Renewal of Immigration Documents

Preliminary step – passport

Ensure your passport is valid until the end of your studies; otherwise, it is preferable to renew it as soon as possible. Any study permit or work permit issued, including the post-graduation work permit (PGWP), will be limited in duration by the passport expiration date.

If you need to renew your passport

You can still renew your CAQ with your current passport as long as it is valid. The validity period of the CAQ is not impacted by the passport. However, you will need to wait for the new passport before submitting your study permit application since the study permit’s expiration date cannot exceed that of your passport.

Preliminary step – study extension

If your final term needs to be changed, you must agree on the extension with your supervisor and request it in IDÉ. The duration of the CAQ and study permit issued to you will depend on this final term. Within the limits permitted by INRS study regulations (in French), it is preferable to request a longer extension to avoid repeating the process and paying fees again.

Once the extension is approved, you can request an enrollment attestation (attestation d’inscription) for the last term in which you are enrolled at the time of your application. Submit this request using the official document request form.

When should you start the process?

It is generally recommended to start the process for obtaining a new CAQ approximately six (6) months before your study permit expires. Earlier applications are typically not accepted: it is therefore advisable to attach a letter of explanation if you wish to apply more than six (6) months in advance.

It is important to keep in mind that it is not necessary to obtain the renewed study permit before the previous one expires: student status and the right to work associated with the study permit, if applicable, are maintained if the study permit renewal application is submitted before the previous permit expires. This maintained status applies as soon as your previous study permit expires, and lasts until a decision is made on your application, as long as you do not leave Canada.

Cases for which you should start your procedures earlier

Starting the process more than six (6) months in advance may be relevant in the following cases.

Need to leave and re-enter Canada

If you need a visa to enter Canada and you plan to travel and come back to Canada shortly after the expiration of your current study permit and of your current temporary resident visa (TRV) stamped in your passport, it would be wise to begin the process earlier.

Having a study permit application in process does not extend your TRV. It doesn’t mean you can’t leave Canada, but you’ll need a new TRV to re-enter.

Additionally, the TRV is not automatically issued when the study permit is approved, unlike initial applications made before arriving in Canada. A new TRV application must be submitted after obtaining the new study permit, and processing can take several weeks.

For more information, see Step 3: Renewal of the visa (TRV) or eTA on the current page.

Applying for a post-graduation work permit requires a valid permit

Do you plan to complete your studies shortly after your current study permit expires? You should be aware that to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) after your studies, you must have a valid permit: maintained status alone is not sufficient.

You should therefore plan accordingly to ensure that your next permit will be accepted when you apply for your PGWP. Keep in mind that you must first obtain a CAQ, and that study permit processing times may vary.

For more useful information, see the page Immigration pathways and transition after graduation.

Step 1: Renewal of the Quebec acceptance certificate (CAQ)

The process for renewing the CAQ with the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) is similar to the initial application, but with some differences. This time, you must provide:

1. Your official transcripts to show that you studied full-time during the entire period covered by your CAQ (request them from the registrar using the official document request form). You must include a letter of explanation when:
   1. You have failed courses or taken leaves of absence, as the MIFI needs to ensure that you comply with CAQ conditions and may question your academic commitment;
   2. You did not arrive for the term originally planned, because the MIFI wants to verify that you were not in Canada at that time; you should enclose your last letter of admission, as well as your study permit to show your date of arrival, or the letter of refusal if you had to reapply.

2. Proof of private or public health and hospitalization insurance for all periods of your studies in Québec when you were not enrolled, according to your transcripts. Such coverage is mandatory for your entire stay. The transcripts prove this coverage for the terms in which you were enrolled, but not for the other terms.
3. An attestation of registration with an updated end-of-study date (see Preliminary step – study extension).

   If your degree level is changing, you need to provide the letter of admission to your new program instead of an attestation of registration.
   If you are changing for another institution, you will also need to provide your letter of admission, and be aware of the restrictions that apply in such cases.

4. Proof of your financial capacity for the remaining study period. Request a new support letter from your student records officer specifying INRS’s financial support for the remaining study period (or at least one year if the period is longer). Make sure this support continues until the end term indicated on your attestation of registration: otherwise, or if the support is insufficient, you’ll need to provide additional financial proof. To find out how to provide financial proof, see point 5 below.

5. A very concise letter of explanation is important to describe your specific situation and the evidence you are providing. This should at least include:

To explain your situation

• If you were outside Canada for some terms, a description and justification of your travel;
• If you were not registered for some terms, a reference to your proof of insurance for those terms;
• If you are withdrawing from the PhD to return to a Master’s program, an explanation of your reasons and a letter from your supervisor supporting this choice and your commitment to your studies;
• Any other explanation, always very brief, that may be required for a particular pathway;

To summarize your financial evidence

• The following Excel table, duly completed with clear references to your evidence;
• A reference to the registrar’s official PDF document detailing tuition fees, specifying the page on which the table that applies to you can be found (see the blue box at the beginning of this page);
• A reference to the updated INRS letter of financial support, that you must attach;
• If further financial evidence is required, a summary of this evidence using the Immi+ tool, Provide proof of your financial capacity

Please note that:

• Bank statements are very useful to show your savings, but you need to provide those for the last three (3) months, clearly identified with your name, and the amount to include in your Excel table is the lowest balance reached during this period, which represents your remaining savings after current expenses;
• Receiving an inflow of money into your account is useless; if a third party agrees to support you, he or she must instead complete and sign the Declaration of financial support available on the MIFI website, and you must include it with your application, along with that person’s financial proof.

Refer to Immi+, Applying for a CAQ section, for all official links and more details on the procedure.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our immigration advisory team at Immigration.Etudes@inrs.ca and complete this consent form.

Response to your request

If the ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) approves your CAQ application, you can proceed with renewing your study permit (see the next section).

If you receive a letter of intent to refuse (intention de refus) requesting additional documents, refer to the section In case of refusal or intent to refuse.

Step 2: Renewal (or extension) of the study permit

Refer to the IRCC website for information on how to submit a Canadian study permit application. The same documents used for the CAQ application are also required for the study permit application.

Your CAQ must be attached to your study permit application. It also serves as a Provincial attestation letter (PAL) if it includes the following statement: “This attestation letter confirms that the applicant has a place in the Québec portion of study permit applications or is exempt.”

A PAL is not required in all cases. See the PDF document available at the bottom of this page on the Immi+ platform for the application procedure and to find out what to do about the LAP.

Proving your financial capacity

Use the same financial capacity table as for the CAQ application. The required amount is the same as that demanded by Immigration Québec, so it is the same as for your CAQ application.

Has your study permit expired?

If your study permit has expired before you applied for an extension, you must restore your status. You will not be allowed to study or work until you receive a copy of your new study permit.

Is your study permit still valid?

If your study permit is valid at the time of applying for an extension, you are under maintained status, meaning your right to study and work related to your study permit remains while awaiting the decision, provided you do not leave Canada.

Please feel free to contact our immigration advisory team at Immigration.Etudes@inrs.ca and complete this consent form.

Step 3: Renewal of the visa (TRV) or eTA

Depending on your country of origin, an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is required to enter Canada by air. If you plan to leave and re-enter the country, you must renew your TRV or eTA.

To find out who needs a TRV, visit the IRCC website.

The eTA will be issued automatically if your study permit extension is accepted.

To obtain a TRV, you must wait for the letter of acceptance of your study permit extension. To find out how to apply for the TRV, consult the Immi+ page and the PDF document you’ll find there: Immi+ | Renewing your eTA or TRV.

After submitting your application, you will receive instructions for sending your passport to the Ottawa Case Processing Centre.

In case of refusal or intent to refuse

CAQ

For CAQ refusals, follow the same instructions as for an initial application. Refer to Negative response to CAQ application in the Immigration Procedures After Admission to INRS page.

Study permit

For study permit refusals, follow the same steps as for an initial request. See Study Permit Refusal in the Post-Admission Immigration Procedures at INRS page.