ISS is now located in Brown Bldg., Suite 4100.
ISS is open Mondays to Fridays, 10am - 4pm both in-person and virtually.
The Study Permit:
- When applying from outside of Canada, you are applying for a new study permit (not a renewal). We do not recommend that you return to Canada until your new study permit is approved. You will not benefit from maintained status when you apply from outside of Canada.
- The study permit, issued by Immigration Canada, is a mandatory immigration document for all international students at McGill*. It authorizes you to study in Canada and grants you your immigration status of a student in Canada.
- In order to study in Quebec, you must:
- Hold a valid study permit for the entire duration of your studies (if your study permit will expire before the end of your program, you must apply to renew it)
- Meet the conditions of your study permit for the duration of your studies
- International students who do not obtain a new study permit before their current one expires may be deregistered from McGill.
See Immigration Canada’s website for a full list of students who are exempt from the study permit requirement (Other considerations > Who doesn’t need a permit to study in Canada).
Study Permit Conditions:
You must respect the conditions of your study permit during your studies. These conditions include:
- Being enrolled at a designated learning institute (DLI)
- Actively pursuing your studies
- Applying to extend your study permit to change post-secondary schools
- Applying to extend your study permit, change your status, or leave Canada before your study permit expires.
- Respecting any limits you may have on your ability to work in Canada
Study Permit Validity:
Your study permit remains valid until:
- the date of expiry listed on the study permit,
- 90 days after you receive proof of program completion from McGill or
- the date that you are no longer enrolled at the university (besides due to the completion of your studies)
Whichever date comes first!
if you have withdrawn from the university or take a gap term, contact ISS.
Co-op/Internship Work Permit:
- Students in a program of study with mandatory co-op or internship terms (e.g. Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Nursing, some Bachelor of Engineering programs) must have a Co-op Work Permit (CWP) in order to participate in the mandatory work requirement (co-op, internship, field experience, practicum).
- You can submit an application for a CWP (or to renew your CWP) within your study permit renewal application. See How to Apply, Required Documents, and the Co-op/Internship Work Permit webpage for more information.
When to Apply
- Ideally, you would apply for a new study permit a few months before your current study permit expires.
- You can check the processing times for the study permit application from outside of Canada in your region.
- If you applying from outside of Canada, you should ensure that you have enough time for your study permit application to be approved before you intend to travel back to Canada.
- If your study permit will expire before you complete your program of studies, you must:
- Have a CAQ that is valid beyond the expiration date of your current study permit. A study permit is normally issued with an expiration date that matches your CAQ.
- Have valid biometrics. Be sure to check the expiry date of your biometrics. Your new study permit may only be issued until the expiry date of your biometrics and not to the expected end date of your program or expiry date of your CAQ.
- Have a valid passport. Your new study permit cannot be issued past the expiration date of your passport. Ideally, your passport should be valid for the remainder of your studies.
- Apply for a new study permit even if you have only one semester left. You must have a valid study permit for the entire duration of your program.
Contact ISS right away if either of the following situations applies to you:
You are outside of Canada, your study permit is about to expire, and you will not have your new study permit application approved before you return to Canada.