Change your school or program in Canada.

When a new permit is required

Most changes at the post-secondary level require a brand new study permit. Since November 8, 2024, students can no longer change DLIs by notifying IRCC online. The cases that require a new permit are:

• Changing post-secondary DLI: moving to a different university, college, or post-secondary institution
• Changing level of study: for example, moving from a diploma to a bachelor’s, or from a master’s to a PhD
• Programs requiring prerequisite courses at a different DLI or level of study

In these cases, the process is essentially a new study permit application, filed inside Canada through your IRCC Secure Account. You will need a new Letter of Acceptance from your new DLI, a new Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL or TAL), and you must continue your studies at your current DLI until the new permit is approved.

When you don’t need a new permit

If you’re changing your program of study within the same DLI at the same post-secondary level, your current study permit remains valid. You don’t need to apply for a new one, as long as you continue to meet your study permit conditions: full-time enrollment, active pursuit of studies, and compliance with all conditions printed on your permit.

IRCC requires that you actively pursue your studies, which means making reasonable progress toward completing your program. Multiple program changes without a clear reason may be interpreted as failure to meet this condition and could affect future immigration applications, including study permit extensions and Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility. If you take a leave from your studies during the transition, the maximum authorized leave is 150 days: beyond that period you are no longer considered to be actively pursuing your studies and must change status, leave Canada, or risk losing your student status.

In this case, what you do need to handle is:

• Notify your DLI of your program change so they can update their records and continue reporting your enrollment to IRCC
• Confirm your study permit conditions still allow the change (some permits include limits on field or institution)
• Maintain your full-time enrollment status at all times to remain compliant with permit conditions
• Verify your new program preserves PGWP eligibility if you plan to apply after graduation (program length, level, and field of study all matter)
• Respond promptly to any IRCC verification email (sender ending in @cic.gc.ca) confirming you remain enrolled and actively studying
• Keep your documents in order in case IRCC requests proof of enrollment or active studies