New rules for transferring schools as an international student in Canada

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has instituted new rules for international students transferring schools.

Now, depending on your situation, you may require a new study permit to transfer schools.

This article will cover important information and steps for international students in Canada looking to change their schools in 2025, including

Guidance for specific transfer situations;
Special measures for some students transferring schools between January and May 2025; and
Important Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility considerations for international students choosing to transfer schools.

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Do I need to apply for a new study permit when changing schools?

Depending on the level and nature of your school transfer, you may need to meet different criteria. These differences are summarized in the table below:

Situation	Required procedure
Changing Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs)* at the post-secondary level	You will need to apply for a new study permit by applying for an extension of your current permit.
Moving between post-secondary programs at the same DLI	You can continue to study on your current study permit, provided that you continue to meet all the necessary conditions of your student status.
Moving from secondary to post-secondary levels	You will need to apply for a new study permit by applying for an extension of your current study permit.
Moving from post-secondary to secondary levels	You will need to apply for a study permit by applying for an extension of your study permit.
Changing DLIs at the primary or secondary levels	You can continue to study on your current study permit, as long as it is valid—unless there are specific conditions written on your study permit that limit your ability to do so.
Moving from primary to secondary levels at the same DLI	You can continue to study on your current study permit, as long as it is valid—unless there are specific conditions written on your study permit that limit your ability to do so.
Changing DLIs in Quebec	With few exceptions, , you will need to apply for a new study permit and receive an attestation of issuance of your Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) to be submitted with this application.
Changing DLIs in Quebec	If you are transferring between two schools that are vocational training centers (VTCs), you will not need to apply for a new study permit, but you need a new CAQ.

*DLIs are the only schools in Canada approved to accept international students. Study permits will not be issued to students who will enroll at educational institutions that are not DLIs.

Note: In situations where secondary school students in Canada transfer to the post-secondary level, study permits of newcomers who finish their secondary school studies early will no longer be valid for 90 days after the completion of studies—regardless of the date shown on the study permit.

Changing schools or programs without informing IRCC can carry serious consequences. Failure to report changing schools can lead to your study permit becoming invalid or canceled. In addition, IRCC may ask you to leave Canada, or to change your status in the country, something which can further restrict your ability to come to or settle in Canada in the future.

How can I apply for a new study permit via a study permit extension?

In the new regulatory environment for international students in Canada, certain groups of students identified in the above table must apply for a new study permit via a study permit extension in order to change schools.

To submit a study permit extension, you must do the following:

Ensure that you have all the new necessary documentation to apply for an extension, including a new Letter of Acceptance (LOA);
Collect all remaining needed documents from the document checklist available on the IRCC website (Guide 5552) to be submitted to the department;
Complete all necessary forms and upload needed documentation to your online application;
Pay the needed fees (listed below);
Apply to IRCC online for an extension of your study permit (unless you meet one of the exceptions to apply on paper);
- Ensure that your new DLI verifies your LOA within the time frame needed.

Special measures for students transferring schools between January and May 1, 2025

IRCC has also introduced interim measures allowing some students who have been accepted to a new DLI in the Winter or Spring of 2025 to transfer schools and begin their studies while their new study permit application is still in process.

You can begin studying at your new school before the issuance of a new study permit if you

Have been accepted to a new DLI for the Winter or Spring semester intake (January 1 to May 1, 2025);
Have already applied for a study permit extension;
Have a study permit that remains valid, and that does not have the name of your new DLI printed on it; and
Meet all conditions of your existing study permit.

Important work permit consideration for students transferring schools

Applying for a new study permit via an extension may entail having to meet extra requirements to be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

Since November of 2024, international graduates in Canada need to meet language and (depending on their program) field of study requirements to be eligible for a PGWP.

Whether you need to meet field of study requirements or not depends on the date that you applied for your study permit.

If you applied for your study permit before November 1, 2024, you will not need to meet field of study requirements and only require a language test with a qualifying score.

Students who applied for their study permit before November 1, 2024, and who require a new study permit when transferring schools may therefore risk needing to meet field of study requirements to receive a PGWP—where previously they were exempt.

Eligibility requirements for a PGWP are given in the tables below.

PGWP Eligibility requirements (Study permit application submitted before Nov. 1, 2024):

Level of study	Language requirements	Field of study requirements
University bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral programs	English or French language proficiency equivalent to a level 7 CLB/NCLC in all four language abilities.	N/A
University programs not listed above	English or French language proficiency equivalent to a level 7 CLB/NCLC in all four language abilities.	N/A
College program or non-university program	English or French language proficiency equivalent to a level 5 CLB/NCLC in all four language abilities.	N/A

PGWP Eligibility requirements (Study permit application submitted after Nov. 1, 2024):

Level of study	Language requirements	Field of study requirements
University bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral programs	English or French language proficiency equivalent to a level 7 CLB/NCLC in all four language abilities.	N/A
University programs not listed above	English or French language proficiency equivalent to a level 7 CLB/NCLC in all four language abilities.	Must have graduated from an eligible field of study.
College program or other non-university program	English or French language proficiency equivalent to a level 5 CLB/NCLC in all four language abilities.	Must have graduated from an eligible field of study.

Needed fees for school transfers

Depending on your situation, you may have to pay to restore your student status (if your study permit has expired), or to submit biometrics if requested to do so by IRCC:

Category	Fee
Study permit (including extensions) – per person	$150
Restore your status as a student (includes $239.75 for restoration and $150 for new study permit)	$389.75

Biometrics Fees

Category	Fee
Biometrics (per person)	$85
Biometrics (per family - 2 or more people)	$170

What is a PGWP?

The PGWP is an open work permit for international students who have graduated from qualifying post-secondary programs from DLIs in Canada.

It allows graduates to work for any employer in Canada without needing a job offer, offering holders the flexibility to work for most employers in most industries anywhere in the country. The PGWP can be issued for a duration ranging from 8 months to three years, depending on the length of the student's study program.

One key advantage of the PGWP is that it provides international graduates with valuable professional work experience in Canada. This work experience is essential for those wishing to apply for Canadian immigration.

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