Change school in Canada on a study permit: 2026 DLI rules

To change school in Canada on a study permit, you must apply to extend your study permit for the new school, and usually get it approved, before you start studying there. In most cases you also need a new provincial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) and a letter explaining why you are changing. Changing schools can also affect your post-graduation work permit (PGWP), so check that first.

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

What the rules say now

IRCC’s changing your school or program page (last modified 10 June 2026) says you need to get a new study permit by applying to extend your current one before you can start studying at your new DLI.

When you can start at the new school

The general rule is: get the extended permit for the new school before you finish at your current school, and don’t start at the new school until it is approved.

IRCC allows you to start at the new school while the extension is pending only if all of these apply:

• you have not left Canada since you got the new letter of acceptance;
• you still meet the conditions of your current permit; and
• your old school closed, cancelled your program, was suspended, or lost its designated status before you finished.

Good news on speed: IRCC says applications to move to a new post-secondary DLI may be processed in 60 days, if you answer “Yes” to the school-change question in the online application.

PAL/TAL rules when changing schools

Since 22 January 2025, students changing schools or levels need a new PAL/TAL, unless they meet an exception. IRCC’s PAL/TAL page says you must get it before you submit the application. Key points:

• Graduate exemption: from 1 January 2026, degree-granting master’s and doctoral programs at a public DLI don’t need a PAL/TAL. Moving from post-secondary into one of these is exempt too.
• Moving from graduate to college level, or secondary to post-secondary, generally needs a new PAL/TAL.
• An approved or refused application uses up the PAL. You can’t reapply with the same PAL/TAL after a decision.
• Valid only for its year. PALs issued in 2026 are valid until 31 December 2026.

PALs are issued by provinces under the national cap, so a new one is not guaranteed. Read our Canada study permit cap 2026 guide before you commit to a transfer.

How changing schools affects your PGWP

For many Nepali students, the PGWP is the main reason to study in Canada. IRCC’s PGWP eligibility page (modified 24 June 2026) sets these rules that matter for transfers:

• 8 months minimum. If you transfer between DLIs, your studies must total at least 8 months.
• Only DLI time counts. If you move from a non-DLI to a DLI, only the time at the DLI is counted, and it must be at least 8 months.
• The new school and program must be PGWP-eligible. Programs delivered through curriculum licensing (public-private partnership) arrangements are generally not eligible.
• Full-time every term. You must stay a full-time student in each semester, except the final one, which can be part-time. A gap while waiting to transfer can cause problems.
• Field of study. Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates have no field-of-study requirement. Other graduates (for example college diplomas) whose study permit application was submitted on or after 1 November 2024 must graduate in an eligible field. IRCC says your program’s CIP code must be eligible when you submit either your study permit application or your PGWP application.
• Language. PGWP applicants need CLB 7 for university degrees, or CLB 5 for college and other programs, in all four skills.

Moving from a university degree to a college diploma can therefore bring in a field-of-study requirement that did not apply before. Check the new program against our PGWP field of study 2026 guide.

How to change school in Canada, step by step

1. Check the new school is on IRCC’s DLI list and that your program is PGWP-eligible.
2. Get a letter of acceptance from the new DLI.
3. Get a new PAL/TAL from the new school or province, unless you are exempt (keep proof of the exemption).
4. Write a short letter explaining why you are changing schools. Our letter of explanation guide can help.
5. Apply online to extend your study permit through your IRCC secure account before you finish at your current school. Answer “Yes” to the DLI-change question. Pay CAD 150 (about Rs 16,133).
6. Keep studying at your current school and meeting your conditions while you wait.
7. Start at the new school only after approval, unless the closure exception applies.

If your study permit application is still being processed (you are not yet in Canada), IRCC says to send the new letter of acceptance and PAL/TAL through its web form instead. If your permit was already approved and you are still outside Canada, you must submit a new study permit application and pay the fees again.

For the full extension process, see our guide on how to extend your Canada study permit.

What happens if you switch without telling IRCC

Post-secondary schools report on their international students to IRCC. If you leave without following the process, your old school may report you as not enrolled. IRCC lists possible results: breaking your permit conditions, your permit being cancelled, being asked to leave Canada, and refusal of future study or work permits. IRCC may also email you from an address ending in @cic.gc.ca asking you to confirm you are actively studying. Answer by the date given.

For Nepali students: think before you transfer

• Don’t transfer to save fees alone. A cheaper college can cost you the PGWP if its program isn’t eligible.
• Keep the family informed. A refusal or a gap can mean extra months of rent and fees from home. Recalculate the budget with our student visa money calculator.
• Watch your work hours. You can still work up to 24 hours a week off campus during regular terms only while you meet your study permit conditions, which include being enrolled and actively studying.
• Get answers in writing from the new school’s international office about PGWP eligibility and the PAL.

Common mistakes

• Starting classes at the new school before the extension is approved.
• Applying without a required PAL/TAL, which usually means the application is returned.
• Moving to a curriculum-licensing campus and losing PGWP eligibility.
• Taking a term off during the transfer and breaking full-time status.
• Assuming the new school’s acceptance letter alone lets you switch.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a new study permit to change college in Canada?
Yes. IRCC says you must apply to extend your study permit for the new DLI before you can start studying there, with limited exceptions for school closures.

Do I need a new PAL to transfer to another college?
Usually yes. You don’t need one if you move from post-secondary into a degree-granting master’s or PhD at a public DLI.

How long does a DLI change take?
IRCC says moving to a new post-secondary DLI may be processed in 60 days if you answer “Yes” to the school-change question.

Will changing schools affect my PGWP?
It can. Your combined studies must be at least 8 months, the new program must be PGWP-eligible, and you must stay full-time. A non-degree program may also need an eligible field of study.

Can I change my program at the same college without a new permit?
Yes, if your current permit still covers the new program. If you need an extension, you may need a new PAL/TAL. IRCC says you can start the new program while it is pending, but must stop if it is refused.

Related guides

• Canada study permit extension: how to extend inside Canada
• Canada spousal open work permit for students: 2026 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

• Changing your school or program – IRCC
• Provincial or territorial attestation letter – IRCC
• Post-graduation work permit: who can apply – IRCC
• PGWP field of study requirement – IRCC
• Extend your study permit: when to apply – IRCC
• Designated learning institutions list – IRCC
• Fee list – IRCC

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