permit extension online.
• All applications must include the University of Alberta Designated Learning Institution (DLI) number. University of Alberta DLI #: O19257171832. Note: The first character in the DLI number is the letter 'O', not the digit/number zero '0'.
• If you submit your study permit extension BEFORE the expiration date on your current study permit, once it expires, you will have a “maintained status” that allows you to continue to study (and work) while you wait for a final decision.
• If your study permit expires and you have not applied to extend your study permit before its expiration date, you will be able to restore your student status only if you meet the conditions of your study permit and apply within 90 days from the expiry date. You must not engage in any study or work until your Study Permit restoration application gets approved. 
• If you do not comply with the conditions of your study permit, you may be asked to leave Canada by an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer.
• Your study permit will become invalid 90 days after you complete your studies or on the expiry date of your study permit, whichever comes first.
• If you are from one of the visa-required countries, you need to extend your study permit, wait till you receive your new permit then apply for your TRV. You cannot apply for both at the same time.  

• Select: “Continue to GC Key” or “Continue to Sign-In Partner” (if you already have an account)
• If you don’t have an account, select Register and then choose either GC Key or Sign in Partner option
• Select: “Sign Up” (for GC Key only); follow the instructions. If you sign up for a GC Key, save the Username, Password, Account Recovery Questions, and Security Questions as you will require these later on to access your account.
• Select: “I accept” after reading the terms and conditions.

At the bottom of the page under “Start an Application”; click “Apply to Come to Canada”

You will be asked if you have a Personal Reference Code.

If you did not answer the assessment questions previously, you do not have a Personal Reference Code, scroll down.

Scroll down and click on “Apply for Visitor Visa, Study and/or Work Permit” and answer all assessment questions.

• Select “Study” to answer “What would you like to do in Canada?
• Select “No” to answer “Do you have a provincial attestation letter?”
• Select “Yes” to answer “Do you qualify for an exception?”
• To answer “Which exception do you qualify for? Please select the option that applies to you based on whether you are applying before or after the expiration date of your current study permit as follows:
  • Students who are extending their study permit BEFORE the expiration date on their current study permit, select "I am an applicant who meets another exception listed on the IRCC website"
  • Students who are extending their study permit AFTER the expiration date on their current study permit, select: "I am an applicant who is applying for restoration (in Canada applications only)"
• If you are asked “Have you lived in a designated country or territory for more than six months in the last year?” select “NO” if you have not been outside Canada for 6 months in the past year
• When you are asked “Are you giving someone access to your application?” Select “No” as you will be applying on your own
• You will also be asked “In the past 10 years, have you given your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) for an application to come to Canada?”, if you have never provided your biometrics for an IRCC application in the past 10 years, select “No”

• UCI number: “Unique client Identifier”, also known as “Client ID”. It is an 8- 10 digit number that appears on the top left of your Study Permit.
• DLI number: This is the University ‘Designated Learning Institute’ number: O19257171832
• Document Number: This number is usually printed in bold black ink at the top of your study permit starting with an “F” followed by 9 numbers.
• Employment section: Because you are a full-time student in Canada, you can write “student” as your “current activity”. 
• Background Information:
  2(c): Have you previously applied to enter or remain in Canada? Click YES, as you have entered Canada on your Study Permit. Include the dates for each document you applied for in the past in the available box (e.g., first study permit: Aug. 2021, extended study permit Dec. 2023).
  
• Signature box: You can type your name in the box or leave it blank. Do not print out and sign by hand!

Read the step-by-step instructions on how to complete the IMM5709 form. 

• University document confirming admission/enrollment: 
  • Your original admission (acceptance) letter (only applies to students who will be starting a new study program), OR
  • Proof of current enrolment  (applies to students who are continuing studies in the same program)
    • Undergraduate students: request verification of enrolment through Beartracks (under Academic Records > Verification Documents > Enrollment Verification > Verification of Enrollment including courses option)
      • Suppose you are applying to extend your Study Permit after the registration for the upcoming Fall and Winter has commenced. In that case, you must include a Verification of Enrolment for upcoming Fall and Winter terms (for example, students applying to extend their study permits in April 2024 are advised to submit a Verification of Enrolment for Fall 2024 and Winter 2025)
      • If this document is not available through Beartracks, you must request it from the Student Service Centre explaining that it is needed in support of your study permit extension
      • Additional documents may be required! Check with an International Student Specialist to determine what, if any, additional documents you may need. Examples of cases where additional documents may be required include but are not limited to taking an extended break from studies (1 year or longer), your verification of enrollment doesn’t reflect the actual time you need to complete your program
    • Graduate students can request a letter confirming their enrolment and expected completion date through the Student Service Catalog.
• Proof of funds
  • Your bank statements for the past 4 months (you can use your e-statements)
  • Letter of support from family (if needed)
  • Other proof of income (e.g. Department funding letter for graduate students and/or scholarship)
  • All your financial documents must be merged as one pdf file.
• Passport-style Digital Photo
• Scanned Copy of Passport (the page that shows your birth date and country of origin, and all pages that contain a stamp or Visa)
• Letter of Explanation (uploaded in Client Information): To explain to the IRCC what you are requesting or to provide additional information you want to be considered in your application

• You will be required to pay the $150 Study Permit fees online with a credit or debit card
• If you have never provided biometrics to IRCC in the past 10 years, you will be required to pay an additional $85 biometrics fee.

To check if your biometrics are still valid, click here

If you are required to provide your biometrics, you can expect that once you pay the fees ($150 + $85) and submit your application, you will get a message with a Biometrics Instruction Letter. You will need this letter to book a biometrics appointment with a Service Canada Centre.