IRCC updated its internal program delivery instructions for study permits on June 18, 2026. The update covers how officers assess compliance with study permit conditions, including enrolment rules, leave from studies, and working rights during leave. If you are an international student in Canada, these rules directly affect your status.
The legal foundation is subsection 220.1(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR). Under this provision, every study permit holder must do two things: stay enrolled at the designated learning institution (DLI) named on their permit, and actively pursue their course or program of study. Failing either condition can trigger serious consequences.
Your Study Permit Names a Specific DLI, and That Matters
As of November 8, 2024, every post-secondary study permit names the specific DLI you applied to attend. You must stay enrolled at that institution until you finish your studies. This is not a suggestion. It is a legal condition of your permit under paragraph R220.1(1)(a).
If you leave that DLI without first applying for a new study permit, your current permit becomes invalid on the day you unenrol. That is spelled out in paragraph R222(1)(a.1). You are then considered to be studying without authorization, even if you immediately enrol at another legitimate DLI.
Also note: as of November 1, 2024, IRCC removed the option to update your DLI through your online account. You can no longer make that change digitally. The only way to switch institutions is to apply for a brand new study permit naming the new DLI. If that application is refused, you must stop studying at the post-secondary level immediately.
Students who hold a study permit issued before November 8, 2024, where no DLI name appears on the permit, are in a different position. Officers cannot find them non-compliant with the DLI condition for switching schools, because no DLI was named. However, IRCC strongly recommends that those students still apply for a new study permit when they change DLIs. Once their current no-DLI permit expires, any renewal will name the new institution. This also matters for compliance reporting: your new DLI needs an accurate study permit to complete the twice-yearly student compliance reporting exercise.
One specific group to watch: secondary students moving into post-secondary studies. If you used a secondary-level study permit to start post-secondary classes, you are not properly authorized. You must apply for a new study permit naming the post-secondary DLI before beginning those studies. If you are on a visitor record while attending secondary school, you must wait for a full study permit approval before starting post-secondary work.
What "Actively Pursuing Studies" Actually Means
The second condition on your permit is that you must actively pursue your program. IRCC officers use specific criteria to assess this, and they review data from DLIs twice a year through formal compliance reporting exercises.
The minimum threshold is at least part-time enrolment status at your institution. Full-time status is the standard, and in Quebec, full-time enrolment is specifically required by provincial rules. If you drop below part-time without an authorized leave, you may be found non-compliant.
Changing programs or institutions multiple times can also raise a red flag. Officers look at whether the changes support a reasonable path toward completing a Canadian credential. If your academic history shows repeated switches that do not add up to genuine progress, an officer may determine that you have not fulfilled the active pursuit condition. You can change programs within the same DLI at the same level of study, provided your permit conditions do not restrict it, but each switch should have a clear academic rationale you can explain.
Completion of studies is officially recorded on the date your DLI first notifies you, whether by completion letter, transcript, or your degree or diploma. The date on that document is what counts, unless you or your DLI can prove a different notification date. Your study permit becomes invalid 90 days after that date.
| Situation | Rule |
|---|---|
| Maximum authorized leave from studies | 150 days from the date leave began |
| Study permit validity after completing studies | 90 days after completion notification |
| Changing DLIs (post-Nov 8, 2024 permits) | Must apply for a new study permit first |
| Deferred enrolment, must start studies by | 150 days from deferral confirmation or next semester, whichever is sooner |
| Working on/off campus during any leave | Not permitted |
| Co-op or internship during leave or DLI closure | Not permitted, even with a valid co-op work permit |
| Wait period before a new permit after non-compliance | 6 months after cessation of unauthorized study or work |
Leave from Studies: The 150-Day Rule
Taking time away from your program is allowed under specific conditions. Any leave must be authorized by your DLI, and it cannot exceed 150 days from the day the leave started. If you return to or begin your studies within that 150-day window, IRCC considers you to have been actively pursuing studies during the entire leave period.
Accepted reasons for authorized leave include medical illness or injury, pregnancy, a family emergency, the death or serious illness of a family member, a program change within the same institution outside a scheduled break, dismissal or suspension, and a postponed program start date. This list is not exhaustive, your DLI has discretion to authorize leave for other compelling reasons.
If you take multiple separate leave periods during your program, an officer will look at the full picture. Multiple breaks that do not support a realistic path to graduation can lead to a finding of non-compliance, even if each individual leave was under 150 days and formally authorized.
Deferred enrolment falls under a similar framework. If your program start date is pushed to the next semester, either because you requested it or because your DLI imposed it, you must obtain formal written approval from the institution. If you are already in Canada during the deferral period, you must begin studies within 150 days of the confirmed deferral date or at the next semester start, whichever is earlier. If neither is possible, you should change your status to visitor or worker, or leave Canada. In all deferral situations, get an updated letter of acceptance from your DLI.
If your DLI closes permanently, for example, due to bankruptcy or a prolonged strike, you are considered compliant during the transition period. However, the 150-day window still applies. You have 150 days from the closure date to transfer to a new program, change status, or leave Canada. You will need to apply for a new study permit naming your new DLI if you continue studying.
You Cannot Work During Any Leave from Studies
This rule surprises many students. Study permits typically authorize on-campus or off-campus work when you are a full-time student. But the moment you go on leave, for any reason, that work authorization stops. You cannot work on campus, off campus, or through a co-op placement while on authorized leave.
This applies even if you hold a valid co-op work permit. The co-op permit does not override the study permit condition. If you undertake a co-op or internship placement while your studies are officially on hold, you are violating your permit conditions. The same rule applies during a DLI closure, no work of any kind is permitted while your studies are paused due to an institutional closure.
If you are not attending classes on at least a part-time basis, IRCC treats you as not actively pursuing studies. That is the legal threshold for work eligibility under your study permit conditions.
What Happens If You Are Found Non-Compliant
IRCC officers must follow procedural fairness rules before making a non-compliance finding. Before refusing an application or issuing an enforcement action, an officer will send you a Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL). You have the right to respond to the officer's concerns before any final decision is made. Officers are also aware that their decisions can be reviewed by the Federal Court.
If a non-compliance finding is made anyway, the consequences can be severe. An exclusion order can be issued under subparagraph R228(1)(c)(v). Your immigration history will show the non-compliance finding, which can negatively affect future applications for study permits, work permits, or any other status under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Under paragraph 221(a) and subparagraph R200(3)(e)(i), a subsequent study or work permit may be refused until at least six months have passed since the unauthorized study or work ended.
Evidence officers can request includes official enrolment confirmation from your institution, letters confirming the reason and date of any leave, transcripts, professor references, medical practitioner notes confirming the need and length of medical leave, and documentation showing a DLI has closed. Always keep these documents organized and accessible. You can review IRCC's processing times and application tools on canada.ca to plan ahead if you need to apply for a new permit.
Who Is Exempt from These Conditions
Not every study permit holder is subject to these compliance requirements. Under subsection R220.1(3), the following groups are exempt from the enrolment and active pursuit conditions: refugee claimants and their family members currently awaiting a decision from the Refugee Protection Division; persons who have been granted protected person status and their families; members of the Convention refugees abroad class or humanitarian-protected persons abroad class; accredited diplomats and consular officials and their families; members of the armed forces of a designated state under the Visiting Forces Act and their families; students who have become temporarily destitute through circumstances beyond their control; participants in reciprocal student exchange programs under a formal Canada-to-country agreement; certain US government and border officials posted to Canada; and family members of study permit holders, work permit holders, temporary resident permit holders with at least six months of validity, persons under unenforceable removal orders, Visiting Forces members, and government exchange officers.
There is also an exemption for Indigenous persons covered by the temporary public policy exempting certain Indigenous persons and their family members from temporary residence requirements, as listed on IRCC's website. If you fall into any of these categories, you do not need to meet the DLI enrolment or active pursuit conditions, though other immigration rules still apply.
FAQ
Can I start working again once my leave ends?
Yes, once you resume classes at at least part-time status and your leave period ends, your study permit work authorization applies again, provided your permit still permits work. You cannot work at any point during the leave itself.
What if my DLI loses its designated status while I am enrolled?
IRCC has separate guidance for students affected by DLI designation changes or suspensions. Check the Study permits: Designated learning institutions page on canada.ca for current rules. The 150-day compliance window still applies during transitions.
I received a Procedural Fairness Letter. What should I do?
Respond promptly and in writing. Gather all official documents from your DLI, enrolment letters, transcripts, leave approvals, medical notes, and submit them before the deadline in the letter. Consider consulting a regulated immigration consultant or lawyer.
Does the 6-month penalty period apply to everyone found non-compliant?
The 6-month wait before a new permit can be issued applies specifically under paragraph 221(a) and subparagraph R200(3)(e)(i). It covers unauthorized study or work and failure to comply with permit conditions. The exact application depends on the facts of your case, so seek professional advice if you receive a non-compliance finding.
Sources: Government of Canada (canada.ca), IRCC Help Centre. Last verified: June 18, 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice. Consult IRCC or a qualified legal aid service for guidance on your specific situation.
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