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TL;DR
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated its program delivery instructions on June 18, 2026, clarifying how officers assess whether international students comply with study permit conditions.
Authorized leave from studies must not exceed 150 days and must be approved by the student's designated learning institution (DLI).
Students on authorized leave cannot work on or off campus, even if their study permit normally allows it.
A study permit becomes invalid 90 days after completion of studies, or when a student stops being enrolled at the named DLI, regardless of the printed expiry date.
Switching programs at the same school is now limited to the same level of study.
Ottawa – IRCC updated its public officer guidance on June 18, 2026, spelling out what happens to students who change schools without applying for a new permit and how program changes within the same school are assessed. It also consolidates the rules on working during a leave, and sets out how officers should evaluate compliance in areas that have raised questions for students and institutions.
Transfers and program changes
The guidance confirms that post-secondary students changing DLIs need to follow the transfer process outlined in January 2025. If a student's existing permit didn’t prohibit switching institutions, officers cannot find them non-compliant solely for making the move. Students must, however, apply for a study permit extension before beginning at the new school, and may need a new provincial or territorial attestation letter.
Students may also switch programs at the same DLI and at the same level of study, if their permit conditions allow that. But IRCC flagged a limit: "In cases where multiple program or institutional changes do not appear to support the expectation that the student is making reasonable progress toward the completion of a Canadian credential, the officer may determine that the study permit holder has not fulfilled their study permit condition to actively pursue their course or program of study."
Switching programs at the same DLI used to be straightforward. It's still allowed if your permit conditions allow it, but only at the same level of study now. Moving from a diploma to a bachelor's, or a bachelor's to a master's, at the same school may now require a new study permit, as the level change affects both your status and your future PGWP eligibility.
The 150-day limit and what it means
Any authorized leave from a program must be approved by the student's DLI and cannot exceed 150 days from the date it began. If your next term starts before the 150 days are up, you have to be back when the term starts, not when the clock runs out. Qualifying reasons include medical issues, pregnancy, family emergencies, school closures, and any other leave the institution authorizes. Students don’t need to notify IRCC of an authorized leave but must provide proof if asked.
The Federal Court has also ruled that officers don't have to honour the 150-day grace period at all. In Kaur v. Canada, the court backed an officer who found a student non-compliant despite the leave falling inside the window. So, a student who treats 150 days as guaranteed is exposed if an officer decides reasonable progress wasn't being made.
That same 150-day limit also applies if a school shuts down permanently or a strike interrupts studies. IRCC treats affected students as compliant while the disruption is underway, but expects them to move into a new program, change status, or leave Canada within 150 days of the closure date.
If a DLI loses its designated status, students may continue studying until the current permit expires but cannot extend it to keep studying there unless the institution is redesignated.
The update reiterates that you cannot work on or off campus during an authorized leave from your study program, even if your study permit says you're allowed to work in Canada. If you’re a co-op or internship student, you aren’t exempt. You cannot do a co-op or internship placement during a leave, and you cannot use a co-op or internship work permit to work at all while the leave is active. Work eligibility starts again only once studies resume.
This is different from regularly scheduled academic breaks, during which eligible students can still work, including unlimited hours. During regular academic sessions, the cap remains 24 hours per week.
When does your permit become invalid?
Under section 222(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, a study permit becomes invalid at the earliest of: 90 days after completion of studies, the day the holder is no longer registered at the named DLI (other than because of completion), the day the permit is cancelled, or its printed expiry date.
Completion is measured from the first notification, whether that's a completion letter, transcript, or diploma. If a student finishes early, the permit stops being valid 90 days after that date, not the expiry printed on the document.
Once you finish your program, two separate deadlines start counting and can be easy to mix up. Your study permit stops being valid 90 days after you complete your studies. But your deadline to apply for a post-graduation work permit is 180 days from completion.
IRCC’s plans to enforce compliance
Officers can request proof of compliance either because they suspect a problem or as part of a random assessment. Documents they may ask for include enrollment letters, transcripts, proof of authorized leave with dates, withdrawal or dismissal records, and medical documentation. IRCC's guidance instructs officers to follow procedural fairness steps and send a Procedural Fairness Letter before making a final adverse decision.
What this means for you
If you're an international student in Canada, this guidance puts specific deadlines around your compliance obligations:
Know your real deadlines: 150 days is the maximum, but your actual deadline is whichever comes first; 150 days or the start of your next term. Courts have also ruled officers don't have to honour the 150-day grace period at all, so don't treat it as guaranteed.
Stop working during authorized leave: Scheduled breaks and authorized leave are treated differently. Confusing the two can cost you your status.
Keep documentation ready: Enrollment letters, leave approvals, transcripts, and medical records should be accessible. IRCC can ask for them at any time, including randomly.
Don't rely on the printed expiry date: If you finish your program early, your permit becomes invalid 90 days after completion, not on the date printed on the document.
Know your two post-graduation deadlines: Your permit goes invalid 90 days after you finish. Your PGWP application window is 180 days from finishing. They're different dates, so track both.
