Program delivery update: Study permits
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
April 23, 2025
On November 08, 2024 new regulations came into force for the International Student Program (ISP). These regulations introduce new requirements and conditions on study permit holders and Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) at the post-secondary level, as well as updates related to the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) requirements.
The below program delivery instructions have been updated to provide guidance on the following regulation changes:
- Amendments to the LOA provisions:
- R215.1 – return of applications where the DLI has failed to confirm their letter of acceptance.
- R216(1)(e) – issuance of study permit for foreign nationals accepted to a DLI, and in the case of a post-secondary DLI, whose LOA has been confirmed by the DLI.
- R219(1)
- Post-secondary study permits must have their letter of acceptance confirmed by the DLI
- all other study permits must provide a letter of acceptance
- R219(2) – exception to providing an LOA
- Addition of requirements for changing DLIs
- R217.1 – students whose permit names a DLI must apply for a new study permit if they intend to change DLIs.
- R189.1 – prescribed circumstances that students can commence studies at the new DLI if applying to change DLIs
- Amendments to study permit conditions
- R220.1(1)(a) – students must attend the DLI named on their study permit until they complete their studies
- Amendments to study permit invalidity provisions
- R222(1)(a.1) – invalidity of study permit once student is unenrolled from the DLI named on their permit, other than completing studies.
- Addition of conditions and consequences on DLIs
- R222.1 – conditions imposed on DLIs
- verification of compliance with conditions: R222.2 to R222.5
- R222.6(1) – DLI suspension list
- R222.6(2) – return of applications received during a period of DLI suspension
- R222.6(3) – renewal of study permit at suspended DLI
- R222.1 – conditions imposed on DLIs
In addition to minor changes, the following sections have been updated to clarify processing instructions:
- Failure to comply with conditions [R221]
- Financial resources [R220]
- User remarks
- Refused final decisions