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The study permit approval letter is officially called the  . It can also be called a POE letter, correspondence letter, introduction letter or introductory letter. 

The POE letter is an important document that indicates that your study permit application has been initially approved by the IRCC. Although it is not your actual study permit, the POE letter is one of the key documents you must present to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer upon entering Canada. Upon review and approval by the CBSA officer, you will be issued your study permit and, if applicable, a co-op work permit. It is important to ensure that you do not leave the border without receiving your study permit and co-op work permit (if applicable).

²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵ students are responsible for maintaining valid immigration status and following the regulations set by IRCC while studying in Canada. As a study permit holder, you must comply with your  in Canada. Failure to comply may result in loss of your status and departure from Canada.  

At VCC, to actively pursue studies, an international student must: 

• be enrolled in each academic semester, excluding regularly scheduled breaks.  
• make progress towards completing your program’s courses, and
• not take authorized leaves longer than 150 days from your study program.  

For more information, please visit How to Maintain a Valid Immigration Status in Canada.

²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵrequires all international students accepted into a program to submit their study permit or study permit approval (port of entry (POE) letter of introduction) by the specified study permit deadline. ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵ students are responsible for maintaining their status in Canada, ensuring their study permit is valid before starting a program at VCC, and keeping it valid throughout their studies.

After you arrive in Canada, please upload a copy of your study/work permit(s) to your  a³¦³¦´Ç³Ü²Ô³Ù. For instructions, refer to the Tutorial - How to Upload Document in myVCC.

Required documents:

• A copy of your study permit (your study permit must have the ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵname on it)
• A copy of your co-op work permit (if you are in a program that requires a co-op work permit)

If you extended your study permit while studying at VCC, please kindly upload a copy of your study/work permit(s) to your  a³¦³¦´Ç³Ü²Ô³Ù.

A study permit is usually valid for the length of your program of studies, plus an additional 90 days.

´¡â€¯ if any of the following occurs:

• 90 days after receiving written confirmation of program completion, OR
• You are no longer enrolled at the Designated Learning Institution (DLI) listed on your permit (except due to program completion), OR
• The expiry date on your study permit has reached, OR
• The day on which a removal order made against you becomes enforceable.

²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵ students must ensure they maintain a valid status throughout their stay in Canada. If your study permit does not cover your entire program duration, including the graduation audit period (up to 6 weeks), it is strongly recommended that you apply for an extension at least 6 months before your study permit expires.

If you apply to extend your study permit before it expires, you will have in Canada. allows you to and working (if eligible) while awaiting a decision from IRCC, regardless of processing times. For details on extending your study permit, see "Apply for a Study Permit Extension from inside Canada".

Failing to apply for an extension before your study permit expires will result in out-of-status conditions, requiring you to immediately stop studying. If your status has expired, you may apply for within 90 days. However, you cannot resume your studies until your restoration application is approved.

The IRCC online application system operates on , not Pacific Standard Time (PST). Ensure your extension application is submitted before midnight UTC on the expiry date. If your study permit has expired and you did not submit an extension application, contact the ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵ Education (IE) office immediately at ieservices@vcc.ca for assistance.

If you will apply for your study permit from outside Canada, it is strongly recommended that you also submit your co-op work permit application if your program requires practicum experience at the same time by using your ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵLetter of Acceptance (LOA) and the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) issued to you upon program acceptance. If your program requires practicum work experience, your LOA will have all the necessary information about the practicum component, and you should apply for your co-op work permit with your study permit application. 

When you  and indicate that you want to study while you are currently outside Canada, the system will assume that you want to come to Canada as a student on a study permit. During the application process, you will be asked if work is an essential component of your studies. Please only answer 'yes' if your program requires practicum experience. 

Once you have completed answering all the questions in the online wizard, you will receive a customized document checklist. The checklist will ask you to upload your 'Letter of Acceptance' and 'Evidence of Work Requirement in Study' if you have indicated that you have practicum experience. Please make sure to upload your ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵLOA in both sections of the checklist. 

Once your application is approved, your port of entry (POE) letter of introduction will contain the information about your study permit and co-op work permit (if applicable). Once you present the POE letter to the CBSA officer upon entry into Canada, they may issue your study permit and co-op work permit documents (if applicable) at the same time. Before leaving, carefully review the documents to verify if all information, including your personal information as well as conditions, is correct. 

If you are enrolled in a program , you must have one of the following conditions printed on your study permit: 

• May work 24 hours per week off campus or full-time during regular breaks if meeting criteria outlined in 
• May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria, per  and must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria.

If you plan to apply for a study permit through a paper application,  for the country from where you intend to submit your application. Once you select your country, the system will generate a list of forms and documents you need to submit along with your application. After completing the necessary forms and gathering all the required documents, you can submit your application package by mail, including the  to the address provided by IRCC. 

In most cases, you must apply for your first study permit before arriving in Canada. However, certain foreign nationals may be eligible to apply for a new study permit from within Canada if they meet the criteria outlined in . To check if you qualify, visit .

If you meet the eligibility criteria, you may apply for a new study permit from inside Canada. Once at the  page, scroll down to ‘Get specific instructions on how to apply’ and select ‘inside Canada’. Read and ensure you meet the criteria to apply from inside Canada and click ‘yes’. Then, the system will generate the instructions for you to submit your application. 

We encourage you to review  for instructions. 

If you are not eligible to apply for a new study permit from inside Canada as per , you must follow the instructions for  from outside Canada even if you are physically in Canada.

In the IRCC online tools, choose your country of citizenship when you are asked for your current country or territory of residence. This is to make sure you get the correct application forms. However, your answers must be accurate when completing PDF forms. For example, if you are in Canada, use your Canadian address.

Important - ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵ students must maintain a valid status throughout their stay in Canada. It is essential to ensure your study permit does not expire while you are studying at VCC. If your permit expires before you complete your program plus an additional 90 days, you must apply for an extension in advance.

The 90-day period after program completion allows designated learning institutions (DLIs) to process graduation. At VCC, the graduation audit can take up to 6 weeks. We recommend reviewing ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵDocuments, Graduation, and Application Timeline for more details. To ensure sufficient coverage, apply for a study permit extension well before your program ends if you need it. If you apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) while holding a valid study permit, you may be eligible to work full-time immediately after submitting your PGWP application.

To maintain your valid student status, it is recommended to start the extension process at least six months before your study permit expires. Additionally, ensure your passport remains valid long enough for an extension, as IRCC cannot issue a study permit beyond the passport's expiration date.

Note that the IRCC online application system operates on , not Pacific Standard Time (PST). Ensure your application is submitted before midnight UTC on the deadline date. Failing to apply for an extension before your study permit expires will result in out-of-status conditions, requiring you to immediately stop studying. If your status has expired, you may apply for within 90 days. However, you cannot resume your studies until your restoration application is approved. If your study permit has expired and you did not submit an extension application, contact the ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵ Education (IE) office immediately at ieservices@vcc.ca for assistance.

Current ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵstudents who need to apply to extend their study permit must request a Study Permit Extension Support Letter from VCC. To do so, complete the Study Permit Extension Support Letter form and upload it to your my²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵaccount. If your program requires practicum experience, select “yes” under the ‘Study Permit Info’ session.

Required ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵdocuments for your study permit extension application:

• ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵStudy Permit Extension Support Letter
• ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵElectronic Transcript (confirming your current program is in progress)
• ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵCo-op Work Permit letter (if applicable - only if your program requires practicum experience)

Applying through your IRCC Secure Account

After creating your IRCC secure account, when you :

• Indicate that you want to study and that your current immigration status in Canada is student.
• When asked if you also want to apply for a work permit, select “yes” only if your program requires practicum experience.

Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) Exception

Most ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵstudents do not need a when extending their study permit, as they are applying at the same DLI (VCC) and for the same level of study from their previous study permit. If that applies to you:

• The system will ask you “if you meet an exception for a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)”
• Answer “Yes, I meet an exception from submitting a provincial or territorial attestation letter.”
• The system will then ask you to provide Proof of PAL Exception, which requires submitting a Letter of Explanation to IRCC, including:
1. A clear statement supporting your study permit extension application
2. A reference to the , based on information from IRCC’s website.

If you are unsure whether you qualify for a PAL exception, contact the ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵ Education (IE) office at ieservices@vcc.ca.

Personalized Document Checklist

After completing the application questions, you will receive a personalized document checklist. Required uploads include:

• Letter of Acceptance (Letter of Enrolment/Registration)
• Co-op Letter (if your program requires a practicum)
• Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or Proof of PAL Exception

Please upload the ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵStudy Permit Extension Letter and Co-op Work Permit Letter (if applicable) accordingly. 

After Submission

Once your application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation PDF in your IRCC secure account. Upon approval, another PDF will confirm that your original documents are being mailed to the address you provided. Ensure your address is accurate at the time of submission. If you happen to move to a different address, remember to update it via the IRCC webform promptly through the .

Additional Instruction Guides

For detailed instructions on submitting a study permit extension application from within Canada, review:

• How to Create your IRCC Secure Account 
• Study Permit Extension - Instruction Guide
• Additional Resources 
• Need help? Book a 15-minute Immigration Advising appointment. 

If you meet the eligibility criteria, you may apply for a new study permit upon arrival at a Canadian port of entry. Follow the instructions as if you were submitting a paper application.  based on your country for a complete list of required documents and ensure you have all required documents.

When you arrive in Canada, you will meet a Canada Border Services Agency () officer, who will:

• Review your passport or travel documents,
• Verify the validity of your  (), 
• Ask you a few questions, and
• Determine whether you meet the eligibility requirements to apply for a study permit at the port of entry.

It's important to note that entry into Canada is subject to the discretion of a CBSA officer. Upon your arrival at a Canadian port of entry, the CBSA officer will thoroughly review all your supporting documents. They will then make a determination regarding your eligibility to enter Canada. Additionally, they must be satisfied that you meet the entry requirements and intend to depart Canada at the end of your authorized stay.  

If you submit a study permit application to IRCC and decide to change your designated learning institution () before coming to Canada, you must inform IRCC of this change. 

• If your application is still in progress, you must submit your new Letter of Acceptance (LOA) and a  (PAL) letter (if needed) using the . 
• If your application has already been approved, you will need to submit a new study permit application along with the updated Letter of Acceptance (LOA) and a  (PAL) letter (if needed).

If you are transferring from another post-secondary institution to ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵ (VCC), you must obtain a new study permit by your current one.

On November 15, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a new process for international students changing their Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Under this new process, starting November 8, 2024, students must apply for and obtain a new study permit before beginning their studies at a new DLI, . Your new study permit will specifically indicate the name of your new DLI. If you will study at VCC, it should indicate ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵ on it.

When applying for a new study permit to transfer to VCC, you must include the following:

• Letter of Explanation: A letter from you explaining why you are transferring from another DLI to VCC
• ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵLetter of Acceptance (LOA)
• A valid PAL/TAL: Required, unless you qualify for a PAL/TAL exemption.

If your ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵprogram requires practicum experience, it is strongly recommended that you apply for a co-op work permit at the same time you submit your new study permit application. To apply you must use your ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵLetter of Acceptance (LOA) as your LOA will outline the practicum component if required. The checklist will ask you to upload your 'Letter of Acceptance' and 'Evidence of Work Requirement in Study,' if you have indicated that you have practicum experience. Please make sure to upload your ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵLOA in both sections of the checklist.

To better understand the required documents and eligibility criteria, we encourage students to review the IRCC guide on .

If you are moving from a Canadian high school to ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵ (VCC), you must obtain a new study permit by your current one.

On November 15, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a new process for international students changing their Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Under this new process, starting November 8, 2024, students must apply for and obtain a new study permit before beginning their studies at a new DLI, . Your new study permit will specifically indicate the name of your new DLI. If you will study at VCC, it should indicate ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵ on it.

When applying for a new study permit to transfer to VCC, you must include the following:

• ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵLetter of Acceptance (LOA)
• A valid PAL/TAL: Required, unless you qualify for a PAL/TAL exemption.

Upon high school graduation, your current study permit will become invalid 90 days after receiving your program completion letter (). To maintain your legal status in Canada, ensure you apply for a new study permit before it expires. Additionally, you may not be eligible to work until you receive your new study permit with conditions allowing on and off-campus work.

If your ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵprogram requires practicum experience, it is strongly recommended that you apply for a co-op work permit at the same time you submit your new study permit application. To apply, you must use your ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵLetter of Acceptance (LOA) as your LOA will outline the practicum component if required. The checklist will ask you to upload your 'Letter of Acceptance' and 'Evidence of Work Requirement in Study' if you have indicated that you have practicum experience. Please make sure to upload your ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵLOA in both sections of the checklist.

To better understand the required documents and eligibility criteria, we encourage students to review the IRCC guide on .

In British Columbia, international students under the age of 19 are considered minors. If you are applying for a study permit, you may need a . To learn more, visit .

You may be able to leave and return to Canada as long as your visa to enter Canada - eTA and TRV is still valid. If your visitor visa or eTA has expired, you must apply for and receive a new one before you leave. Please visit the â€¯to learn more. 

The Vancouver ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵ Airport (YVR) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) have created a . The VC Portal allows international students to submit their arrival information in advance to the CBSA officer to expedite the issuance of a study permit at the airport. 

To be eligible to submit their information in advance, international students must: 

• Have Vancouver ²ÝÁñ¶ÌÊÓƵ Airport as their first port of entry in Canada 
• Have a study permit approval letter - port of entry (POE) letter of introduction. 
• Submit all required information at least 72 hours before arriving at YVR. 

Using the VC Portal is entirely optional, and it will only be used to expedite the process. If you submit incorrect information, you can submit a new form. Please note that entry to Canada is at the discretion of a CBSA officer.