How will a leave of absence (LOA) impact your status as an international student?

Here’s what you should know:

  1. As an international student on an approved LOA, you are authorized to remain in Canada as a student with a valid study permit for 150 days from the start date of your leave. Contact our office:
    1. If your CAQ or study permit will expire during your LOA; or
    2. If you are considering taking an LOA that is longer than 150 days
  2. You are not authorized to work in Canada during your LOA – only registered full-time students are allowed to work in Canada as per study permit conditions. Working without authorization in Canada can have a serious impact on future immigration applications.
  3. If you remain in Canada during your LOA, you may resume your studies at McGill after the LOA as long as your CAQ and study permit are still valid.
  4. If you remain in Canada during your LOA, you must be covered by health insurance.
    1. You can opt-in to the International Health Insurance (IHI) plan while on an LOA.
    2. Contact us through the IHI Portal for more information.
  5. If you leave Canada during your LOA, make sure you travel with the following documents when returning to McGill to resume your studies: 
    1. A valid CAQ, study permit and TRV or eTA (depending on your country of citizenship)
    2. A Proof of Enrolment letter from Minerva for the term you will be attending
    3. Proof that your LOA was approved by McGill – e.g., Proof of Enrolment letter from Minerva for your LOA term, confirmation from your department/faculty that your LOA was approved, etc.
  6. When renewing your CAQ or applying for your post-graduation work permit (PGWP), you will need to provide:
    1. A cover letter explaining your leave of absence – e.g., indicate the term(s) you were on a LOA and explain your reason(s) for being on a LOA.
    2. Supporting documents – e.g., a letter from your faculty/department confirming that you were on an approved LOA in X term(s), Proof of Enrolment letter for the term you were on a LOA, other documents that help to confirm the explanations you provided in your cover letter, etc.

If you are considering an LOA, contact our office to learn more about the potential immigration impacts.

Also Good To Know: 

  1. The reason for a LOA request must fall under one of the reasons stipulated in the Undergraduate LOA policy or the Graduate LOA policy.
  2. All students considering a LOA for an academic term must submit a formal request to McGill by the Withdrawal with Refund Deadline. Requests received are assessed on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the University.
  3. International students on an approved LOA may need to request formal re-admittance or re-enrolment to McGill in order to register for courses following their leave. Consult your faculty/department directly for more details.

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