Out of Status/How to Restore

1. If you are in Canada and you do not apply to extend your study permit before it expires, you will lose your student status. You will no longer be authorized to study (or work) in Canada until you obtain a new study permit.
2. If you are out of status, you must either:
   • Apply to restore your status from inside Canada within the 90 day deadline to apply for restoration or
   • Leave Canada and apply for a new study permit from outside of Canada.
3. If you apply for restoration,
   • You are NOT authorized to study (or work) while waiting for a decision on your restoration application. There is no “90 day grace period” after your study permit expires during which you may continue studying/working.
   • A new study permit will be mailed to you after your application has been approved.
   • You must remain in Canada while the application is processing. If you leave Canada while your restoration application is processing, you must withdraw your application and then submit an outside Canada study permit application (IMM 1294).

How to Apply to Restore

1. Complete the online “Check your eligibility” questionnaire

   • To access the questionnaire, login to your online account and select "Apply to Come to Canada”
   • Answer “Yes” to the question that asks, “Do you want to apply to restore your status?”
   • In the “Fees” section of your Document Checklist, you should see a study permit processing fee and a restoration of the status fee.

2. Complete the IMM 5709 form

   • See the “How to complete the IMM5709 Form” section above for basic instructions.
   • Additional Instructions for your Restoration Application:
     • Top of Form, #3: Check both “Apply for a study permit for the first time or extend my study permit” and “Restore my status as a student”.
     • Personal Details, #7:
       • “Status” = select “Other”
       • “Other” = “Out of status”
       • “From” = the first day you were out of status (i.e., the day after your study permit expiration date)
       • “To” = the current date (i.e., date you complete and validate the form)
     • Background Information, #2a, “Have you ever remained beyond the validity of your status, attended school without authorization or worked without authorization in Canada?”: You must answer “Yes” to this question and indicate “See explanations attached in the Client Information section”.

3. Upload explanatory documents

   • In the "Client Information" section of your Document Checklist, upload:
     • An explanatory letter explaining the reason(s) why you lost your status – i.e., explain why you did not apply to extend your study permit before it expired. If you have studied and/or worked without authorization (or if you have the intention to do so) you must declare this and explain your reasons for doing so. Failure to disclose unauthorized studies or work can result in a 5 year exclusion order for misrepresentation.
     • (If applicable) Supporting documents that help to explain why you are out of status, studied, and/or worked without authorization.

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