Canada study permit extension: how to extend inside Canada

For a Canada study permit extension, apply online from inside Canada at least 30 days before your current permit expires, pay the CAD 150 fee, and upload a letter of enrolment, proof of funds and, if you are changing school or level, a new provincial attestation letter (PAL). If you apply before your permit expires, you can keep studying under the same conditions until IRCC decides. If you miss the deadline, you must stop studying and apply to restore your status, which costs more.

Last checked: 19 October 2026. Rupee amounts use the NRB selling rate, 17 Oct 2026 (CAD 1 = Rs 107.55).

Canada study permit extension: key facts

When to apply for an extension

IRCC’s “when to apply” page says to apply at least 30 days before your study permit expires if you want to keep studying. You usually need an extension when:

• your program takes longer than planned (a failed course, an extra term, a thesis delay);
• your permit was cut short because your passport was expiring;
• you are moving to a new school or a new level of study.

Remember that your permit can end early. It expires on the date printed on it or 90 days after you finish your studies, whichever comes first. The 90 days start from your school’s first notice that you completed the program, or the date you receive your degree, diploma or certificate.

Your new permit cannot be valid longer than your passport. If your Nepali passport expires soon, renew it first, otherwise IRCC can only give you a permit up to the passport’s expiry date.

Maintained status: studying while you wait

If you apply before your permit expires and stay in Canada, you can keep studying under the same conditions as your current permit until IRCC makes a decision. This is often called maintained status. Some important limits:

• Stay in Canada. IRCC says you can re-enter Canada only with a valid study permit (or a letter of introduction for a new one) and a valid travel document. If you leave while waiting, you lose the benefit.
• An incomplete application doesn’t count. Guide 5552 says an application rejected as incomplete is treated as never submitted, so you would not keep your status.
• Provincial documents. While on maintained status you can’t renew provincial documents such as a driver’s licence or health card, or get a SIN card.
• Work. Keep within your current conditions. Off-campus work is limited to 24 hours a week during regular terms, unlimited during scheduled breaks. See our part-time work rules guide.

PAL/TAL rules for extensions

A provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) is the letter a province issues under Canada’s study permit cap. IRCC’s PAL/TAL page (modified 2 September 2026) says:

• Same school (DLI), same level: no new PAL/TAL needed.
• Different school or different level: you need a new PAL/TAL, unless you are moving from post-secondary to a degree-granting master’s or doctoral program at a public DLI.
• Master’s or PhD at a public DLI: exempt from the PAL/TAL from 1 January 2026.
• Restoring status: you need a new PAL/TAL, even for the same school and level.
• Exemptions need proof. If you rely on an exemption, include proof of it.

Guide 5552 warns that in most cases an application sent without a required PAL/TAL is returned with the fees. For more on the cap, read our Canada study permit cap 2026 guide.

Documents and proof of funds

• Letter from your school. Current students upload a letter of enrolment; new students a letter of acceptance. Guide 5552 says it must be on official letterhead and show tuition, start and finish dates.
• Passport copies, including the page with your most recent entry stamp if you have one.
• Transcripts if you have completed two study periods in a row, or a registrar letter about your academic standing.
• Proof of funds. You must show enough money, without working, for tuition, living costs for you and any family with you, and return travel.
• PAL/TAL if required (see above).

IRCC’s how-to-apply page says the updated financial requirements also apply to extensions. The current living-cost amounts (outside Quebec, applications on or after 1 September 2026) are CAD 23,448 for a student alone (about Rs 25.22 lakh) and CAD 29,192 for two people (about Rs 31.40 lakh), on top of tuition. Bank statements, a Canadian bank account in your name, pay stubs and a scholarship letter are all listed by IRCC as examples of proof. See our guide to the September 2026 proof of funds increase.

How to apply, step by step

1. Check your permit’s expiry date and your passport’s expiry date.
2. Ask your school for a fresh letter of enrolment showing your expected completion date.
3. Check whether you need a new PAL/TAL. If you do, get it before you apply.
4. Gather transcripts, passport copies and recent bank statements.
5. Read IRCC Guide 5552, then sign in to your IRCC secure account. IRCC says you must use it for an extension, even if you used a different account for your first permit.
6. Answer the online questions to get your document checklist. If you are moving to a new post-secondary school, answer “Yes” to the school-change question; IRCC says these may get 60-day processing.
7. Pay CAD 150 at the end and submit. Save your submission confirmation as proof that you applied on time.
8. Give biometrics if IRCC asks, and answer any document request by its deadline.

If your permit has already expired

Once your status is lost, you cannot study until IRCC restores it. You may apply to restore your status within 90 days of losing it, by selecting “Restore my status” and explaining why. The fee is CAD 396.25 (about Rs 42,617), and each family member who needs restoration pays separately. Approval is not guaranteed, and you need a new PAL/TAL. If you are not eligible to restore, you must leave Canada.

Tips for Nepali students

• Funds from home. If your parents still support you, keep the same paper trail you used for your first permit: bank statements and a clear source of income. Our sponsor documents guide explains what to collect.
• Explain the delay. If you need more time because of failed courses or a program change, add a short, honest letter. Our letter of explanation guide shows how.
• Think about the PGWP. You must apply for a post-graduation work permit within 180 days of finishing, and your study permit must have been valid at some point in those 180 days.

Common mistakes

• Applying on the last day, then uploading a weak or incomplete file.
• Leaving Canada for a holiday while the extension is pending.
• Changing school without a new PAL/TAL (see our guide to changing schools on a study permit).
• Forgetting that the permit ends 90 days after you finish your program.
• Working more than your permit allows while waiting.

Frequently asked questions

How early can I apply to extend my study permit in Canada?
IRCC sets no earliest date. It says to apply at least 30 days before your current permit expires.

How much is the study permit extension fee in Canada?
CAD 150, about Rs 16,133 at the NRB selling rate on 17 Oct 2026. Biometrics, if requested, are CAD 85.

Do I need a PAL to extend my study permit?
Not if you stay at the same school and the same level. You usually need a new one if you change school or level, unless you move into a master’s or PhD at a public DLI.

Can I keep studying if my study permit expires while my extension is pending?
Yes, if you applied before it expired and you remain in Canada. You keep the same conditions until IRCC decides.

What if I forgot to extend my study permit?
Stop studying and apply to restore your status within 90 days. The fee is CAD 396.25 and you need a new PAL/TAL.

Related guides

• Canada spousal open work permit for students: 2026 rules
• Change school in Canada on a study permit: 2026 DLI rules
• Provincial Nominee Programs for international graduates (2026)
• Canada Study Permit Application from Nepal: 2026 Steps
• Canada GIC for Study Permit from Nepal: 2026 Guide

Sources

• Extend your study permit: when to apply – IRCC
• Extend your study permit or restore your status: how to apply – IRCC
• Guide 5552: Applying to extend your stay in Canada as a student – IRCC
• What to do if your study permit expires – IRCC
• Can I stay in Canada after my study permit expires if I applied for a new permit? – IRCC Help Centre
• Provincial or territorial attestation letter – IRCC
• Fee list – IRCC
• Proof of financial support – IRCC
• Post-graduation work permit: who can apply – IRCC

Last checked: 19 October 2026. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice.